Another defendant has entered a guilty plea in the NXIVM case.
Lauren Salzman has now pleaded guilty to two counts — racketeering conspiracy and racketeering — in Brooklyn Federal Court. Lauren has also been charged with forced labor conspiracy and wire fraud conspiracy.
Her mother, Nancy Salzman, already pleaded guilty to a racketeering conspiracy charge two weeks ago.
The co-founder of the alleged Capital Region cult was the first to do so, and told the judge she believed some of what NXIVM did was good, and said her criminal acts were justified.
Lauren will be sentenced in September while Nancy faces three years in prison when she returns to court in July.
NXIVM co-founder Keith Raniere, actress Allison Mack, and Seagram's Heiress Clare Bronfman are maintaining their not-guilty pleas.
Raniere and Mack are both charged with racketeering, racketeering conspiracy, forced labor conspiracy, wire fraud conspiracy, sex trafficking, sex trafficking conspiracy and attempted sex trafficking. Raniere also faces charges of sexual exploitation of a child, possession of child pornography, and conspiracy to commit identity theft.
Bronfman is charged with with racketeering, racketeering conspiracy and conspiracy to commit identity theft.
At a hearing Wednesday, Bronfman fainted in court when asked whether attorney Michael Avenatti was negotiating on her behalf for a plea deal.
Avenatti faces federal charges in New York and Los Angeles for extortion and embezzlement.
CORRECTION: This article has been amended from an earlier version that incorrectly listed the charges for some of the suspects.