'Smallville' actress Allison Mack charged with sex trafficking in NXIVM case

ALBANY — Actress Allison Mack was indicted on sex-trafficking charges Friday as part of an ongoing inquiry into NXIVM, a cult-like self-help group based in the Albany area whose leader is accused of treating women as sex slaves.

Mack, 35, best known for her role as Chloe Sullivan in CW's Smallville, pleaded not guilty Friday afternoon in Brooklyn federal court, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for New York's Eastern District.

A grand jury indicted Mack, a longtime NXIVM follower, on sex trafficking, sex trafficking conspiracy and forced labor conspiracy charges for her role in DOS, a group led by NXIVM co-founder Keith Raniere that purported to be a women's empowerment sorority.

Prosecutors, however, say DOS was actually a sex-slave ring led by Raniere, with women known as "slaves" who reported to "masters" who ultimately reported to Raniere himself. Mack is an alleged co-conspirator, reporting directly to Raniere.

The women were allegedly forced into giving up collateral — including naked photos — to join the group. They were coerced into having their pubic region branded with Raniere's initials as well as having sex with him, according to prosecutors.

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Raniere was arrested last month and is being held without bail. He is a co-defendant in the indictment.

Mack was ordered detained by Magistrate Judge Cheryl Pollak and will have a bail hearing Monday morning, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

“As alleged in the indictment, Allison Mack recruited women to join what was purported to be a female mentorship group that was, in fact, created and led by Keith Raniere,” U.S. Attorney Richard Donoghue said in a statement.

“The victims were then exploited, both sexually and for their labor, to the defendants’ benefit."

Raniere is set to be arraigned on the indictment at a later date, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Mack's attorneys, Sean Buckley and William McGovern, did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

Mack and Raniere face a minimum of 15 years in prison if convicted.

Raniere, 57, has led NXIVM since the late 1990s.

For years, he has led extended court battles against many of NXIVM's foes with the financial backing of Sara and Clare Bronfman, the heiresses to the Seagram's liquor fortune.

Among those foes is Toni Natalie of the Rochester area, who dated Raniere for eight years prior to NXIVM's founding. Raniere has tied Natalie up with lawsuits for nearly 20 years.

JCampbell1@Gannett.com

Jon Campbell is a correspondent with USA TODAY Network's Albany Bureau.