THE leader of a 'cult' which is alleged to have branded, blackmailed and brainwashed women has been arrested on allegations of sex trafficking.

In arrest documents seen by Sun Online, Keith Raniere is accused of raping girls as young as 12, imprisoning a woman for 18 months because she developed feelings for someone else - and forcing one follower to run into a tree and drink from a puddle.

5 Keith Raniere was arrested in Mexico Credit: YouTube

Raniere is also alleged to have forced women attending one of his classes to wear fake cow udders over their breasts while people called them "derogatory names", put women in cages as punishments and spent thousands of dollars on a dead lover's credit card to fund a luxury lifestyle.

In a federal complaint against the 57-year-old, the US government accuses Raniere of of running a secret society called "DOS" or "The Vow" in which women were recruited as slaves and slave masters, branded with his initials on their pubic areas and forced to hand over highly damaging information abut themselves including naked pictures and rights to their assets.

Sun Online exposed Raniere's 'cult' last year - and was even shown some of the so-called X-rated "collateral" which had been leaked by a former member.

According to the complaint, the alleged "slaves" were ordered to stop waxing or shaving their public hair - because Raniere supposedly prefers women with lots of public hair - and to remain celibate - as he apparently believed women should be monogamous and men polyamorous.

5 This is the brand of an escaped DOS member Credit: Frank Report

The alleged "slaves" were supposedly recruited from Nxivm - a so-called self improvement group - which authorities now believe may have been a pyramid scheme.

Each woman is said to have been forced to recruit more slaves, who allegedly had to carry out "readiness drills", be available any time of the day or night - and often have sex with Raniere.

Raniere - known as "Vanguard" to followers - is accused of having a "decades' long history of abusing women and girls" - including "repeated sexual encounters with multiple teenage girls" as young as 12, according to the document.

5 Actress Allison Mack is allegedly a high ranking member of the group. There is nothing to suggest she was involved in the alleged sex crimes in any way. Credit: Getty Images

"In one instance, the defendant met a fifteen-year-old girl while he was in his 20s and had repeated sexual contact with her," the document says.

"In another instance, the defendant met a twelve-year-old girl whose mother worked for the defendant and began tutoring her.

“Shortly thereafter, the defendant began having regular sexual intercourse with her, including at his home where he lived with multiple adult sexual partners.”

In indictment documents, the FBI describe Raniere as having "a rotating group of 15 to 20 women with whom he maintains sexual relationships."

One witness - named in the papers as "Jane Doe 1" - claimed Raniere texted her in the middle of the night and insisted she must meet him and do whatever he asked.

Fearing her "collateral" would be leaked if she did not, the document claims she went to meet Raniere who told her to strip before blindfolding her and driving her to an abandoned "shack".

Inside she was allegedly tied to a table and someone began giving her oral sex while Raniere walked round the table making comments.

5 The brands allegedly include Keith Raniere's initials and that of Hollywood actress Allison Mack Credit: Frank Report

At least two Hollywood actresses are said to have supported the 'cult' - Allison Mack and Nicki Clyne, according to Nxivm's former publicist Frank Parlato.

There is nothing to suggest either Mack or Clyne are involved in the alleged sex crimes in any way.

Parlato has been campaigning tirelessly to expose Raniere's alleged wrongdoing and claims he may have up to 1,000 victims.

He told Sun Online: "Keith Raniere has been abusing women for decades and I believe justice is finally going to be served.

"He always thought he was above the law but now this is karma.

"All the people who lived in fear of Keith Raniere can breath easily as he is now in custody and will be unlikely to ever hurt anyone again. 5 Nicki Clyne is also believed to be a supporter of the secretive cult. There is nothing to suggest she was involved in the alleged sex crimes in any way.

"I would estimate that more than a thousand people have deeply hurt by him - and about 200 women have been abused physically, sexually, coerced, black mailed, hypnotized and brainwashed on a basis that was so severe it affected adversely the rest of their lives.

"The authorities are asking that bail be denied and Raniere could face his whole life behind bars - he may never see freedom again and in my opinion this is absolutely deserved."

Raniere is due to appear at court in Texas on Tuesday on charges of sex trafficking, sex trafficking conspiracy and conspiracy to commit forced labour.

Authorities have requested that bail be denied as he is considered a flight risk and a danger to the community.