Cult Member & Smallville Actress Allison Mack Released Early from Prison
Actress Allison Mack, known for her role in the hit TV series ‘Smallville,’ has been released from prison ahead of schedule after serving three years for her involvement in the NXIVM sex-trafficking cult.
Federal prison records confirm her early release, which occurred on Monday. Mack, 40, pleaded guilty in 2019 to charges of manipulating women into becoming sex slaves for Keith Raniere, the leader of NXIVM. She cooperated with federal authorities in their case against Raniere, who is currently serving a 120-year prison sentence for sex-trafficking offenses.
Mack, who began her prison term at the Federal Correctional Institution in Dublin, California, in September 2021, spent less than two years at the low-security women’s prison.
The facility gained attention for housing other high-profile figures, including actresses Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman during the college admissions scandal.
During her time in court, Mack expressed remorse and guilt for her actions within the cult, where women were brainwashed, branded, and coerced into engaging in sexual acts with Raniere.
Other members of the group included Clare Bronfman, an heiress to the Seagram’s liquor fortune, and a daughter of TV star Catherine Oxenberg.
Mack’s acting career took off with her role as Chloe Sullivan, a close friend of Superman, in ‘Smallville,’ which aired from 2001 to 2011.
She attended her first NXIVM meeting while filming the series and eventually moved to New York City to be closer to the cult. NXIVM, initially presented as a self-improvement group, was founded by Raniere in the 1990s and expanded nationally.
In 2017, as an investigation into NXIVM was underway, Mack and Raniere fled to Mexico in an attempt to reestablish the group. However, Raniere was arrested in Puerto Vallarta and extradited to the United States in 2018. A few days later, Mack was arrested in New York and faced various charges, including racketeering conspiracy, forced labor conspiracy, and sex trafficking conspiracy.
Mack’s cooperation with prosecutors included providing an audio tape in which Raniere discussed branding ceremonies within the cult. Prosecutors referenced this evidence in their request for a reduced sentence.
In a letter to the judge before her sentencing, Mack expressed deep regret for her involvement in NXIVM and apologized to the victims. She denounced Raniere as a “twisted man” and acknowledged the significant mistake she made by following him.
India Oxenberg, the daughter of Catherine Oxenberg, a star of the TV show ‘Dynasty,’ testified during Raniere’s trial, revealing that Mack recruited her into NXIVM and became her master within the cult.
Oxenberg received a letter from Mack before the sentencing, where Mack distanced herself from the cult persona and expressed remorse. While Oxenberg acknowledged Mack’s denouncement of Raniere, she believed Mack should still be held accountable for her actions.
Mack’s early release has sparked mixed reactions, with some emphasizing the need for justice for the victims of NXIVM and others recognizing Mack’s cooperation in the case against Raniere. As she begins her life after prison, Mack will face the challenge of rebuilding her public image and moving forward from the controversy surrounding her involvement in the notorious cult.
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