Ivy Nevares (pictured) said she received a threatening phone call from someone warning her against speaking out about NXIVM cult leader Keith Raniere’s second-in-command, Nancy Salzman
A sex cult victim says she received a threatening phone call three days after testifying against NXIVM cult leader Keith Raniere – warning her to keep quiet about his second-in-command at the cult, Nancy Salzman.
‘Do not talk about Nancy Salzman,’ the male caller reportedly told the NXIVM victim.
‘I felt intimidated and, after the call, was deeply upset for days,’ Ivy Nevares revealed, in a letter to the judge in Salzman’s case.
Salzman is accused of co-founding NXIVM with Raniere and stood as his second-in-command for 20 years.
Raniere was sentenced to 120 years in jail on October 27, 2020 for multiple charges of sex trafficking and abuse as the head of the sex cult.
Now, Salzman, who pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy, is set to be sentenced on Wednesday. She is expected to face between 33 and 41 months in prison.
Nevares and other former Nxivm members say Salman managed many of Nxivm’s operations, in addition to helping Raniere avoid responsibility.
In a letter to the judge in Salzman’s case, Nevares said Raniere sexually assaulted her, writing that Salzman ‘normalized the assault,’ telling her she was ‘lucky’ to be ‘singled out’ by Raniere.
According to a letter Nevares later sent to the judge, the caller warned her specifically not talk about Nancy Salzman, (pictured) who co-founded Nxivm’s former group with Raniere and stood as his second-in-command for 20 years
Additionally in her letter, Nevares said Raniere (pictured) sexually assaulted her, writing that Salzman ‘normalized the assault,’ telling her she was ‘lucky’ to be ‘singled out’ by Raniere
‘I don’t think Nxivm could have existed without Nancy Salzman,’ Alejandro Betancourt, a member of Nxivm’s executive board for nine years, said in an interview. ‘Nancy was Keith’s enabler.’
In a post uploaded to her personal blog, Nevares wrote about her decision to finally speak out against Raniere.
‘I’ve remained silent about my former connection to him and his organizations for numerous reasons—the most important being my personal healing and protecting the life I have fought hard to build since I defected,’ Nevares added.
Last year, Raniere was sentenced to 120 years in jail for a slew of crimes, including sex and human trafficking and ordered to pay $3.5 million to 21 victims of a sex-trafficking scheme
He has continued to refuse to take responsibility for his actions, telling the court on Tuesday: ‘I do believe I am innocent of the charges.’
‘It is true I am not remorseful of the crimes I do not believe I committed at all,’ said Raniere, known to cult members as ‘Vanguard’ and ‘the smartest man in the world.’
Written statements to the court from former Nxivm members depict how Salzman assisted in teaching Raniere’s philosophical musings, in addition to creating a plan they could market together.
Raniere additionally assigned Salzman to deal with female members in the group who he deemed problematic.
Salzman’s daughter, Lauren Salzman, 45, avoided jail time for her role in recruiting slaves for the NXIVM sex cult, after pleading guilty to charges of racketeering and conspiracy.
The NXIVM Executive Success Programs sign outside of the office at 455 New Karner Road on April 26, 2018 in Albany, New York
Defense attorney Marc Agnifolo (R) appears in this courtroom sketch in the trial of Nxivm leader Keith Raniere along with Paul DerOhannesian (2nd L) and Danielle Smith (L) in U.S. Federal Court in Brooklyn, New York
The society recruited young women who were branded with Raniere’s initials before they were turned into his sex slaves.
Lauren escaped serving time despite the fact she confessed to locking one young woman in a room for two years in order to fulfill her duties in the sex cult.
She first met Keith Raniere more than two decades ago after her mother co-founded the NXIVM multi-level marketing company alongside Raniere in upstate New York. They soon began a long-term relationship.
Then, in 2015, a number of NXIVM employees entered into a secret society known as Dominus Obsequious Sororium, or ‘DOS’ – a sex cult controlled by Raniere himself.
The society recruited young women who were branded with Raniere’s initials before they were turned into his sex slaves. The recruits were made to live off just 500 calories a day, and forced to make a lifetime vow to obey their ‘masters’.
Salzman became a ‘first line’ master in DOS and bought numerous women into the society.
In 2019, following her arrest, Salzman confessed to locking a young woman – known only as Jane Doe 4 – in her home to fulfill her duties in DOS.
PICTURED: Salzman’s daughter, Lauren Salzman, 45, who avoided jail time for her role in recruiting slaves for the NXIVM sex cult, after pleading guilty to charges of racketeering and conspiracy
Meanwhile, other members of DOS included Smallville actress Alison Mack, (pictured) who was jailed earlier this year after pleading guilty to a string of charges
She stated that the woman was put to work while enslaved in the room, and revealed that she ‘threatened to deport Jane Doe 4 back to Mexico if she did not complete labor requested by myself and others.
Salzman also admitted to extorting the recruits by demanding compromising material, like nude photos, that could be used as blackmail if they refused orders.
She and Raniere were longtime lovers, but Salzman now says she was ‘manipulated’ by her ex.
Nancy – who has turned against Raniere – wrote a letter to Judge Garaufis pleading for him to be lenient with her daughter.
‘I am responsible for Lauren being before you, having endured arrest, prosecution and successful cooperation, and now facing her own judgment,’ she wrote.
When handing down his sentence, Judge Garaufis noted that Salzman had seemingly turned her life around after pleading guilty.
She now runs her own business specializing in dog care.
Meanwhile, other members of DOS included Smallville actress Alison Mack, who was jailed earlier this year after pleading guilty to a string of charges.
Mack – who had been associated with NXIVM since the mid-2000 – was also a close confidante of Reniere and a senior member of DOS.