Prosecutors have shown the person Brooklyn jury evidence of a number of crimes, ranging from images of child pornography to testimony from a woman who said she was tied to a table by Raniere and then forced to have oral sex performed on her by someone else.
A light has been shone in the darkness and his crimes have been exposed. Raniere has pleaded not guilty to charges including racketeering, sex trafficking, sexual exploitation of a child and human trafficking.
He did not testify in the case and his defense attorney did not call any witnesses, but his attorney has argued that his relationships with NXIVM followers were consensual.
An actress who testified in court said he was revered by his students, and some saw him as one of the smartest men in the world. However, defense attorney Marc Agnifilo previously told CNN he felt that Raniere firmly believes his ideas are sound, humanitarian ideas. In his closing arguments, Agnifilo cautioned jurors to consider whether any actual crimes have been committed.
He argued there was no sex trafficking in DOS because there was no commercial aspect to the sexual activities alleged by the victims. The crimes Raniere directed and participated in span nearly 15 years, Penza said. She walked jurors through the seven crimes he has been charged with: racketeering, racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud conspiracy, forced labor, sex trafficking conspiracy, sex trafficking and attempted sex trafficking.
