Smallville actress ‘branded’ as ‘second in command’ in secret sex cult, currently under investigation

A new report alleges that a former Smallville actress is involved in a “secret sex cult” that’s currently under investigation after former members accused the group of putting them through horrific experiences.

Allison Mack, 35, a former actress on the popular television series, Smallville, is reportedly a member of DOS–a secret group of Nxivm, with members who are considered the highest ranking females of the organization. Mack is reportedly the “second in command,” the Sun reported.

Nxivm isn’t a secret in itself. The organization is public and promotes itself as a coaching program for women while utilizing “Executive Success Programs” to train members. Since the 1990s, the group has recruited more than 16,000 people to participate in its programs. The New York Times reports that some of the members were magnetically drawn to founder, Keith Raniere, also known as the “Vanguard,” and would give up their careers, friends, and even family to follow him.

The alleged sub-group, DOS, however, is a secret society within Nxivm, according to Daily Mail.

A former spokesman for the group, Frank Parlato, claims Mack is not only the second in command of DOS, but she’s also responsible for recruiting new women into the organization. Parlato indicated that DOS operates on a hierarchy system, with Rainer at the top and Mack serving as his subordinate. Mack allegedly has her own “slaves” below her, who are required to recruit their own slaves, similar to a Pyramid Scheme.

Mack hasn’t responded to requests for comments.

A Former Member’s Story

Last month, The New York Times reported that Sarah Edmondson, one of the former participants in Nxivm, reached out to authorities about here experience with the group.

According to Edmonson, she was told part of the process of being initiated into the group required her to get a small tattoo. She agreed, but later claimed the process of getting the “small tattoo” was not only humiliating and degrading, but also so painful that she “disassociated” from her body.

To receive the tattoo, Edmonson said women were placed on a massage table, where three people restrained their arms and legs. Afterwards, Nxivm official Lauren Salzmano allegedly instructed them to beg for the branding by saying, “Master, please brand me, it would be an honor.”

“I wept the whole time,” Ms. Edmondson recalled. “I disassociated out of my body.”

Edmonson was branded with a cauterizing device that seared a two-inch-square symbol below her hip area. She said the ordeal lasted 20-30 minutes, all while the smell of burning human skin permeated the room.

In July, Edmonson filed a complaint with the New York State Department of Health against Danielle Roberts, a licensed osteopath who performed the branding. The agency wrote back and informed her that they didn’t see any medical misconduct, as she agreed to the branding and Roberts wasn’t acting as her physician when the incident occurred.

Two other former members joined Edmonson and contacted authorities, but a state police investigator told them nothing could be done since they all agreed to the organization’s terms.

Palarto’s Story

Palarto, who said he was fired after caught rifling through the organization’s financial records, claimed that the group, on the surface, seems to be a positive women’s empowerment club that could help sway election votes, among other things. Yet, similar to Edmonson’s claims, he said women are taken by surprise and branded without anesthesia.

“You are told you are going to get a tiny tattoo and you end up being pinned down, no anesthesia, while a doctor takes a hot iron and slowly brands you with about 50 to 100 strokes of this two inch by two inch brand. It looks like a symbol but it is actually Raniere’s initials – KR and the actress’s.”

Palarto also said that once women are members, they are forced to take on traumatizing tasks and follow a strict diet. One woman allegedly claimed she had to seduce a convicted child molester.

“The worrying part of all this is that there are still women captured in this cult maintaining 500 to 800 calories a day diets, sleep deprived, brainwashed and with the leader of the cult holding blackmail-worthy material in his possession which he has threatened to release if they leave the cult,” Parlato said.

According to Palarto’s blog, The Frank Report, in order to become part of Nxivm, women are reportedly required to give the organization’s leaders naked photographs of themselves or other materials considered compromising, such as recorded videos of crimes committed or bank account information. The materials are reportedly protection for the group, used for collateral in case a member decided to go public.

Catherine Oxenberg’s Story

Actress, Catherine Oxenberg, known for her role in the television, Dynasty, said her daughter, India, is a member of Nxivm. Oxemberg admitted it made her sick when she found out her daughter was involved in the group, and grew more concerned as she watched India rapidly drop weight to the point she looked emaciated.

“I felt sick to my stomach.”

In May, Oxenberg visited India’s home, where she tried to convince her daughter to leave the group. India, however, defended that group and said it was “character-building experience.”

Earlier this week, Oxenberg went to the NY Attorney General Eric Schneiderman’s office, where she met with prosecutors to talk about how she thinks Nxivm is brainwashing, blackmailing, and starving India.

“Coercion is not voluntary. Extortion is not voluntary. Blackmail is not voluntary,” Oxemberg said, according to Page Six. “I’m desperate to save my daughter. I want to help the other young women. I am desperately hoping the authorities take notice and investigate.”

Gov. Cuomo’s office indicated that it’s looking into why state officials haven’t been faster into looking into allegations against the group.

Meanwhile, Raniere and other officials didn’t respond to numerous requests seeking comments and insight about the group, but the organization published a statement on their official site, stating they would take any legal measures necessary to fight the accusations.

“The allegations relayed in the story are built upon sources, some of which are under criminal investigation or already indicted, who act as a coordinated group….We will explore any and all legal remedies to correct these lies.”

 

 

[Feature Photo: AP/Star Max]