The leader of an enigmatic group in Albany,New York, who is being accused of coercing female followers into having sex with him and having his initials branded on their body, appeared in federal court in Fort Worth, Texas.
Keith Raniere waived his right to an identification hearing during his court appearance on March 27, 2018.
Sarah Edmonson, an actress from Vancouver, told CBC News that she helped to recruit women to the group in New York. She traveled to Albany, New York and had her abdomen branded with the leader’s initials.
It was not reported if she was a willing participant in the branding or knew about it before arriving in Albany.
Raniere requested that his prosecution hearing take place in the Eastern District of New York. U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey Cureton granted the request.
U.S. Marshals will be transferring him to New York from Texas, according to spokeswomen Laura Vega.
Raniere is allegedly a cult leader in New York.
Written by Jeanette Smith
Source:
CBC: Leader of alleged cult that ensnared Vancouver woman appears in court
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