DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ This Drug Could Help Survivors Heal From Cults Like NXIVM - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-09 | by ( Maia Szalavitz | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

The best way to prevent this — or mitigate harm, if it cannot be prevented — is through social support, via good parenting and other loving relationships, which calm the brain’s stress systems. A study of mice recently published in Nature suggests that psychedelics can reopen what’s known as a critical period for learning social and emotional skills that occurs during the animal’s adolescence. And psychedelics known to produce a longer “trip” in humans seem to reopen the critical learning period in mice for a longer period of time. This ability to specifically enhance social learning is why these drugs may be so useful for helping those who are harmed by cults or early life trauma. NXIVM did not drug its victims, although other cults have — most notoriously the murderous “family” led by Charles Manson, who gave his followers LSD.

Persons: It’s, NXIVM, ”, Charles Manson Organizations: India, NXIVM

Malindi, Kenya CNN —The reddish soil of the Shakahola forest is still giving up its terrible secrets. The cult was preparing for the end of the world under the instruction of their its powerful pastor, say investigators. Many find it difficult to comprehend the dark path that Pastor Paul Nthenge Mackenzie allegedly took his followers along. Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP/Getty ImagesAt a recent hearing Mackenzie denied all knowledge of the horrors that witnesses, inspectors, and survivors believe happened in the Shakahola forest. ‘Intoxicating power’To understand the Shakahola cult, the focus must be on Mackenzie, says Rick Ross, a leading American cult expert who has studied destructive cults for decades.

Persons: Paul Nthenge Mackenzie, Paul Mackenzie, David McKenzie, ’ ”, Agnes, Mackenzie, “, ”, Yasuyoshi Chiba, Rick Ross, “ It’s, Ross, Charles Manson, David Koresh, Joseph Kibwetere, Geoffrey Wango, Wango, Ruto, Nxivm, God, Naomi Kahindi's, Mwangi, Francis Wanje, Wanje’s, It’s, Wanje, Khalid Hussein, Mackenzie's, Monicah Mwangi, Jesus, couldn’t, didn’t, David Man’ong’o Organizations: Kenya CNN, CNN, Good News International Ministry, Criminal Investigations, Getty, Nairobi University, Kenyan, Reuters, . Police, Public Prosecutions Locations: Malindi, Kenya, Galilee, Bethlehem, Shakahola, AFP, American, Africa

☆ 'The Vow Part Two' review: HBO turns to the Nxivm and Keith Raniere trial in docu-sequel
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-17 | by ( Review Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The bizarre and salacious nature of “The Vow,” with its intensely detailed look at the Nxivm cult, made the docuseries an understandable sensation, so much so that HBO came back for more. While “The Vow Part Two” gives viewers a front-row seat of the federal trial against founder Keith Raniere, it’s a more fragmented exercise that feels unduly stretched over six parts. Despite Nxivm’s obsession with loyalty, it’s a good reminder that what happens in Vegas seldom stays there. “Allison is a victim who was sent out to do something that she believed was good because she believed Keith was good,” Salzman explains. Warts and all, the totality of “The Vow,” including the earlier episodes, makes for fairly intoxicating viewing.

☆ Men charged in stock fraud case involving a small-town NJ deli are set to appear in federal court
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-11 | by ( Jack Stebbins | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Federal prosecutors have described the case as a tale of international fraud and betrayal. Peter Coker Jr., 53, the son of Coker Sr., is based in Hong Kong and is considered at large. Federal authorities sought to jail Coker Sr. before agreeing to a conditional release. The men are charged with conspiracy to commit securities fraud, securities fraud and conspiracy to manipulate securities prices. The peculiarities surrounding Your Hometown Deli first caught the eye of hedge-fund manager David Einhorn in 2021.

Convicted NXIVM cult leader Keith Raniere was attacked by a fellow inmate and sex offender before being wrongly punished for the incident, his attorneys said in a lawsuit. Raniere has limited knowledge of the assault.”Raniere was “given a disciplinary ticket for ‘fighting’ ” and placed in the prison’s Special Housing Unit. Withers, the alleged attacker, is serving 18 years for his convictions linked to a sex trafficking operation. “The BOP is committed to ensuring the safety and security of all inmates in our population, our staff, and the public. Raniere was sentenced to 120 years in prison following his 2019 conviction on federal sex trafficking, racketeering and possession of child pornography charges.

☆ Actrița Allison Mack, din „Smallville”, condamnată la închisoare pentru apartenenţa la o organizaţie de sclave sexuale
▼ + stars: | 2021-07-01 | by ( ) www.jurnal.md time to read: +3 min

Sursa foto: ProfimediaActrița Allison Mack, din „Smallville”, condamnată la închisoare pentru apartenenţa la o organizaţie de sclave sexualeActrița Allison Mack, cunoscută din serialul „Smallville”, a fost condamnată la trei ani de închisoare pentru apartenenţa sa la secta DOS, o organizaţie piramidală de sclave sexuale iniţiată de aşa-numitul guru al dezvoltării personale Keith Raniere. Actrița a primit o pedeapsă redusă după ce a colaborat cu autorităţile. Acuzarea a recomandat o pedeapsă cu o durată inferioară celei prevăzute de lege - între 14 şi 17 ani şi jumătate de închisoare - având în vedere colaborarea actriţei cu autorităţile pe durata anchetei. Allison Mack (38 de ani) a furnizat echipei procurorului federal din Brooklyn informaţii preţioase vizând mecanismul de funcţionare a DOS, precum şi asupra acţiunilor lui Keith Raniere. Înregistrarea, prezentată în timpul procesului, dovedeşte că ceremonia de însemnare a fost ideea lui Keith Raniere, lucru pe care liderul sectei l-a negat până acum.

Persons: Allison Mack, Actrița Allison Mack, Keith Raniere ., Judecătorul Nicholas Garaufis, Keith Raniere, Actriţa, Clark Kent Organizations: Agerpres Locations: Brooklyn

☆ How cult leader Keith Raniere used 'multilevel marketing' techniques to recruit women into a secret 'master-slave' sorority, according to survivor India Oxenberg
▼ + stars: | 2020-10-24 | by ( Melkorka Licea | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

India Oxenberg was recruited to join the Nxivm cult in 2011 and stayed until 2018. Raniere used multilevel marketing-style tactics to draw in followers, like his recruitment style and the type of people he pursued, Oxenberg says. "I felt like I was missing a lot of skills," Oxenberg, now 29, told Business Insider. Last year, the Nxivm cult leader, Keith Raniere, was convicted of a series of federal charges including sex trafficking, conspiracy for sex trafficking, conspiracy to commit forced labor, and racketeering. Oxenberg told Business Insider that Raniere used tactics she now recognizes as like those of multilevel-marketing companies, including his recruitment style and the type of person he attracted.

Persons: India Oxenberg, Keith Raniere's, Oxenberg, Catherine Oxenberg, Keith Raniere Organizations: Service Locations: India, Wall, Silicon, Los Angeles

☆ Nxivm leader Keith Raniere has been convicted. Here's what happened inside his sex-slave ring that recruited actresses and two billionaire heiresses.
▼ + stars: | 2019-06-19 | by ( Katya Kupelian | Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The scandal behind the alleged Nxivm sex-slave ringSeveral high-profile people face charges for their involvement in a secretive organization that allegedly recruited and branded women as sex slaves. Prosecutors allege that Raniere kept a group of 15 to 20 women as sex slaves, branded with his initials. Allison MackFormer "Smallville" actress Allison Mack pleaded guilty to racketeering for her alleged role in the Nxivm sex cult case. Catherine and India OxenbergActress Catherine Oxenberg took ESP courses with her daughter India. Keith Raniere faces charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, wire fraud conspiracy, possession of child pornography, forced labor conspiracy, and conspiracy to commit identity theft.

Persons: Nxivm, Keith Raniere, Nancy Salzman, ESPs, Raniere, " Salzman, Allison Mack, Clare, Sara Bronfman Clare, Sara Bronfman, heiresses, Catherine Oxenberg, Catherine, Sarah Edmondson, she'd Organizations: Forbes, Nxivm, Prosecutors, New York Times Locations: Catherine, India, Nxivm, Mexico

Search resuls for: "Nxivm"

8 mentions found