Lauren Salzman has avoided jail time for her role in recruiting slaves for the NXIVM sex cult.
Salzman, 45, was facing nine years behind bars after pleading guilty to charges of racketeering and conspiracy, but on Wednesday US District Judge Nicholas Garaufis instead sentenced her to five years probation.
He took mercy on Salzman, noting that she had dramatically turned her life around and had delivered testimony against NXIVM co-founder Keith Raniere that 'substantially contributed' to his prosecution.
Last year, Raniere was sentenced to 120 years in jail for a slew of crimes, including sex and human trafficking.
Salzman escaped serving time despite the fact she confessed to locking one young woman in a room for two years in order to fulfil her duties in the sex cult.
Salzman first met Keith Raniere more than two decades ago after her own mother, Nancy, co-founded the NXIVM multi-level marketing company alongside Raniere in upstate New York.
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, turned into his sex slaves, 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 recruited numerous women into the society.
She also admitted to extorting the recruits by demanding compromising material, like nude photos, that could be used as blackmail if they refused orders.
Lauren Salzman has been avoided jail time for her role in recruiting slaves for the NXIVM sex cult
Salzman, 45, was facing nine years behind bars after pleading guilty to charges of racketeering and conspiracy, but US District Judge Nicholas Garaufis instead sentenced her to five years probation on Wednesday
Salzman and Raniere were longtime lovers, but Salzman now says she was 'manipulated' by her ex
Salzman and Raniere were longtime lovers, but Salzman now says she was 'manipulated' by her ex.
In a letter written to Judge Garaufis prior to sentencing, Salzman claimed she stayed in DOS because Raniere had promised her they would have children together.
'For two decades, I allowed Keith to govern almost every area of my life. This stunted my ability to think for myself, to be my own
