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 person and to ever view myself as independent of Keith or NXIVM. 'I looked to Keith for guidance, I overrode my own value system and went against my better judgment believing I couldn't trust my decision-making ability. I now see that Keith not only took advantage of this blind trust, but he required it, which is something much more calculated and sinister. This was a toxic relationship.' Salzman's mother, Nancy, has also been charged with racketeering conspiracy in relation to the NXIVM cult. She is due to be sentenced in September. Nancy - who has also turned against Raniere - wrote her own letter to Judge Garaufis pleading for him to be lenient with her daughter. 'I am responsible for Lauren being before you, having endured arrest, prosecution and successful cooperation, and now facing her own judgment,' she wrote. Lauren Salzman's mother, Nancy Salzman (pictured) co-founded NXIVM alongside Keith Raniere., She is Allison Mack, 38, is pictured leaving the federal court in Brooklyn on Wednesday after she was sentenced to three years in prison and ordered to pay a $20,000 fine Mack admitted to helping Raniere create a secret society of brainwashed women who were branded with his initials (above) In 2019, following her arrest, Salzman confessed to locking a young woman - known only as Jane Doe 4 - in her home to fulfil her duties in DOS. She sated that the woman was put to work while enslaved in the room, and revealed that she 'threatened to deport Jane Doe 4 back to Mexico if she did not complete labor requested by myself and others.' Meanwhile, other members of DOS included Smallville actress Alison Mack, who was jailed earlier this year after pleading guilty to a string of charges. Mack - who had been associated with NXIVM since the mid-2000 - was also a close confidante of Reniere and a senior member of DOS. THE NXIVM MEMBERS CHARGED IN SEX CULT CASE Keith Raniere Charges: Racketeering conspiracy, forced labor conspiracy, wire fraud conspiracy, sex trafficking conspiracy, sex trafficking, attempted sex trafficking, conspiracy to commit identity theft. Plea: Not Guilty Verdict: Guilty, all counts Sentence: 120 years in prison Clare Bronfman Charges: Racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to commit identity theft Plea: Guilty (plea deal) Sentence: 81 months in prison and $500,000 fine Allison Mack Charges: Racketeering conspiracy, forced labor conspiracy, wire fraud conspiracy, sex trafficking conspiracy, sex trafficking, attempted sex trafficking Plea: Guilty (plea deal) Sentence: Three years in prison Kathy Russell Charges: Racketeering conspiracy Plea: Guilty (plea deal) Lauren Salzman Charges: Racketeering conspiracy, forced labor conspiracy, wire fraud conspiracy Plea: Guilty (plea deal) Nancy Salzman Charges: Racketeering conspiracy Plea: Guilty Advertisement All rights reserved for this news site (dailymail) and under his responsibility