Ivy Nevares (pictured) said she received a threatening phone call from someone warning her against speaking out about NIXVM cult leader Keith Raniere's second-in-command, Nancy Salzman
A sex cult victim says she received a threatening phone call three days after testifying against NIXVM cult leader Keith Raniere - warning her to keep quiet about his second-in-command at the cult, Nancy Salzman.
'Do not talk about Nancy Salzman,' the male caller reportedly told the NIXVM victim.
'I felt intimidated and, after the call, was deeply upset for days,' Nevares revealed, in a letter to the judge in Salzman's case.
Salzman is accused of co-founding NIXVM with Raniere and stood as his second-in-command for 20 years.
Raniere was sentenced to 120 years in jail on October 27, 2020 for multiple charges of sex trafficking and abuse as the head of the sex cult.
Now, Salzman, who pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy, is set to be sentenced on Wednesday. She is expected to face between 33 and 41 months in prison.
Nevares and other former Nxivm members say Salman managed many of Nxivm's operations, in addition to helping Raniere avoid responsibility.
In a letter to the judge in Salzman's case, Nevares said Raniere sexually assaulted her, writing that Salzman 'normalized the assault,' telling her she was 'lucky' to be 'singled out' by Raniere.
According to a letter Nevares later sent to the judge, the caller warned her specifically not talk about Nancy Salzman, (pictured) who co-founded Nxivm's former group with Raniere and stood as his second-in-command for 20 years
Additionally in her letter, Nevares said Raniere (pictured) sexually assaulted her, writing that Salzman 'normalized the assault,' telling her she was 'lucky' to be 'singled out' by Raniere
'I don't think Nxivm could have existed without Nancy Salzman,' Alejandro Betancourt, a member of Nxivm's executive board for nine years, said in an interview. 'Nancy was Keith's enabler.'
Last year, Raniere was sentenced to 120 years in jail for a slew of crimes, including sex and human trafficking and ordered to pay $3.5 million to 21 victims of a sex-trafficking scheme
He has continued to refuse to take responsibility for his actions, telling the court on Tuesday: 'I do believe I am innocent of the charges.'
'It is true I am not remorseful of the crimes I do not believe I committed at all,' said Raniere, known to cult members as 'Vanguard' and 'the smartest man in the world.'
Written statements to the court from former Nxivm members depict how Salzman assisted in teaching Raniere's philosophical musings, in addition to creating a plan they could market together.
Raniere additionally assigned Salzman to deal with female members in the group who he deemed
