Sex Cult Leader Moved To Tucson Prison From New York

TUCSON, AZ — A convicted sex cult leader now resides in a federal prison in Tucson.

Keith Raniere, 60, who was sentenced last year to 120 years in prison after turning female NXIVM followers into sex slaves branded with his initials and sexually abusing a 15-year-old, has been transferred to the U.S. Penitentiary Tucson. He was convicted on multiple charges, including alien smuggling, sex trafficking, extortion and obstruction of justice.

NXIVM was billed as a self-help group, but Raniere, the group's founder, used it to sexually abuse women.

A spokesperson for the prison did not immediately respond to Patch's request for comment.

The Tucson penitentiary is one of the few in the U.S. that was designed under the Sex Offender Management Program and houses a higher number of sex offenders who may be targeted by inmates at other prisons.

Other inmates who have called the prison home include mob boss James “Whitey” Bulger and former USA Gymnastics team physician and convicted serial rapist Larry Nassar, who was transferred out after he was targeted by other inmates.

NXIVM has been profiled in two recent television documentaries: HBO's "The Vow" and “Seduced: Inside the NXIVM Cult" on Starz.

The Associated Press contributed to this reporting.