Keith Raniere, founder of the company Nxivm, has been sentenced to 120 years in prison.
US District Judge Nicholas Garaufis read the sentence in Brooklyn federal court Tuesday, after more than a dozen people gave victim impact statements at his sentencing.
Garaufis said in his decision that the crimes Raniere was convicted of are "cruel, perverse and extremely serious."
"Despite everything that has happened and despite the countless victims who have given voice to their great pain, Mr. Raniere remains unmoved. Indeed, he maintains his innocence," Garaufis said. "To him, the brave victims who have spoken out about the abuse suffered at his hands -- including those who spoke today -- are liars."
Raniere, 60, was convicted in 2019 by a jury in Brooklyn federal court of counts including racketeering, sex trafficking, sexual exploitation of a child and human trafficking.
"Keith Raniere will not be able to victimize people anymore after today's sentence and we're very grateful for that," said Acting US Attorney for Eastern District of New York Seth DuCharme. "It struck me in listening to the victims that Raniere really twisted people's trust and their need to find some meaning and hope in their lives in just the most insidious and devious ways."
Fifteen of Raniere's victims either spoke or had statements read at his sentencing in Brooklyn federal court, John Marzulli, a spokesman for the US Attorney's Office of Eastern New York, said.
One of those victims was the 15-year-old girl at the center of the sexual exploitation of a child charge that Raniere was convicted of. A redacted copy of her victim impact statement was posted to the court record, in which she said she was 15 and he was 45 when they began to have sex, and that he took nude photos of her.
"While he hid our sexual relationship from others, he explained it to me by telling me that I was very mature for my age. And I know now that it was false -- I was a child," her victim impact statement read. "He used my innocence to do whatever he wanted with me -- not just sexually but also psychologically."
CNN is not reporting the name of the girl, who is now an adult.
Also in Raniere's corner is "Battlestar Galactica" actress Nicki Clyne, who participated in part of the alleged Nxivm scheme and has not been charged with a crime. She did not respond to CNN's requests for comment.
Meanwhile, supporters' efforts to write letters and a petition that demands prosecutors acknowledge whether they acted ethically in the case "appear to be directed" by Raniere, government lawyers said in a court filing.
The New York Times reported that Raniere spoke before the court at his sentencing, maintaining his innocence, saying some of the victims were lying but also saying he was "deeply sorry."
"Where I am is caused by me," Raniere said, according to The New York Times. "This is all my doing."
