⁍ Keith Raniere, the founder of the cult-like group NXIVM where women were kept on starvation diets, was sentenced on Tuesday to 120 years in prison.

---

⁍ The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Nicholas Garaufis in Brooklyn, after a hearing where 15 former NXIVM members spoke out against Raniere.

---

⁍ Garaufis said ‘no words can adequately express the lasting pain’ Raniere caused his victims.

---

– “He screwed with my mind for so long that trying to find the strength and clarity to tell my story has been a slow and painful journey,” said one of 15 former members of a cult-like group whose leader was sentenced to 120 years in prison Tuesday. “No words can adequately express the lasting pain” Keith Raniere caused his victims, US District Judge Nicholas Garaufis said in sentencing the founder of the self-help group NXIVM to the maximum of 120 years on sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, and child pornography charges, per Reuters. Garaufis also fined Raniere $1.75 million, the maximum allowed by the law. Raniere, 60, was found guilty in June of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and possession of child pornography for his role in the secret sorority within NXIVM called DOS, where women were branded with his initials and forced to have sex with him, the AP reports. “I do believe strongly that I’m innocent of these crimes,” Raniere said before he was sentenced. “I am truly sorry for causing them pain. I did not mean to hurt anyone.” He said some of the victims’ statements were false, but he was “truly sorry” for causing them pain. Acting US Attorney Seth DuCharme, whose office prosecuted the case, said after the sentencing: “Keith Raniere will not be able to victimize people anymore.”