Convicted NXIVM sex cult leader moved to Arizona prison

In this Tuesday, May 7, 2019, file courtroom drawing, defendant Keith Raniere, centre, leader of the secretive group NXIVM, is seated between his attorneys Paul DerOhannesian, left, and Marc Agnifilo during the first day of his sex trafficking trial. (Elizabeth Williams via AP, File)

TUCSON, Ariz. — Disgraced self-improvement guru and cult leader Keith Raniere is now being held at a federal prison in Arizona that specializes in sex offenders.

Raniere, 60, was transferred to the United States Penitentiary Tucson in January after being sentenced last year to 120 years in prison after turning some followers into sex slaves branded with his initials and sexually abusing a 15-year-old. He was convicted on charges that include alien smuggling, sex trafficking, extortion and obstruction of justice.

Raniere was the founder of NXIVM, a self-improvement company and cult that he used to sexually abuse women.

The high-security prison has previously housed mob boss James "Whitey" Bulger, Silk Road black market drug operator Ross Ulbricht and former USA Gymnastics team physician and convicted serial rapist Larry Nassar, who was transferred to another facility after he was assaulted by his fellow Tucson inmates.

The facility is one of several nationwide that operates under the Sex Offender Management Program, which is designed to keep inmates safe and more in tune with their treatment by housing a higher percentage of sex offenders, who may be targeted by other inmates at other prisons, the Arizona Daily Star reported.

NXIVM has been the subject of two TV documentary series from 2020 -- HBO's "The Vow," and the Starz series "Seduced: Inside the NXIVM Cult."