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Second Seagram Heiress Accused Of Fraud In NXIVM Sex-Cult Case

Two of Edgar Bronfman's daughters now face allegations of fraud for their involvement in the alleged predatory sex cult.

By JB Nicholas
Disturbing Details of an Alleged Sex Cult, NXIVM and Keith Raniere

The sister of Clare Bronfman, currently facing federal charges for her involvement in an alleged sex cult, is accused in a new lawsuit — of defrauding members of the group.

Sara Bronfman-Igtet, the new lawsuit alleges, “ensnared” members of the organization in a “fraudulent scheme nationwide” tied to NXIVM, the controversial organization led by Keith Raniere and funded, in part, with Bronfman money, according to the New York Post.

Sara and her sister Clare are daughters of former Seagram's liquor magnate Edgar Bronfman, and both are heirs to his multi-billion dollar Seagram's fortune.

Clare Bronfman, 39, was arrested by the FBI in July and charged with conspiracy to commit identity fraud and racketeering for her involvement in NXIVM, which prosecutors contend is a predatory sex cult that branded female followers, and even forced some into undesired sex, as previously reported by Oxygen.com.

Bronfman-Igtet pleaded not guilty at her arraignment, and faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

The indictment charging Clare Bronfman also accuses NXIVM’s alleged leader, Raniere, and "Smallville" actress Allison Mack, the group's alleged co-leader, of sex trafficking, conspiracy to commit sex trafficking and forced labor.

Bronfman-Igtet, meanwhile, allegedly misled NXIVM members into believing that classes they paid for “were equivalent to a ‘practical MBA’ to achieve success in business and in life.”

But NXIVM courses were simply a scheme to “defraud students out of millions of dollars with classes that had no end, no graduation, no certification, and no credential,” according to the lawsuit.

“Moreover, the student-victims’ tuition was used to fund a criminal enterprise run by Defendant and her indicted co-conspirators,” the suit charges.

Bronfman-Igtet allegedly lured people into the program by repeating Raniere’s claims that he “1) was one of the World’s Smartest Men; 2) began talking in complete sentences by age one; 3) was an East Coast Judo Champion at age twelve; 4) tied the New York State record for the 100-yard dash in High School; and 5) had a very rare problem-solving ability that allowed him to create a curriculum to assist others with their business projects,” the suit says.

“He is not one of the world’s smartest men, he is not a judo champion,” the plaintiffs’ lawyer, Omar Rosales, told the Post. “It’s all a lie, it’s all a scam.”

Bronfman-Igtet, who lives in France, could not immediately be reached.

[Photo: Getty]