Allison Mack departs Brooklyn Federal Court in New York Monday, January 28, 2019, AP Photo/Seth WenigHer lawyers argue for no time in jail ahead of Allison Mack's sentence.Mack was detained in 2018 and has since been cooperating with the government's investigation of NXIVM sex cult, according to a court filing.They argued that she already faces home confinement, a "tarnished image" and a felony conviction.For more stories, visit Insider's homepage.In court documents filed before her sentencing, Allison Mack's lawyers stated that Mack has already suffered enough and shouldn't be sentenced.Prosecutors claimed Mack, who pleaded guilty in April 2019 to racketeering, was part of an attempt to lure women into NXIVM so they could become sex slaves to its leader Keith Raniere. Mack admitted that he held for ransom images and private information concerning two women in exchange for ransom.Mack has since cooperated and supported the government's investigation into NXIVM, as her lawyers William F. McGovern, and Sean S. Buckley argued.Mack's cooperation led to "crucial" evidence that would not otherwise have been discovered, her lawyers stated. According to the filing, she flew from New York City to California for meetings and provided all relevant documents. Raniere was also implicated when she turned over a recording. Raniere was sentenced last year to 120 years imprisonment for seven charges, including sex trafficking, forced labor conspiracy, and sex trafficking.They argued that she had "made good faith efforts at cooperation and to assist the Government in its prosecution Raniere."Mack's involvement in NXIVM was not immediately obvious to Mack, according to the lawyers. Mack also acknowledged that she "recognizes" that her cooperation with the Government could be even greater if it had started earlier.Continue the storyThey say Mack's actions don't warrant a sentence that includes time in prison.Defense lawyers claim Mack has had enough. Mack was sentenced to home confinement and given a "tarnished image" for a felony conviction.According to court filings, Mack's mother stated that Mack was "hounded and publicly humiliated" by the media. "The shame she felt was crushing to her soul."Mack was also arrested in 2018 and has had to deal with "severe restrictions on her communication with the outside world" as well as "physical and emotional scars" from twelve years of Raniere service, according to her lawyers.They wrote that the question of which punishment is appropriate for a given case should take into account how severely Ms. Mack was punished. "We respectfully submit, that a sentence of imprisonment is not necessary to promote respect for law and retributive Justice."Mack attended psychotherapy since her arrest "to unravel the trauma she suffered and inflicted in an effort to build a foundation for a new life." According to the filing, Mack is also pursuing a bachelor's degree at the University of California, Berkeley.Mack was also argued by the lawyers to be a first-offender. This fact, they claimed, indicates that Mack is statistically less likely to reoffend.Mack has since apologized for her involvement in the sex-cult and called it her "greatest regret". Mack is scheduled to be sentenced June 30.Insider has the original article.
