Context:

Nicole Daedone and Rachel Cherwitz, leaders of the wellness company OneTaste, were found guilty of federal forced labor charges by a Brooklyn jury. The pair allegedly manipulated and exploited vulnerable members, many of whom had experienced sexual trauma, using coercive tactics to make them participate in uncomfortable sexual acts. Prosecutors described how the leaders promised enlightenment and freedom in exchange for these acts, but failed to deliver promised earnings, instead indebting members further. Despite the defense portraying Daedone as a pioneering feminist entrepreneur and arguing that members joined voluntarily, the jury concluded they were victims of deception and exploitation. The company, initially founded in 2004, had gained popularity through its practice of 'orgasmic meditation' but faced scrutiny and legal challenges leading to the convictions of its former executives.

Dive Deeper:

• Nicole Daedone and Rachel Cherwitz were convicted by a Brooklyn jury on federal forced labor charges for their roles in the company OneTaste, which promoted 'orgasmic meditation' as a path to wellness and empowerment.

• Prosecutors revealed that the company's leaders exploited members, many of whom were survivors of sexual trauma, by using economic, sexual, and psychological manipulation to force them into uncomfortable and unwanted sexual acts.

• Victims were coerced into performing labor and services for the personal benefit of Daedone and Cherwitz, under the guise of achieving enlightenment and freedom, often leading to financial exploitation through unpaid labor and forced debt.

• Despite the defense's argument that participants chose to engage with OneTaste willingly and were aware of its practices, the jury found that the organization's leaders preyed on vulnerable individuals with false promises.

• OneTaste, co-founded by Daedone in 2004, became notable for its controversial practices and achieved international presence, but faced significant legal and ethical scrutiny, culminating in the convictions of its former executives.

• Daedone and Cherwitz face potential sentences of up to 20 years in prison, with their legal teams expressing disappointment in the verdict and indicating plans to appeal based on complex legal issues raised during the trial.

• The company's current iteration, the Institute of OM Foundation, maintains that past practices have been misunderstood and that consent was always a foundational principle, despite the legal challenges faced by its former leaders.