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Leaders of sexual wellness companies who claimed to teach “orgasmic meditation” were found guilty of manipulating forced labor programs where employees were forced to engage in sexual acts for little or no wages, prosecutors said.
Following a five-week trial in Brooklyn, the federal ju judge found Nicole Dardone and 44-year-old Rachel Cherwitz guilty on June 9 of the forced labor conspiracy, according to the New York State Eastern District Attorney General’s Office. Daedone is Oneteste, Inc. and former CEO of Cherwitz was the company’s former sales manager.
Prosecutors accused the two women of running a scheme for several years to obtain labor and services from a group of Oneteste members, including volunteers, contractors and company employees. Members were often exposed to “economic, sexual, emotional and psychological abuse, surveillance, indoctrination and threats,” the U.S. Lawyer’s Office said in a news release.
According to the indictment, Daedone and Cherwitz intentionally targeted and recruited those who were suffering from trauma. Prosecutors said the two women had led members to owed their members debt by taking courses that claimed they could heal sexual trauma and dysfunction.
Daedone and Cherwitz also instructed their members to engage in sexual acts for “freedom and enlightenment,” and according to the indictment they failed to pay the promised wages.
“The ju-degree verdict has not masked Daedone and Cherwitz about who they are: grifter, who preying on vulnerable victims by making promises of sexual empowerment and health, has only to manipulate them to carry out labor and services in the interests of the defendant.”
Daedone and Cherwitz each are held in prison for up to 20 years when sentenced, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
What is Oneteste?
According to the US Lawyer’s Office, Oneteste was a private company founded in 2004 by Daedone. The company was based in San Francisco but also operated in other major cities, including New York City, Los Angeles, Denver, Austin, Texas and London.
Prosecutors said Onetaste promoted and branded it as a wellness education company focused on sexuality for women. From 2004 to 2018, prosecutors said the company made money by offering courses, coaching and events “related to so-called wellness practices” in exchange for paid pay.
The company also offered a practical class (OM) of “orgasmic mediation” (OM), according to the US Lawyer’s Office.
Prosecutors said many Onetast members lived in warehouses leased by the company. According to prosecutors, members took part in the course and experimented sexually in these warehouses.
Daedone was the leader and CEO of OneTaste around 2017 and sold the company for $12 million around 2017, the U.S. Lawyer’s Office said. Cherwitz was the company’s sales manager from 2009 to 2018.
The company was the subject of Netflix’s 2022 documentary, “Orgasm Inc: The Story of Oneteste,” which followed the rise and controversy surrounding the company. The documentary also included interviews with former members.
Oneteste said he was not a defendant in the case and previously cooperated with the investigation. The company is currently operating as an OM Foundation Research Institute, and the current owner says the charges against the former executive are unfair, according to Reuters.
Prosecutor: Oneteste’s leader used “abuseful and manipulative tactics”
Prosecutors accused Daedone and Cherwitz of using “abuseful and manipulative tactics” to control Oneteste members. The tactics are designed to make members emotionally and psychologically dependent on the company, prosecutors said.
Between 2006 and 2018, prosecutors said Daedone and Cherwitz forced young women who had “turned to reasse for healing and spirituality” and forced them to do the work for them. The work included manual work and sexual services.
According to the indictment, the former executive encouraged members to owe debt by opening a credit line to pay for expensive courses. Prosecutors said the Onetast courses ranged from tens of thousands of dollars each.
“After securing the loyalty and debt of certain Onatast members, Daedone and Cherwitz engaged in abusive employment practices,” the U.S. Law Office said, adding that the members worked long hours seven days a week with little or no wages.
Prosecutors said Daedone and Cherwitz had been exposed to sexual abuse and surveillance in the apartment complex. The two women were also deprived of sleep and collected confidential information about their previous trauma and sexual history, according to prosecutors.
“They isolated Oneteste members from their support network by splitting established relationships and assigning them to move to new locations in a short period of time,” according to the U.S. Lawyer’s Office. “While employing such tactics, Daedon and Scherwitz called for an absolute commitment to Dadone, including elevating Dadone’s teachings and ideology.”
During the trial, prosecutors said the three witnesses testified that they had been pressured to become “handlers” for Oneteste, who is also Daedone’s boyfriend. Witnesses said they were forced to live with him, cook and “enfranchise sexual acts in his direction,” according to prosecutors.
Other witnesses testified that they were forced to participate in sexual activity with potential clients and investors in the company, prosecutors said. Witnesses said Daedone and Cherwitz had threatened them with fire, demoted, expelled, and financial and spiritual ruin.
Contribution: Reuters