Nicole Daedone, founder of OneTaste Inc., and former sales director Rachel Cherwitz were found guilty of federal forced labor charges by a Brooklyn jury. After a five-week trial, the jury deliberated for under two days, with both women facing up to 20 years in prison at sentencing.
Prosecutors argued Daedone and Cherwitz orchestrated a scheme that exploited vulnerable individuals, many of whom had histories of sexual trauma, coercing them into uncomfortable sexual acts under the guise of achieving “freedom” and “enlightenment.” The women were accused of using tactics like economic and psychological abuse to manipulate OneTaste members, forcing some to take on debt to fund their participation in the organization’s courses.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nina Gupta highlighted that the defendants built their business at the expense of these victims, stripping them of dignity and agency. The defense portrayed Daedone as a feminist entrepreneur, arguing that participants voluntarily engaged with OneTaste and could leave whenever they chose. Cherwitz’s lawyer suggested that regrets shared by former members were not indicative of coercion.
OneTaste, co-founded in 2004, centered around a practice called “orgasmic meditation,” which involved men stimulating women in group settings. The company garnered positive media attention and expanded globally by offering courses and events focused on sexual empowerment. However, Daedone sold her stake in the company for $12 million in 2017, shortly before scrutiny intensified over the organization’s practices.
The current owners of OneTaste, now rebranded as the Institute of OM Foundation, maintain that sexual consent was always prioritized and claim the charges against their former executives are unjust. Following the verdict, Daedone and Cherwitz’s legal team expressed disappointment and announced plans to appeal.
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