Nicole Daedone, the co-founder of OneTaste Inc., was sentenced to nine years in federal prison on Monday in Brooklyn after federal prosecutors and a judge described her “orgasmic meditation” program as coercion disguised as wellness. Prosecutors said the sex-focused women’s wellness company exploited vulnerable women and pushed them into performing sex acts with the company’s clients and investors. Prosecutors said Daedone’s case involved a broader forced labor conspiracy tied to the company’s marketing and practices, and prosecutors described a mix of pressure, manipulation and exhaustion used to keep members compliant.
In a statement after the sentence, Joseph Nocella, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, said, “Coercion disguised as wellness or empowerment is still exploitation and it is a crime that causes harm to vulnerable victims.” Prosecutors said Daedone did not testify or speak in federal court on Monday as she faced a packed hearing and a public sentencing proceeding.
Federal prosecutors said the scheme left victims with long-term harm that included financial damage and emotional effects, and they asked the judge to impose a 20-year prison term. In presentencing filings, prosecutors wrote that Daedone and her co-conspirators exercised control through economic pressure, psychological manipulation, physical exhaustion and emotional degradation, leaving behind what they described as a trail of financial ruin and lasting trauma. Prosecutors said Daedone’s leadership of OneTaste also involved “orgasmic meditation,” which prosecutors described as a centerpiece of the company’s program in which men manually stimulated women in a group setting.
U.S. District Court Judge Diane Gujarati, handing down the sentence, said Daedone’s conduct was not about enlightenment or a spiritual departure but instead was criminal, according to reporting referenced by the Associated Press. The judge said that “What she was doing wasn’t about enlightenment or operating in a different dimension,” and added, “It was criminal,” according to The New York Times. According to the Associated Press report, Gujarati also said Daedone did not appear remorseful as supporters turned out for the hearing.
A victim told the judge that she had believed in Daedone’s “so-called feminist mission” before feeling harmed by the program, The Daily News reported. The woman said she was “left with significant financial damages and emotional harm,” and, according to the newspaper, said, “In reality, I fell into Nicole’s trap,” adding, “I was the perfect target.”
On Monday, prosecutors said Daedone was ordered to forfeit $12 million. Federal prosecutors also said seven victims were awarded roughly $890,000 in restitution.
Daedone’s lawyers argued against the length of incarceration sought by prosecutors, describing a lengthy term as unwarranted. They sought a term of around two years and noted that Daedone, 58, had no prior criminal record. The defense said more than 200 people submitted letters to the court describing her character, generosity and influence.
The sentencing memo described Daedone’s reputation and impact beyond OneTaste, and the Associated Press report said the defense lawyers wrote that she “has lived an uncommon and impactful life, and she is deeply respected by people from all walks of life, including many entirely unconnected to OneTaste.” Among people who submitted support letters, the Associated Press report said Van Jones, a CNN correspondent and former adviser to President Barack Obama, described Daedone as “a woman of uncommon wisdom, grace and moral courage” who has “dedicated her life to helping others find healing, empowerment and a deeper sense of human connection.” The report also said actor Richard Schiff, from “The West Wing,” wrote that Daedone deserved leniency because she “spent her life trying to bring compassion, awareness, and honesty to a part of human experience that is often shamed or misunderstood.”
Cherwitz, the company’s former sales director, was also sentenced on Monday, federal prosecutors said. The Associated Press report said Rachel Cherwitz was sentenced to six and a half years for her role in the scheme. Her lawyers did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.
After the sentencing, Daedone’s lawyers said they were focused on appealing her conviction. The Associated Press report also said prominent attorney Alan Dershowitz said he would seek a pardon from President Donald Trump for Daedone and for Cherwitz.
Daedone co-founded OneTaste in San Francisco in 2004, the Associated Press report said, describing the company as self-help commune-style at the start, with a focus on female orgasms as part of sexual and psychological wellness and connection. The report said OneTaste drew glowing media coverage in the 2010s and expanded to locations including Los Angeles and London. It said Daedone sold her stake in 2017 for $12 million, about a year before OneTaste’s marketing and labor practices came under scrutiny.
Prosecutors said Daedone and Cherwitz groomed adherents, including some victims of sexual trauma, to carry out the company’s bidding. The Associated Press report said prosecutors described the defendants as using sexual and psychological abuse, intimidation and indoctrination to force members into sexual acts they found uncomfortable or repulsive, including sex with prospective investors or clients. Prosecutors said the defendants told followers the acts were necessary to obtain “freedom” and “enlightenment” and to demonstrate commitment to OneTaste’s principles.
The Associated Press report said the company’s current owners maintain that the work has been misconstrued and that the charges against its former executives were unjustified.