Clare Bronfman was slapped with an 81-month jail sentence on Wednesday for her involvement in NXIVM, a self-improvement organization in New York that authorities said functioned as a sex-trafficking sect and franchise fraud.

The inheritor of Canadian drinks giant Seagram pleaded guilty in a sex trafficking operation linked to a cult, making Bronfman the first of six of the group's influential members to be convicted, according to reports.

The punishment is even longer than the five years that the prosecutors pursued. Her lawyers sought for a three-year probation instead of serving time behind bars.

The 41-year-old heiress was found guilty for her participation in a purported cult that exploited female members to engage in master-slave relationships and other sex-related activities. She denied having any knowledge regarding sexual violations within the inner circle's shady women-labeling sorority, Variety disclosed.

Founded in 1998 by Keith Raniere and headquartered in Albany, New York, NXIVM (pronounced NEHK-see-uhm) was promoted as a self-help workshop to support successful individuals discover fulfillment. More than 18,000 members have enrolled in NXIVM's classes which requires a registration fee that costs thousands of dollars.

Moments before Bronfman was sentenced for conspiracy to conceal illegal immigrants for financial gain and illicit use of identification, she said that she is actually very thankful and fortunate that "people all over the world are praying for me because they know my goodness," Daily Beast quoted her as saying.

NXIVM's well-to-do members include Hollywood celebrities, company executives, and popular sporting figures. In 2019, Bronfman pleaded guilty to credit card fraud and harboring illegal aliens on behalf of NXIVM whose founder was found guilty in June of the same year of having detained around 20 sex slaves for years.

After Bronfman and four NXIVM leaders pleaded guilty in June last year, their disgraced leader was the only respondent who stood trial and resulted in his sentencing for sex trafficking, racketeering, and other unlawful acts.