Nicole Daedone Gets 9 Years in Prison for OneTaste Forced Labor Scheme
Nicole Daedone, founder of the OneTaste company that taught 'orgasmic meditation,' was sentenced to nine years in federal prison Monday for forced labor conspiracy. Her former sales head Rachel Cherwitz got six and a half years.
Nicole Daedone built OneTaste around a practice called 'orgasmic meditation' that she claimed would bring spiritual wellbeing and mental clarity through clitoral stimulation. The San Francisco-based company attracted thousands of followers seeking enlightenment.
But federal prosecutors said Daedone and her team forced employees to work grueling hours without proper pay. They told workers these sacrifices were necessary to achieve 'freedom' and 'enlightenment' and prove their commitment to the organization.
A federal judge said the scheme caused victims 'long-lasting, if not irreparable' harm. The judge criticized Daedone for showing no remorse during the trial. Both Daedone and Cherwitz appeared in court wearing beige prison jumpsuits, a stark change from their once-glamorous public appearances.
Daedone was also ordered to pay $890,000 to victims. Some observers worry the case could set a precedent for criminalizing unconventional spiritual practices, though prosecutors focused on the labor violations rather than the meditation techniques themselves.
The case shows how wellness companies can exploit workers under the guise of spiritual growth. It also raises questions about where religious freedom ends and criminal behavior begins in alternative spiritual movements.
Appeals from both defendants are likely. The case may influence how prosecutors handle other alternative wellness companies.
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