women’s ‘Orgasmic Meditation’ Company Founder Sentenced to 9 Years
The founder of a women’s wellness company known for promoting “orgasmic meditation” was sentenced Monday to nine years in federal prison after being convicted of forced labor offenses.
Nicole Daedone, who co-founded OneTaste Inc., received the sentence during a hearing in federal court in Brooklyn. The judge also ordered her to give up $12 million, the amount she earned from selling the California-based company. The figure represents the price she received when she sold her stake in the business.
Federal prosecutors had requested a 20-year prison sentence. In court filings ahead of sentencing, they argued that Daedone’s actions caused serious harm to numerous victims, saying many were left with lasting financial, emotional, and psychological damage.
According to prosecutors, Daedone and her associates maintained control over followers through financial pressure, psychological influence, exhaustion, and emotional mistreatment. They said the operation left people dealing with significant trauma and financial loss.
US District Judge Diane Gujarati said a lengthy prison term was necessary to prevent future wrongdoing. She rejected the idea that the company’s activities were part of any higher spiritual pursuit, saying the conduct involved criminal behavior rather than enlightenment.
Daedone’s attorneys argued for a far lighter sentence of about two years. They said a lengthy prison term would be excessive and emphasized that she had no previous criminal record. The defense also pointed to more than 200 letters submitted to the court supporting her character and describing her as generous and influential.
In their sentencing memo, her lawyers described Daedone as a writer, teacher, and spiritual practitioner whose work focused on helping people reduce suffering and build meaningful human relationships. One supporter who wrote to the court was CNN commentator Van Jones, a former adviser to President Barack Obama, who praised Daedone’s wisdom and character.
Rachel Cherwitz, a former sales director at the company, was also awaiting sentencing.
During the month-long trial, prosecutors argued that Daedone and Cherwitz led a long-running scheme that manipulated followers—many of whom had experienced sexual trauma. Authorities said members were pressured into performing acts they found disturbing or uncomfortable, including having sex with potential investors or clients.
Prosecutors said the leaders told participants that these actions were necessary to achieve personal freedom and spiritual growth, and that carrying them out proved their dedication to the organization.
The defense portrayed Daedone differently, describing her as a pioneering entrepreneur who built a business centered on women’s sexuality and empowerment.
Daedone founded OneTaste in San Francisco in 2004. The organization operated partly as a self-help community that promoted the idea that female orgasm played a central role in emotional and psychological well-being. One of its central practices was “orgasmic meditation,” commonly called “OM,” which involved a man manually stimulating a woman in a group setting.
Throughout the 2010s, the company gained significant media attention and was often portrayed as an innovative venture focused on women’s sexual pleasure. It expanded to several cities, including Los Angeles and London.
In 2017, Daedone sold her stake in the company for $12 million. The following year, the company’s marketing strategies and labor practices began to face increased scrutiny. Since then, the organization’s current owners have changed its name to the Institute of OM Foundation.
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