Hey all, some OneTaste criminal trial updates below. (And as a refresher for those who might be missing context: here’s background on the company and its founder, Nicole Daedone. I’m following this trial because I’m going to publish a book about OneTaste in a few months)
On Monday afternoon, a jury found OneTaste co-founder Nicole Daedone and its former head of sales Rachel Cherwitz guilty of forced labor conspiracy. Basically, prosecutors argued that Nicole and Rachel manipulated OneTaste employees — psychologically and spiritually — to work for the company by providing manual labor and sexual services (including OneTaste’s trademark practice, orgasmic meditation). A jury, it turns out, agreed.
When the verdict was read, a small gasp could be heard in the courtroom. Nicole, seated next to her defense attorney, smiled faintly and nodded. Later, outside the courthouse, her attorney said they would appeal.
Then, on Tuesday morning, Nicole and Rachel were taken into custody when the judge denied their bail. This was a big surprise because the prosecutors had not asked for the two women to be remanded.
The judge expressed strong concerns during the bail hearing about the way OneTaste supporters had been conducting themselves before and during the five-week trial. She cited both in-person behavior (making noises and faces while witnesses testified) and online behavior (certain blog posts from OneTaste affiliates that she felt were meant to intimidate witnesses). It wasn’t exactly clear what tipped the scales for her, but the conclusion was plain: bail denied.
After that pronouncement, it all happened quickly: Four deputies from the US Marshals Service approached Nicole and Rachel and stood by while the two women took off their jewelry and left behind their personal belongings.
The officers escorted them toward a side door. Both women gazed back at their supporters in the gallery. Rachel mouthed “I love you.” Right before Nicole stepped through the door, she waved with both hands and smiled.
Outside the courtroom, Nicole’s attorney, Jennifer Bonjean, called the outcome “devastating.” They’re planning to appeal the bail decision, too. “We maintain their innocence,” Bonjean said. “Not everything deserves a lengthy sentence.”
What’s next? Sentencing is scheduled for Sept 25 and 26.
It’s been a tense couple of days in Brooklyn. As we waited in the courtroom for the verdict, the gallery was filled with silent adrenaline. After Nicole and Rachel were taken into custody, their supporters filed out of the courtroom, some in tears. I’ll collect my thoughts and reflections on the trial for my book, which I’ll send more updates on soon.
In non-OneTaste news, here’s my latest feature for Bloomberg Businessweek, with my dynamite colleague Kate Clark:
The Spying Scandal Rocking the World of HR Software — a wild story in which two billion-dollar HR software startups, Rippling and Deel, are each accusing each other of dramatic corporate espionage. And the allegations largely hinge on the word of one accused spy: a rank-and-file corporate payroll geek named Keith O’Brien.
It features a panicked decision to smash a phone with an axe, a digital honeypot trap set on Slack, and messages sent in code — “send that watch to London.” Oh, and, most importantly, this incredible gif (thank you Businessweek graphics team!!!)
This link will be unpaywalled for 7 days! Give it a read!
A couple past posts about the trial:
a quick dispatch from the OneTaste trial
Hello from New York City, where I’ve been watching some of the OneTaste trial happening in the federal courthouse in Brooklyn.
