Popular US actress, Allison Mack, famous for her role in the television series Smallville, has been released from prison ahead of schedule after serving two years for her involvement in a sex-trafficking case linked to a cult-like group.

In April 2019, the 40-year-old pleaded guilty to racketeering and conspiracy charges, which stemmed from her efforts to recruit women into the Nxivm sex cult.

Mack was sentenced to three years in prison but has been granted early release.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons confirmed her release on Monday, marking the end of her two-year sentence.

Nxivm, pronounced “nexium,” started as a self-help program in 1998. The organization claimed to have assisted over 16,000 individuals, including prominent figures such as the son of a former Mexican president and Hollywood actresses like Allison Mack.

Prosecutors alleged that Mack played a significant role in recruiting and grooming women to become sexual partners for Keith Raniere, the leader of Nxivm. Despite Raniere being the only man in the group’s top hierarchy, Mack served as one of his most influential female deputies.

According to the prosecution, female recruits were branded with Raniere’s initials and coerced into engaging in sexual activities with him in exchange for membership in the group, which was based in Albany, New York.

The news of Mack’s early release was first reported by the Albany Times Union, a New York newspaper.

Mack, who was arrested in 2018, initially faced a potential sentence of up to 17 years in prison. However, her cooperation with prosecutors and the evidence she provided resulted in a reduced sentence.

Her assistance was crucial in building the case against Raniere, who received a 120-year prison sentence in 2020 for various crimes, including the coercion of women into becoming his sexual “slaves.”

Before her sentencing, Allison Mack expressed remorse for the harm caused by her actions and described her involvement with the group as the “biggest mistake and regret” of her life.

She apologized to those affected by Nxivm, acknowledging the manipulative and emotionally abusive tactics employed by Raniere.

Allison Mack’s early release brings a conclusion to this high-profile sex-trafficking case while raising questions about the lasting impact and repercussions of her involvement in Nxivm.