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The founder and former head of sales of One Taste, a controversial sexual wellness company, was convicted of forced labor conspiracy in a federal court, marking a stunning fall from grace for an organization once marketed as a path to sexual healing and empowerment.

One Taste, started in San Francisco in 2004, claims to be a sexual wellness brand offering expensive retreats and courses. But prosecutors said it was run like a cult, where people were forced to work without pay and take part in sexual acts to benefit the owners and investors.

Federal Jury Convicts One Taste Leadership

On May 9, 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York announced that a federal jury found Nicole Daedone, the founder and former CEO of One Taste Inc., and Rachel Cherwitz, the company’s former head of sales, guilty of coercing members into unpaid labor and sex acts.

 Each woman now faces up to 20 years in prison for the exploitation of vulnerable individuals under the guise of sexual wellness education.

“The jury’s verdict has unmasked Daedone and Cherwitz for who they truly are: grifters who preyed on vulnerable victims by making empty promises of sexual empowerment and wellness,” said U.S. Attorney Breon Peace in a statement.

Brooklyn US Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr called the duo "grifters who preyed on vulnerable victims, by making empty promises of sexual empowerment and wellness only to manipulate them into performing labor and services" for their benefit.

Inside the Cult-Like World of One Taste

Founded by Daedone in 2004, One Taste operated out of San Francisco, with additional locations in cities such as New York, Los Angeles, Denver, Austin, and London.

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It became widely known for promoting a practice called "orgasmic meditation," which involved guided genital stimulation sessions that were packaged as therapeutic.

But beneath the surface, federal prosecutors said, was a deeply manipulative, coercive, and abusive operation. Between 2006 and 2018, Daedone and Cherwitz recruited individuals with past trauma. They promised to heal them while subjecting them to emotional abuse, surveillance, and sexual exploitation.

Manipulation and Abuse for Profit

Courses at One Taste ranged from hundreds to tens of thousands of dollars. Victims were pressured to take on debt to attend classes and were monitored extensively.

According to the indictment, members were forced to work long hours, engage in unpaid labor, and perform sex acts with investors and clients for the financial benefit of the company.

“They implemented abusive and manipulative tactics to control their members by making them emotionally and psychologically dependent,” prosecutors stated.

Witnesses testified that they were forced to serve as “handlers” for investors, including Daedone’s boyfriend, by cooking, cleaning, and engaging in demeaning sexual acts. Others were threatened with ostracism and spiritual ruin if they refused to comply.

A $12 Million Exit

In 2017, Daedone reportedly sold One Taste for $12 million, cashing out from what prosecutors described as a business “built on the backs of coerced and unpaid or substantially underpaid labor.”

Despite its wellness branding, the federal jury’s verdict reveals the disturbing reality behind One Taste’s operations.

With sentencing pending, the case serves as a stark warning about the dangers of cult-like organizations that exploit the idea of healing for profit.

Related Links:

• Justice Department announcement: Forced labor conviction
• Original indictment press release
• One Taste Wellness Firm