Jeffrey Epstein’s longtime companion Ghislaine Maxwell was found guilty of multiple sex trafficking charges after a shorter-than-expected trial.
QUICK FACTS:
- A New York City jury found that Maxwell was Epstein’s chief enabler, recruiting and grooming young girls for him to abuse, MSNBC reports.
- Maxwell was found guilty on five of six charges, including: conspiracy to entice minors to travel to engage in illegal sex acts; conspiracy to transport minors with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity; transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity; sex trafficking conspiracy; sex trafficking of a minor.
- She was not guilty of enticement of a minor to travel to engage in illegal sex acts, the second count against her.
- Maxwell could face up to 60 years in prison at her sentencing, the date of which has not yet been set, MSNBC notes.
WHAT U.S. ATTORNEY FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK DAMIAN WILLIAMS SAID:
- “A unanimous jury has found Ghislaine Maxwell guilty of one of the worst crimes imaginable – facilitating and participating in the sexual abuse of children. Crimes that she committed with her long-time partner and co-conspirator, Jeffrey Epstein. The road to justice has been far too long. But, today, justice has been done,” Damian Williams, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, said in a statement.
- “I want to commend the bravery of the girls – now grown women – who stepped out of the shadows and into the courtroom. Their courage and willingness to face their abuser made this case, and today’s result, possible … This Office will always stand with victims, will always follow the facts wherever they lead, and will always fight to ensure that no one, no matter how powerful and well connected, is above the law.”
BACKGROUND:
- Maxwell was brought back to Metropolitan Detention Center.
- Bobbi Sternheim, Maxwell’s lawyer, said, “We firmly believe in Ghislaine’s innocence, obviously we are very disappointed with the verdict. We have already started working on the appeal, and we are confident that she will be vindicated.”
