Ghislaine Maxwell convicted of federal sex trafficking charges News
© WikiMedia (Ken Lund)
Ghislaine Maxwell convicted of federal sex trafficking charges

A federal jury Wednesday found Ghislaine Maxwell guilty on five of six counts, including sex trafficking, in a case related to crimes she committed with Jeffrey Epstein, according to the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.

Maxwell was on trial for recruiting and grooming four teenagers between 1994 and 2004 for Jeffrey Epstein, her former boyfriend who was found dead in 2019 in a Manhattan jail cell while awaiting trial on sex abuse charges of his own.

The jury heard testimony from the four accusers, three of whom opted for anonymity. The three were known by the jury as Jane Doe, Kate, and Carolyn. Annie Farmer, who was among the first women to report Epstein’s alleged sexual abuse to authorities, chose not to remain anonymous.

Maxwell was accused of conspiracy coupled with a substantive charge for each of the following: enticing a minor to travel to engage in illegal sex acts, transporting a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity and sex trafficking. Maxwell was found guilty on all counts except enticement of an individual under the age of 17 to travel with intent to engage in illegal sexual activity.

US Attorney Damian Williams said of the verdict:

A unanimous jury has found Ghislaine Maxwell guilty of one of the worst crimes imaginable — facilitating and participating in the sexual abuse of children. . . . The road to justice has been far too long. But, today, justice has been done. 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.

Conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors carries a maximum sentence of 40 years, while the other convictions carry potential prison terms of five to ten years. Maxwell’s sentencing date has not yet been set.