Ghislaine Maxwell receives 20 years in prison for role in Epstein sex trafficking scheme News
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Ghislaine Maxwell receives 20 years in prison for role in Epstein sex trafficking scheme

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) Tuesday announced Ghislaine Maxwell received a 20-year prison sentence “for her role in a scheme to sexually exploit and abuse multiple minor girls with Jeffrey Epstein over the course of a decade.” Maxwell must also pay a $750,000 fine and will be supervised for five years upon release.

Maxwell was found guilty after a one-month jury trial on five of six counts, including sex trafficking, in December 2021. In May 2022 a federal judge upheld Maxwell’s conviction on sex trafficking charges. 

Maxwell acknowledged in court the “pain and anguish” the abused women suffered. Further, Maxwell stated:

My association with Epstein and this case will forever and permanently stain me. It is the greatest regret of my life that I ever met Jeffrey Epstein. Jeffrey Epstein should have been here before all of you.

However, victims were unconvinced of the sincerity of Maxwell’s apology. Four victims who say Maxwell targeted them spoke during Maxwell’s sentencing hearing. One of the victims, Annie Farmer, spoke with reporters after the sentencing and call the outcome “a big victory.” Farmer called Maxwell’s apology “hollow” and said that Maxwell “did not take responsibility for the crimes she committed.” Additionally, Farmer stated Maxwell apology seemed to benefit herself instead of addressing “the harm that she had caused.”

Maxwell plans to appeal.

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