where is ghislaine maxwell today ?
hours 8,ago,latest
A jury in a New York federal court found Ghislaine Maxwell guilty of five of six counts related to her role in the sexual abuse of underage girls by Jeffrey Epstein between 1994 and 2004.
Maxwell, 60, was convicted of five federal charges: sex trafficking of a minor, transporting a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity and three counts of conspiracy-related.
She was acquitted on charges of soliciting a minor to travel to engage in illegal sexual acts.
Maxwell, who now faces up to 65 years in prison, showed no reaction when the sentences were read out. Judge Alison Nathan did not specify a date for sentencing.
"The road to justice is a very long way. But today justice has been served," US Attorney Damian Williams said in a statement. "I want to commend the courage of the girls - adult women now - who came out of the shadows and entered the courtroom. Their courage and willingness to confront the assailant made this case, and today's result possible."
The jury, made up of six women and six men, deliberated for 40 hours in portions of six days.
Prosecutors argued that Maxwell and Epstein conspired to create a scheme to lure young girls into sexual relations with Epstein from 1994 to 2004 in New York, Florida, New Mexico and the US Virgin Islands. Four women testified during the trial that Epstein abused them and that Maxwell facilitated and sometimes even participated in the abuse.
Meanwhile, her defense said she was a "scapegoat" for Epstein's actions and attacked the memories and motives of the women who said they had been sexually abused.
Attorney Bobby C. Sternheim said Maxwell's attorneys are working on an appeal.
"We firmly believe in Ghislaine's innocence. We are clearly very disappointed with the verdict," Sternheim said, adding that her team believed Maxwell would still be acquitted.
The trial, which began on November 29, alternated between disturbing testimony from victims of sexual abuse and highlighting the testimony of some of Epstein's connections to some high-profile celebrities.
Epstein, who pleaded guilty in 2008 to prostitution charges, was indicted on federal sex trafficking charges in July 2019, but died by suicide in prison a month later. Maxwell, his best friend and ex-girlfriend, was arrested a year later and has been in prison ever since.
The trial took place in a federal court that prohibited the use of cameras.
Diagram of Ghislaine Maxwell during Wednesday's court hearing where she was convicted on five of six federal charges.
Diagram of Ghislaine Maxwell during Wednesday's court hearing where she was convicted on five of six federal charges.
Maxwell still faces two pending perjury charges related to a 2016 civil filing.
What happened in the trial?
The prosecution's case was based primarily on four women who had personal stories of Maxwell's alleged role in facilitating Epstein's abuse.
Jane, testifying under a pseudonym, said that Maxwell organized sexual massages with Epstein and at times joined in the abuse. The charges of seduction - on which Maxwell was acquitted - and transport relate only to her testimony.
Caroline testified that when she was 14, Maxwell touched her breasts, hips and buttocks and told her she "has the wonderful body of Epstein and his friends". The trafficking charges for the sexual exploitation of children - the most serious of all - relate to her testimony.
Charges laid out against Ghislaine Maxwell in her federal sex trafficking trial.
Charges laid out against Ghislaine Maxwell in her federal sex trafficking trial.
Kate witnessed Maxwell inviting her and instructing her on how to give Epstein a sexual massage. She said that Maxwell often talked to her about sexual issues and asked Kate to invite other girls over Epstein's sexual desires.
The jury was instructed that Maxwell could not be found guilty of any of the charges based solely on testimony from Kate because she was over the age of consent at the time of the events.
A jury can consider Kate's allegations as well as the testimony of Jane, Caroline and Annie Farmer.
Farmer, the only defendant to testify under her full name, said she was 16 when Maxwell massaged her bare chest at Epstein's ranch in New Mexico in 1996.
Prosecutors sought the close link between Maxwell and Epstein and said her actions to normalize sexual massage were crucial to his international scheme to abuse his properties in New York, Florida, New Mexico and the US Virgin Islands.
ghislaine maxwell manchester by the sea
ghislaine maxwell marriage
ghislaine maxwell movie
ghislaine maxwell married
ghislaine maxwell w
