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UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE Southern District of New York ACTING U.S. ATTORNEY
AUDREY STRAUSS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE Thi.mi
la , July
2.2020
htt ://www.'ustice. ov/usao/n
NYPD FBI
GHISLAINE
EPSTEIN TO SEXUALLY ABUSE MINORS Maxwell is Alleged to Have Facilitated, Participated in Acts of
Abuse Additionally Charged With Perjury in Connection With 2016 Depositions Audrey Strauss, the Acting
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, William F. Sweeney Jr., the Assistant Director-in-
Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation ("FBI"), and Dermot Shea,
Commissioner of the New York City Police Department ("NYPD"), announced that GHISLANE MAXWELL
was arrested this morning and charged with enticing a minor to travel to engage in criminal sexual activity,
transporting a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, conspiracy to commit both of those
offenses, and perjury in connection with a sworn deposition. The Indictment unsealed today alleges that between
at least in or about 1994 through 1997, MAXWELL and coconspirator Jeffrey Epstein exploited girls as young
as 14, including by enticing them to travel and transporting them for the purpose of engaging in illegal sex acts.
As alleged, knowing that Epstein had a preference for young girls, MAXWELL played a critical role in the
grooming and abuse of minor victims that took place in locations including New York, Florida, and New
Mexico. In addition, as alleged, MAXWELL made several false statements in sworn depositions in 2016.
MAXWELL is expected to be presented this afternoon in the in federal court in New Hampshire. This case is
assigned to U.S. District Judge Alison J. Nathan. Acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said: "As alleged,
Ghislaine Maxwell facilitated, aided, and participated in acts of sexual abuse of minors. Maxwell enticed minor
girls, got them to trust her, and then delivered them into the trap that she and Jeffrey Epstein had set. She
pretended to be a woman they could trust. All the while, she was setting them up to be abused 2 sexually by
Epstein and, in some cases, Maxwell herself. Today, after many years, Ghislaine Maxwell finally stands charged
for her role in these crimes." FBI Assistant Director William F. Sweeney Jr. said: "Preserving the innocence of
children is among the most important responsibilities we carry as adults. Like Epstein, Ms. Maxwell chose to
blatantly disregard the law and her responsibility as an adult, using whatever means she had at her disposal to
lure vulnerable youth into behavior they should never have been exposed to, creating the potential for lasting
harm. We know the quest for justice has been met with great disappointment for the victims, and that reliving
these events is traumatic. The example set by the women involved has been a powerful one. They persevered
against the rich and connected, and they did so without a badge, a gun, or a subpoena - and they stood together. I
have no doubt the bravery exhibited by the women involved here has empowered others to speak up about the
crimes of which they've been subjected." NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea said: "The heinous crimes these
charges allege are, and always will be abhorrent for the lasting trauma they inflict on victims. I commend our
investigators, and law enforcement partners, for their continuing commitment to bringing justice to the survivors
of sexual assault, everywhere." If you believe you are a victim of the sexual abuse perpetrated by Jeffrey
Epstein, please contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL FBI, and reference this case. According to the Indictment 1
unsealed today in Manhattan federal court: From at least 1994 through at least 1997, GHISLAINE MAXWELL
assisted, facilitated, and participated in Jeffrey Epstein's abuse of minor girls by, among other things, helping
Jeffrey Epstein to recruit, groom, and ultimately abuse victims known to MAXWELL and Epstein to be under
the age of 18. The victims were as young as 14 years old when they were groomed and abused by MAXWELL
and Epstein, both of whom knew that their victims were in fact minors. As a part and in furtherance of their
scheme to abuse minor victims, MAXWELL and Epstein enticed and caused minor victims to travel to Epstein's
residences in different states, which MAXWELL knew and intended would result in their grooming for and
subjection to sexual abuse. As alleged, MAXWELL enticed and groomed minor girls to be abused in multiple
ways. For example, MAXWELL attempted to befriend certain victims by asking them about their lives, taking
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them to the movies or taking them on shopping trips, and encouraging their interactions with Epstein.
MAXWELL also acclimated victims to Epstein's conduct simply by being present for victim interactions with
Epstein, which put victims at ease by providing the assurance and comfort of an adult woman who seemingly
approved of Epstein's behavior. Additionally, to make victims feel indebted to Epstein, MAXWELL would
encourage victims to accept offers of financial assistance from Epstein, including offers to pay for travel or
educational expenses. 1 As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment, and the
description of the Indictment set forth herein, constitute only allegations, and every fact described therein should
be treated as an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. 3 MAXWELL
also normalized and facilitated sexual abuse by discussing sexual topics with victims, encouraging them to
massage Epstein, and undressing in front of a victim. As MAXWELL and Epstein intended, these grooming
behaviors left minor victims vulnerable and susceptible to sexual abuse by Epstein. MAXWELL was then
present for certain sexual encounters between minor victims and Epstein, such as interactions where a minor
victim was undressed, and ultimately MAXWELL was present for sex acts perpetrated by Epstein on minor
victims. That abuse included sexualized massages during which a minor victim was fully or partially nude, as
well as group sexualized massages of Epstein involving a minor victim where MAXWELL was present. As
alleged, minor victims were subjected to sexual abuse that included, among other things, the touching of a
victim's breasts or genitals, placing a sex toy such a vibrator on a victim's genitals, directing a victim to touch
Epstein while he masturbated, and directing a victim to touch Epstein's genitals. MAXWELL and Epstein's
victims were groomed or abused at Epstein's residences in New York, Florida, and New Mexico, as well as
MAXWELL's residence in London, England. Additionally, in 2016, while testifying under oath in a civil
proceeding, MAXWELL repeatedly made false statements, including about certain specific acts and events
alleged in the Indictment. * * * GHISLAINE MAXWELL, 58, is charged with one count of enticing a minor to
travel to engage in illegal sex acts, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, one count of
conspiracy to entice a minor to travel to engage in illegal sex acts, which carries a maximum sentence of five
years in prison, one count of transporting a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, which
carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, one count of conspiracy to transport a minor with the intent to
engage in criminal sexual activity, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, and two counts of
perjury, each of which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. The statutory maximum penalties are
prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the
defendant would be determined by the judge. Ms. Strauss praised the outstanding investigative work of the
and the NYPD. This case is being handled by the Office's Public Corruption Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys
are in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the
n lc
en are mere y accusa ions.
e e en ant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. 20-138
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