Palm Beach Police Chief Michael Reiter and Jeffrey Epstein entangled in disputed prosecution over alleged sex crimes

things, whether the gray-haired money manager paid West Palm Beach girls for sex or transported them across state lines. Epstein is currently charged by the State of Florida with soliciting young prostitutes for sex - but federal charges would be far more serious. The Palm Beach Post reported yesterday that Epstein is very close to a deal with the feds that would send him to jail for 1% to 2 years. Sources tell us that while a deal has not yet solidified, what's under discussion is a guilty plea to at least one charge in exchange for a sentence of 15 months in a Florida state prison, followed by 15 months of home confinement. That would be a fraction of the time he would have to serve if he were to be convicted by a jury. Epstein's spokesman, Howard Rubenstein, said his client would have no comment. Dershowitz also declined to comment late yesterday. Palm Beach police records show that on March 15, 2005, a 14-year-old girl alleged she had visited Epstein's estate, where she partially stripped and gave him a massage during which he "pulled out a purple vibrator" and used it on her in exchange for $300. A further probe uncovered five young women who said Epstein had masturbated and touched their genitals during massages, the records state. A woman named Haley Robson - who described herself as "like a Heidi Fleiss" - later admitted bringing six girls between the ages of 14 and 16 to Epstein's house, according to cops. Despite the allegations, Epstein was only nailed on a single charge of soliciting a hooker - but it sparked a federal probe. Epstein's lawyers and friends have insisted he was the hapless victim of a vendetta by Palm Beach Police Chief Michael Reiter, whom they described as a "born-again nutcase." Palm Beach Post - 08/14/ 2006 Police chief's reputation helps discredit attacks By Larry Keller Palm Beach Post - Monday, August 14, 2006 In the case of Palm Beach financier Jeffrey Epstein, it seems, at times, as if two men are accused of wrongdoing: Epstein and Palm Beach Police Chief Michael Reiter. Epstein, 53, was indicted last month on a charge of felony solicitation of prostitution solely because of Reiter's "craziness," one of Epstein's lawyers said. His department disseminated "a distorted view of the case" and behaved in a "childish" manner when the grand jury didn't indict Epstein on the charges it sought, another Epstein lawyer complained. To hear the Epstein camp tell it, Reiter, 48, is a loose cannon better suited to be the sheriff of Mayberry. They whisper that he's embroiled in a messy divorce. Reiter did in fact file for divorce from his wife, (NAME REMOVED), last year, after 24 years of marriage. They have a son, 18, and a daughter, 14. The couple is scheduled to go to mediation next week, Aug. 16. Nothing in the court file suggests their split is particularly ugly. Reiter incurred the wrath of the Epstein camp as well as the state attorney's office for two reasons. First, he pressed for Epstein to be charged with the more serious crimes of HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_021800