On March 29, 2021, federal prosecutors filed new charges against Ghislaine Maxwell, the former girlfriend of accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. The CSE Institute first reported on Ghislaine Maxwell’s case in July 2020 following her initial arrest.
Maxwell was originally charged with enticing a minor to travel to engage in illegal sex acts, transporting a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, conspiracy to commit both offenses, and perjury committed during a related deposition. The charges arose out of her alleged recruitment and transportation of minors for the purpose of engaging in illegal sex acts with Jeffrey Epstein between 1994 and 1997.
The superseding indictment, filed by federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York, added sex trafficking conspiracy and sex trafficking of a minor to Maxwell’s list of charges. The indictment alleges that Maxwell, Epstein, and others conspired to sex traffick minors in the United States. The indictment further alleges that Maxwell recruited, enticed, harbored, transported, provided, and obtained a person, knowing the person was a minor and would be caused to engage in commercial sex acts. These acts were committed in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1591(a) and (b).Specifically, Maxwell is alleged to have recruited minor girls to engage in paid sex acts with Epstein at his Palm Beach residence between 2001 and 2004. Maxwell is also accused of encouraging minors to recruit other girls to engage in paid sex acts with Epstein, sending lingerie to minors from Epstein, and scheduling massage appointments with minors for Epstein, between 2001 and 2004. These new charges broaden the timespan in which Maxwell’s criminal sexual activity occurred.
The CSE Institute commends the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York for recognizing that Maxwell’s actions constitute sex trafficking and bringing appropriate charges against her. Maxwell is currently being held in Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. She has made three requests to be released on bail that have all been denied. Maxwell is scheduled to go to trial in July of 2021. The CSE Institute will provide additional updates as Maxwell’s case develops.