This case concerns the involvement of the defendant, Ghislaine Maxwell, in the sexual exploitation and abuse of minor girls by Jeffrey Epstein.

From 1994 up to and including at least 2004, the defendant the defendant assisted, facilitated and contributed to the abuse of girls the defendant and her co-conspirator knew to be underage, inter alia, by recruiting, grooming and abusing said victims. The superseding indictment of this case, which was filed on 29 March 2021, regards the exploitation and abuse of four girls aged between 14 and 17.

In the time period stated above, the defendant had a personal and professional relationship with the co-conspirator, which included being paid by Epstein to manage his various properties throughout the whole time frame as well as an intimate relationship from 1994 until 1997.

Beginning in at least 1994, the defendant became involved in the sexual exploitation and abuse of minor girls by Jeffrey Epstein according to the superseding indictment. The defendant befriended some of Epstein’s minor victims prior to their abuse and conducted friendly conversations with the victims concerning their personal lives, their families and their school lives. The defendant and her co-conspirators would further spend time taking victims shopping or to the movies, either together or each on their own with the victims. Subsequently, the defendant and her co-conspirator would attempt to normalize sexual abuse, inter alia, by discussing sexual topics, undressing in front of the victims or being present while they undressed. The defendant would also sometimes be present for sex acts involving her co-conspirator and a victim, which would put the victim at ease since she was an adult woman. In some instances, she would further encourage victims to provide (sexualized) massages to her co-conspirator. Additionally, the defendant would encourage victims to accept assistance offered by Epstein to pay for travel and/or educational opportunities, which would make victims feel indebted to the defendant and her co-conspirator. This all happened at multiple locations, including a multi-story private residence on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, New York, USA, an estate in Palm Beach, Florida, USA, a ranch in Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, all owned by Epstein, and the defendant’s private residence in London, UK.

According to the superseding indictment, at least one victim was encouraged by the defendant and Epstein to travel to New York for the purpose of Epstein abusing her in 1996. Moreover, the defendant and her co-conspirator additionally encouraged minor girls to visit Epstein’s Palm Beach residence to engage in sex acts with Epstein for which would later be paid hundreds of USD at least in or about 2001.The defendant and her co-conspirator would encourage at least one of the victims to travel with Epstein with the intention that the victim engage in sex acts with him. As stated in the superseding indictment, they further paid certain victims to recruit additional girls to be similarly abused by Epstein. 

Likewise, between in or about 2001 until in or about 2004, the defendant and Epstein encouraged at least one minor to engage in sex acts with Epstein according to the superseding indictment. For that purpose, employees of Epstein, including the defendant, would call victims to make an appointment to massage Epstein at his residence in Palm Beach. When a victim arrived there, she would be greeted by one of the employees, including the defendant. The victim would be escorted into a room with a massage table to provide massages to Epstein, during which he would escalate the situation. The sexual acts undertaken by Epstein and his victims included, among other things, touching a victim's breast, touching a victim's genitals, placing a sex toy such as 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. Afterwards, employees or associates of Epstein, including the defendant, paid the victim in cash.

Furthermore, the defendant allegedly repeatedly made false statements, including statements regarding certain specific acts and events alleged in the indictment, while testifying under oath in a civil proceeding in 2016.

The defendant was arrested in New Hampshire, USA, on 2 July 2020 and initially charged with 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. On 29 March 2021, a superseding indictment was filed, adding the charges of sex trafficking of a minor and conspiracy thereof. The perjury charges were later severed and the defendant was found guilty of five of the six charges on 29 December 2021. It should be noted that, at the time of writing, only a decision in the first instance had been reached and that the defendant’s attorney had publicly mentioned her plan to appeal the verdict. Therefore, this summary might not reflect the final verdict in this case.

The co-conspirator, Jeffrey Epstein, was also charged with sex trafficking conspiracy and sex trafficking in relation to this conduct but was found dead in his jail cell on 10 August 2019. Subsequently, the charges against him were dismissed and the investigation focussed on his associates and employees.