Ghislaine Maxwell was found guilty of five out of six federal charges, convicting her of grooming and trafficking underage girls, and conspiring with the late disgraced financier and convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein in the recruitment, grooming, and sexual abuse of girls.
The verdict for the British socialite was reached after five full days of deliberation in New York.
Maxwell’s sentencing date has not yet been set. Up to 70 years are on the table for Maxwell, meaning she could spend the rest of her life behind bars.
The trial lasted a month and featured testimony from four survivors who described in horrific detail being abused by Epstein between 1994 and 2004.
Maxwell was found guilty of five counts: sex trafficking a minor, transporting a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors, conspiracy to entice minors to travel to engage in illegal sex acts, and conspiracy to transport minors with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.
Of the five charges, the first, sex trafficking of a minor, is the most serious she faced. She was found not guilty of only one count, the enticement of a minor to travel to engage in illegal sex acts.
Immediately following the verdict, Maxwell’s defense team said that they would be issuing an appeal, claiming she was innocent of the crimes. Her lead attorney, Bobbi Sternheim, said that all five verdicts would be appealed.
Most legal experts, however, agree that Maxwell and her team would have to clear such high legal bars that the chance of it being overturned is extremely unlikely.
Prosecutors hailed the guilty verdict. The US attorney for the southern district of New York, Damien Williams, issued a statement saying that Maxwell was found guilty of one of the worst crimes imaginable. Epstein’s victims said the outcome marked a great day for justice.
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