Ghislaine Maxwell has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for her role in recruiting and grooming underage girls for Jeffrey Epstein to sexually abuse.
Maxwell was sentenced today (28 June) in the Manhattan Federal Court, and also received a $750,000 (£615,000) fine.
The sentencing judge, Alison Nathan, permitted four women to speak at the hearing, as well as allowing the statement of Virginia Giuffre to be read by her lawyer in her absence.
Victims Sarah Ransome, Elizabeth Stein, Annie Farmer and the accuser known as 'Kate' were all in the courtroom and delivered speeches prior to Maxwell's sentencing.
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Ransome's victim impact statement said she 'was nothing more than a human sex toy with a heartbeat and soul for the entertainment of Epstein, Maxwell and others' during the abuse she suffered, while 'Kate', who is British, said today was the first day she was not afraid.
"Ghislaine's lack of remorse and blatant refusal to take responsibility for her crimes towards us is her final insult," she said.
Maxwell, 60, was convicted in December 2021 on five counts including conspiracy to entice a minor to travel to engage in illegal sex acts; conspiracy to transport a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity; transporting a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity; conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors and sex trafficking of minors.
The charges carried a maximum sentence of 65 years, and the decision on her sentencing comes after women who were targeted by Maxwell discussed their experiences in the Southern District of New York.
Four victims were told their statements could be read out loud to the court, while Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre's lawyer read a statement in her absence. Five others submitted written impact statements.
Maxwell had hoped to receive a sentence of fewer than 20 years, with her lawyers arguing it was Epstein who was the 'mastermind' behind the abuse and therefore Maxwell 'cannot and should not bear all the punishment for which Epstein should have been held responsible'.
The lawyers also argued Maxwell had already spent time behind bars 'under conditions far more onerous and punitive than any experienced by a typical pre-trial detainee'.
"Her life has been ruined. Since Epstein's death, her life has been threatened and death threats continue while she is incarcerated. It would be a travesty of justice for her to face a sentence that would have been appropriate for Epstein," they claimed, ABC News reports.
Meanwhile, prosecutors urged Judge Alison Nathan to sentence Maxwell to between 30 and 55 years in prison for her crimes.
Prior to today's hearing, Maxwell’s team sought to delay the sentencing by filing a motion to say Maxwell had been placed on ‘suicide watch’ and was ‘not permitted to possess and review legal documents’. The 60-year-old had also reported being threatened by Brooklyn jail staff.
The motion was denied after prosecutors argued no delay was needed because Maxwell had her legal documents and was transferred after reporting threats to her safety. They also said she had refused to elaborate about why she feared for her safety and told psychology staff she was not suicidal.
The prosecution previously dubbed Maxwell 'dangerous' amid her three-week trial last year. She was accused of having imposed a 'culture of silence... by design' at Epstein's properties, where staff were told to 'say nothing' about what went on there.
If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article and wish to speak to someone in confidence, contact The Survivor’s Trust for free on 08088 010 818, or through their website thesurvivorstrust.org
Topics: Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, US News, Crime
Emily Brown