EPSTEIN
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
x
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
GHISLAINE MAXWELL,
Defendant.
X
SEALED
INDICTMENT
Cr.
Cr. 330
COUNT ONE
(Conspiracy to Entice Minors to Travel to Engage in
Illegal Sex Acts)
The Grand Jury charges:
OVERVIEW
1.
The charges set forth herein stem from the role
of GHISLAINE MAXWELL, the defendant, in the sexual exploitation
and abuse of multiple minor girls by Jeffrey Epstein. In
particular, from at least in or about 1994, up to and including
at least in or about 1997, MAXWELL assisted, facilitated, and
contributed to Jeffrey Epstein's abuse of minor girls by, among
other things, helping Epstein to recruit, groom, and ultimately
abuse victims known to MAXWELL and Epstein to be under the age
of 18. The victims were as young as 14 years old when they were
groomed and abused by MAXWELL and Epstein, both of whom knew
that certain victims were in fact under the age of 18.
2.
As a part and in furtherance of their scheme to
abuse minor victims, GHISLAINE MAXWELL, the defendant, and
Jeffrey Epstein enticed and caused minor victims to travel to
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Epstein's residences in different states, which MAXWELL knew and
intended would result in their grooming for and subjection to
sexual abuse. Moreover, in an effort to conceal her crimes,
MAXWELL repeatedly lied when questioned about her conduct,
including in relation to some of the minor victims described
herein, when providing testimony under oath in 2016.
FACTUAL BACKGROUND
3.
During the time periods charged in this
Indictment, GHISLAINE MAXWELL, the defendant, had a personal and
professional relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and was among his
closest associates. In particular, between in or about 1994 and
in or about 1997, MAXWELL was in an intimate relationship with
Epstein and also was paid by Epstein to manage his various
properties. Over the course of their relationship, MAXWELL and
Epstein were photographed together on multiple occasions,
including in the below image:
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4.
Beginning in at least 1994, GHISLAINE MAXWELL,
the defendant, enticed and groomed multiple minor girls to
engage in sex acts with Jeffrey Epstein, through a variety of
means and methods, including but not limited to the following:
a.
MAXWELL first attempted to befriend some of
Epstein's minor victims prior to their abuse, including by
asking the victims about their lives, their schools, and their
families. MAXWELL and Epstein would spend time building
friendships with minor victims by, for example, taking minor
victims to the movies or shopping. Some of these outings would
involve MAXWELL and Epstein spending time together with a minor
victim, while some would involve MAXWELL or Epstein spending
time alone with a minor victim.
b.
Having developed a rapport with a victim,
MAXWELL would try to normalize sexual abuse for a minor victim
by, among other things, discussing sexual topics, undressing in
front of the victim, being present when a minor victim was
undressed, and/or being present for sex acts involving the minor
victim and Epstein.
c.
MAXWELL'S presence during minor victims'
interactions with Epstein, including interactions where the
minor victim was undressed or that involved sex acts with
Epstein, helped put the victims at ease because an adult woman
was present. For example, in some instances, MAXWELL would
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massage Epstein in front of a minor victim. In other instances,
MAXWELL encouraged minor victims to provide massages to Epstein,
including sexualized massages during which a minor victim would
be fully or partially nude. Many of those massages resulted in
Epstein sexually abusing the minor victims.
d.
In addition, Epstein offered to help some
minor victims by paying for travel and/or educational
opportunities, and MAXWELL encouraged certain victims to accept
Epstein's assistance. As a result, victims were made to feel
indebted and believed that MAXWELL and Epstein were trying to
help them.
e.
Through this process, MAXWELL and Epstein
enticed victims to engage in sexual activity with Epstein. In
some instances, MAXWELL was present for and participated in the
sexual abuse of minor victims. Some such incidents occurred in
the context of massages, which developed into sexual encounters.
5.
GHISLAINE MAXWELL, the defendant, facilitated
Jeffrey Epstein's access to minor victims knowing that he had a
sexual preference for underage girls and that he intended to
engage in sexual activity with those victims. Epstein's
resulting abuse of minor 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,