Celebrity
Ghislaine Maxwell, 60, Sentenced To 20 Years In Prison For Trafficking Underage Girls
She possibly might appeal.
In what has been branded a horrific scheme, Ghislaine Maxwell, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for helping Jeffrey Epstein s*xually abuse girls. It’s been a month-long trial, and this judgment is a relief for victims, as Epstein never got a trial due to killing himself in a Manhattan Jail in 2019.
Maxwell’s trial is a high-profile case in the wake of the #MeTooMovement, which urged women to speak out about s*xual abuse, often by wealthy people.
The 60-Year-Old British socialite was particularly convicted in December 2021 of five charges, including s*x trafficking a minor, for recruiting and grooming four girls to have sexual encounters with Epstein, her then BF, between 1994 and 2004. Fast forward to now, Judge Alison Nathan insisted that Maxwell be sent to the Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury, a low-security facility about 55miles from NYC.
There is no parole for federal prison, but Maxwell [pictured] could potentially be released years early for good behavior.
In imposing the sentence, Judge Nathan claimed Maxwell didn’t appear to express remorse or accept responsibility. “Maxwell directly and repeatedly and over the course of many years participated in a horrific scheme to entice, transport, and traffic underage girls, some as young as 14, for s*xual abuse by and with Jeffrey Epstein. The damage done to these young girls was incalculable.”
Maxwell’s lawyer, Bobbi Sternheim, has said she would appeal and argue the public scrutiny of the case.
Bobbi told reporters: “We all know that the person who should have been sentenced today escaped accountability, avoided his victims, avoided absorbing their pain and receiving the punishment he truly deserved.” Initially, Maxwell’s lawyers had proposed she serve no more than 5-1/4years, arguing she was a scapegoat for Epstein’s crimes.
Prosecutors had even opined she would serve between 30 and 55year in prison, but of course, the 20-Year sentence would hold Maxwell accountable for heinous crimes.
However, Maxwell’s brother, Kevin, [pictured below] briefly spoke after the sentencing and said they would be ‘solidly’ behind her during her appeal. At her hearing in Manhattan federal court before learning the sentence, Maxwell called Epstein a “manipulative, cunning and controlling man” who fooled everyone in his orbit. She said she was “sorry” for the pain that his victims experienced.
And added: “It is the greatest regret of my life that I ever met Jeffrey Epstein.”
But so far, her victims have since blasted her very hollow apology and said she’s not taking responsibility for helping pedophile Epstein.
Annie Farmer, 43, [pictured below] said the case showed it was never too late for accountability, and the sentencing was a ‘big victory for victims of sexual abuse. She took issue with Maxwell’s declaration, where the British socialite described herself as a fellow ‘victim’ of Epstein and his s*x trafficking ring of young girls she helped contribute to. Fellow victims Elizabeth Stein and Sarah Ransome also called out friends of Epstein who enabled the billionaire to abuse as many people as he did.
Both Elizabeth and Sarah shared harrowing stories about the years of abuse they suffered at Epstein and Maxwell’s hands and the trauma that still haunts them.
