Ghislaine Maxwell guilty of sex trafficking a minor for Jeffrey Epstein and four other charges
A New York federal court jury found Ghislaine Maxwell guilty on five of six counts related to her role in Jeffrey Epstein's sexual abuse of minor girls between 1994 and 2004.
Maxwell, 60, was found guilty of five federal charges: sex trafficking of a minor, transporting a little with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity and three related counts of conspiracy.
She was acquitted of enticing a minor to travel to engage in illegal sex acts.
Maxwell, who now faces up to 65 years in prison, showed no reaction when the verdicts were read. Judge Alison Nathan did not set a sentencing date.
The jury, which made up of six women and six men, deliberated for about 40 hours across parts of six days.
Prosecutors argued Maxwell and Epstein conspired to set up a scheme to lure young girls into sexual relationships with Epstein from 1994 to 2004 in New York, Florida, New Mexico and the US Virgin Islands.
Four women testified during the trial that Epstein abused them and that Maxwell facilitated the abuse and sometimes participated in it.
Her defence, meanwhile, said she was a "scapegoat" for Epstein's actions and attacked the memories and motivations of the women who say they were sexually abused.
Maxwell's lawyers are working on an appeal, attorney Bobbi C. Sternheim said.
"We firmly believe in Ghislaine's innocence. We are very disappointed with the verdict," Sternheim said, adding her team believes Maxwell still will be vindicated.
The trial, which began November 29, alternated between disturbing testimony from sexual abuse victims and illuminating testimony about Epstein's connections to some high-profile celebrities.
One of four accusers who testified, Annie Farmer, said Wednesday she hopes the verdicts bring solace to the victims.
"I am so relieved and grateful that the jury recognized the pattern of predatory behaviour that Maxwell engaged in for years and found her guilty of these crimes," she said. "She has caused hurt to many more women than the few of us who had the chance to testify in the courtroom."
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