Tuesday, June 28, federal judge Alison Nathan sentenced Ghislaine Maxwell to 20 years in prison on five sex trafficking-related counts, which she was convicted of in December. Often referred to as a socialite, Maxwell became a focus of prosecution interest after her associate Jeffrey Epstein’s controversial death while in federal custody.
The US attorney charged Maxwell with six federal crimes, including the enticement of minors, sex trafficking, and perjury. She was convicted of grooming young women for Epstein between 1994 and 1997. Several of her victims spoke in court about the impact her crimes made. One such victim, Elizabeth Stein, said:
“Ghislaine Maxwell fed me to Jeffrey Epstein. For 25 years Maxwell has lived free, while I have had none of the life experiences I should have. She’d had her life. Now it’s time for mine.”
The 60-year-old is the daughter of the late Robert Maxwell, a famous British publisher. Ghislaine moved to the US after her father’s death in 1991. She lived in New York City and began a relationship with Epstein that was at times romantic, professional, and platonic. Her circle included Donald Trump and Bill Clinton, among others, who were often rich, famous, and powerful.
