Jeffrey Epstein's girlfriend and former socialite Ghislaine Maxwell has been given a 20 years prison sentence on multiple charges of sex trafficking of minors. During the sentencing, Maxwell told the court that Epstein is the 'biggest regret' of her life and that she would like to apologize to her victims and hopes that they find peace with her sentence.
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Ghislaine Maxwell has been given 20 years sentence for her part in the sex trafficking of minors. The sentence comes after a jury found Maxwell guilty of luring in teenage girls for Jeffrey Epstein.
During her trial, Maxwell was convicted on charges of sex trafficking minors, conspiracy to entice a minor to travel to engage in illegal sex acts, and conspiracy to transport a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.
Alamy
Additionally, Maxwell was also found guilty of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors and of transporting a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.
Her sentence was given by Judge Alison Nathan on June 28, giving the 60-year-old a 20-year sentence and a fine of $750,000 (£615,000).
During her sentencing, Maxwell shared an apology to her victims and told the court that her sentence will allow them 'peace and finality'.
The British socialite said meeting Epstein was the 'greatest regret of my life' and that she wanted to 'acknowledge the suffering' of her victims.
Alamy
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Just before her sentencing, Maxwell's attorneys were trying to delay the final sentencing and even requesting the court to give their client a 'lenient' sentence as she was being made a scapegoat for Epstein's crimes.
Arrested on sex trafficking counts in 2019, Epstein took his own life in a federal jail in New York while awaiting a trial of his own.
They argued she 'cannot and should not bear all the punishment' that would have been doled out to Epstein had he not died in jail before he could go to trial.
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Describing Maxwell as 'not a dangerous criminal or a habitual offender', they claimed all she wants is to 'live a normal family life'.
But one of Maxwell's accusers stated outside the court that the former socialite should spend the rest of her life behind bars.
While her legal team could lodge an appeal against her conviction, an earlier bid for a retrial following the revelation that one of the jurors had been a victim of childhood sexual abuse was denied by Justice Nathan.
Alamy
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Meanwhile, prosecutors described Maxwell as 'shockingly predatory' and said she displayed a 'callous disregard for other human beings' while committing the crimes she has been convicted of.
Prosecutors had been pushing the court to give Maxwell a sentence between 30 to 55 years, a verdict which likely meant that she would die behind prison bars.
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The US probation service had recommended a 20-year sentence for Maxwell, while her defense team had tried to argue that between four and five years would be a more appropriate punishment.
Sky News states that soem lawyers estimated that more than 160 women and girls were victims of Epstein, who abused girls as young as 14 at various mansions he owned and on his own private island.
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