Will Ghislaine Maxwell Cut A Deal With The Feds For A Reduced Sentence? Prosecutors Have Doubts
Ghislaine Maxwell, the British socialite and ex-girlfriend of deceased convicted pedophile Jeffery Epstein, may try to cut a deal with federal officials for a reduced sentence after being convicted on five of six counts of child sex trafficking. However, defense attorneys and prosecutors remain skeptical such a deal will occur.
“It all depends on who she would be cooperating against, and what she has to offer. I would not be surprised if she had already tried to cooperate and it had failed,” said defense attorney Jeffrey Lichtman.
Jurors reached a verdict in the case after deliberating for 40 hours over the course of six days. Maxwell is facing up to 65 years in prison for her crimes.
In addition to sex trafficking minors, Maxwell was found guilty of transporting a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity and three related counts of conspiracy. She was acquitted of enticing a minor to engage in illegal sex acts.
Prosecutors said Maxwell “preyed on vulnerable young girls, manipulated them, and served them up to be sexually abused.” They also claimed that Epstein and Maxwell conspired together to lure under-aged girls into sexual relationships from 1994 to 2004 in New York, Florida, New Mexico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Four accusers testified at Maxwell's trial. Two used pseudonyms of "Jane" and "Kate," while a third went solely by her first name, Carolyn. Annie Farmer also testified, using her real name.
The victims gave differing stories on how they were lured into years of sexual abuse. Jane and Carolyn were both 14 when the abuse began with Carolyn being asked to give sexualized massages to Epstein. Maxwell had encouraged Carolyn to recruit other girls in exchange for money or gifts, according to her testimony.
"The road to justice has been far too long. But, today, justice has been done," U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said in a statement. "I want to commend the bravery of the girls, now grown women, who stepped out of the shadows and into the courtroom. Their courage and willingness to face their abuser made this case, and today's result, possible."
Now that she has been convicted, questions remain about whether or not she will cut a deal, especially since she could identify some of the men who abused the girls as well.
“There’s a tremendous amount of information she has on some very important people. Now that she’s been convicted, she may be more eager to discuss. She certainly should, in my mind, because a lot of people skated here, while she bore the brunt of the government’s full wrath,” Lichtman said.
In order for Maxwell's cooperation, which is not seen as likely, but still a remote possibility, to be considered, the Southern District Court of New York would need to be convinced of her truthfulness, and a realistic plan would be needed to use the information she gave against others.
It is believed a high-profile target could be Prince Andrew, and if other investigations into high-profile figures occur, former sex-crimes prosecutor Wendy Murphy believed Maxwell could get time off her sentence if the government asks for important information she has.
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