The Indictment
On July 8, 2019, a federal grand jury in the Southern District of New York returned a two-count indictment against Jeffrey Epstein:
- Count 1: Sex trafficking of minors
- Count 2: Conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors
Covered Period
The indictment covered conduct between 2002 and 2005 in New York and Florida. The SDNY argued this conduct was not covered by the Florida NPA, which bound only the SDFL.
The Evidence Basis
The indictment was based on victim accounts supported by documentary evidence including photographs, records of payments, and evidence from Epstein’s properties.
Maximum Penalties
The charges carried maximum penalties of up to 45 years in prison if convicted.
Dismissal After Death
Following Epstein’s death on August 10, 2019, the charges were dismissed. Federal prosecutors separately charged Ghislaine Maxwell for her role in the same conduct.
Significance
The 2019 charges demonstrated that the Florida NPA had not been a bulletproof shield: another jurisdiction could independently charge conduct occurring in that jurisdiction.