Ghislaine Maxwell's sex crimes conviction upheld by Federal Appeals Court

A federal appeals court in New York has dealt a decisive blow to Ghislaine Maxwell, upholding her 2021 conviction for sex trafficking and other crimes related to her involvement with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Maxwell, Epstein's longtime associate, had appealed her 20-year prison sentence, arguing she was protected by a non-prosecution agreement Epstein reached with federal prosecutors in Florida in 2007. She also claimed some of the charges were outside the statute of limitations.   

However, the appeals court rejected these arguments, stating that Maxwell was not covered by Epstein's agreement and the alleged crimes fell within the legal time frame for prosecution. The court also dismissed Maxwell's claim that she was unfairly targeted as a scapegoat for Epstein's crimes.   

Maxwell was convicted of recruiting and grooming underage girls for Epstein to sexually abuse between 1994 and 2004. The victims, some as young as 14, were often lured with promises of massages or financial assistance.   

This ruling marks a significant victory for the survivors of Epstein's abuse, who have long sought justice for the crimes committed against them. Maxwell remains incarcerated in a low-security prison in Florida and is eligible for release in 2037.