Prosecutors slam Ghislaine Maxwell with new charges, now faces counts of sex trafficking minors

Ghislaine Maxwell faces new allegations of sex trafficking minors after federal prosecutors slammed her with additional charges in her criminal case.

According to court paperwork dated March 29, prosecutors filed a superseding indictment against Maxwell that added two new charges — sex trafficking minors and sex trafficking conspiracy. The new charges are related to a victim named “minor victim-4.”

Maxwell, who is being held in a federal jail in Brooklyn, now faces a total of eight counts in connection to her alleged involvement with Jeffrey Epstein and his abuse of minors. Maxwell was charged in July 2020 for her role in the alleged conspiracy.  

She was the alleged mistress of Epstein and the two abused children, according to allegations contained in court paperwork. Epstein was convicted in Florida of abusing children but received a light sentence. After details of his case became public, federal prosecutors charged him. He died in jail of an apparent suicide while awaiting trial on federal charges. 

Maxwell and her attorneys have argued that her conditions in jail are causing physical pain and the guards are abusing her.

In the superseding indictment, prosecutors say between 2001 and 2004, Maxell, Epstein and others worked together to sex traffic minors. Specifically, Maxwell recruited the victim to have sex with Epstein at a Palm Beach, Florida, home, according to court documents. 

Maxwell gave the victims hundreds of dollars for each encounter, prosecutors say. 

Maxwell also encouraged and enticed the victim to recruit other girls to have sex with Epstein, according to prosecutors. The victim helped recruit others for Epstein's abuse. 

Epstein’s employees, including Maxwell, sent the victim gifts, including lingerie, from New York to the victim’s Florida home. Maxwell also helped transport the victims to engage in sex acts with Epstein, prosecutors allege. 

Under the new charges, Maxwell could face life in prison.