United States of America v. Jeffrey Edward Epstein
Case No. 19-cr-490 (RMB) | U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
Prosecution Team
Indictment Details
Count One: Sex Trafficking Conspiracy
From at least 2002 through 2005, Epstein conspired with others, including employees and associates, to engage in sex trafficking of minors. The conspiracy involved recruiting, enticing, and transporting minor victims to engage in sexual acts at his residences in New York and Palm Beach, Florida. Charged under 18 U.S.C. 1591 and 1594(c). Maximum penalty: life imprisonment.
Count Two: Sex Trafficking of Minors
Epstein knowingly recruited, enticed, harbored, transported, provided, obtained, and maintained minor victims, knowing that such persons would be caused to engage in commercial sex acts. The indictment identified dozens of minor victims. Charged under 18 U.S.C. 1591(a)(1), (b)(1), and (c). Maximum penalty: life imprisonment.
Case Timeline
FBI agents and NYPD officers executed a search warrant on Epstein's Manhattan townhouse. Agents breached a locked safe and discovered a trove of evidence including compact discs labeled with handwritten names, loose diamonds, a large quantity of cash, and photographs of underage girls.
Epstein was arrested upon arrival at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey on his private jet returning from Paris, France. He was taken into federal custody and charged by SDNY prosecutors with sex trafficking of minors and conspiracy.
The grand jury indictment was unsealed, revealing charges of sex trafficking conspiracy and sex trafficking of minors covering conduct from at least 2002 to 2005 in Manhattan and Palm Beach.
Defense proposed a $100 million bail package secured by Epstein's Manhattan mansion, offering home detention with GPS monitoring and private security. Prosecutors argued Epstein was an extreme flight risk with international connections and multiple residences abroad.
Judge Richard Berman denied bail, citing Epstein as a danger to the community and a flight risk. Berman noted the "nature and circumstances of the offenses" and the "weight of the evidence against him," including the newly discovered evidence from the July 6 search.
Epstein was found semi-conscious on the floor of his cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) with marks on his neck. He was placed on suicide watch briefly before being removed on July 29.
Despite the July 23 incident, Epstein was removed from suicide watch after approximately six days. MCC psychologists determined he was no longer at risk. His cellmate was subsequently transferred, leaving Epstein alone.
Epstein was found unresponsive in his cell at approximately 6:30 a.m. He was transported to New York Presbyterian-Lower Manhattan Hospital and pronounced dead. The New York City Medical Examiner ruled the death a suicide by hanging. Both guards assigned to his unit had failed to conduct required rounds and had falsified log entries.
The criminal case against Epstein was formally dismissed following his death, as federal criminal proceedings cannot continue against a deceased defendant. SDNY prosecutors stated the investigation into possible co-conspirators would continue.
Key Evidence Seized
The July 6, 2019 search of Epstein's Manhattan townhouse at 9 East 71st Street yielded significant evidence. Agents breached a locked safe in a closet and discovered:
- [01]Compact Discs with Handwritten Labels
Dozens of CDs labeled with names and descriptions including "[name] + [name]" in Epstein's handwriting. The contents of these discs became a key focus of the investigation.
- [02]Photographs
Hundreds of photographs of young women and girls, some appearing to be underage, in various states. These photos were among the most critical evidence supporting the indictment.
- [03]Loose Diamonds and Currency
An expired foreign passport listing Epstein under a different name with a residence in Saudi Arabia, a large cache of loose diamonds, and piles of cash -- evidence prosecutors cited as proof of flight risk at the bail hearing.
- [04]Foreign Passport
An Austrian passport from the 1980s bearing Epstein's photograph but listing a different name and a Saudi Arabian address. Epstein's defense claimed it was obtained for personal security purposes during travel in the Middle East.
Aftermath & Related Proceedings
MCC Guard Prosecution
Guards Tova Noel and Michael Thomas were indicted for falsifying records and conspiracy. They had been sleeping and browsing the internet during the shift when Epstein died, failing to conduct required 30-minute checks for approximately eight hours. Both entered into deferred prosecution agreements requiring community service.
DOJ Inspector General Investigation
The Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Epstein's death at MCC, examining systemic failures in the federal Bureau of Prisons. The investigation documented severe staffing shortages, mandatory overtime, and routine protocol violations at the facility.
Continuation of Investigation
SDNY prosecutors publicly stated they would continue investigating Epstein's co-conspirators. This investigation ultimately led to the arrest and prosecution of Ghislaine Maxwell in July 2020 on charges of sex trafficking and conspiracy.
Key Persons
Disclaimer: This page presents information compiled from federal court records, DOJ press releases, and published reporting. Inclusion of any individual's name does not imply guilt or criminal conduct. The criminal case against Jeffrey Epstein was terminated upon his death and he was never convicted of the federal charges. Users are encouraged to consult primary sources for complete context.