This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-48912797
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Jeffrey Epstein: Financier charged with sex trafficking minors | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Wealthy US financier and friend of the powerful, Jeffrey Epstein, has been formally charged in New York with running "a vast network" of underage girls for sex. | Wealthy US financier and friend of the powerful, Jeffrey Epstein, has been formally charged in New York with running "a vast network" of underage girls for sex. |
| The indictment alleges he enticed minors to visit his Manhattan and Florida mansions between 2002 and 2005. | The indictment alleges he enticed minors to visit his Manhattan and Florida mansions between 2002 and 2005. |
| According to the charges, the girls, some as young as 14, were given hundreds of dollars for sex acts. | According to the charges, the girls, some as young as 14, were given hundreds of dollars for sex acts. |
| Epstein is expected to plead not guilty to the charges. | Epstein is expected to plead not guilty to the charges. |
| He faces one count of sex trafficking and one of sex trafficking conspiracy. | He faces one count of sex trafficking and one of sex trafficking conspiracy. |
| The 66-year-old hedge fund manager was arrested on Saturday at Teterboro Airport after arriving from France on his private jet. | The 66-year-old hedge fund manager was arrested on Saturday at Teterboro Airport after arriving from France on his private jet. |
| He is due to appear in court. Reports suggest he could remain in custody until a bail hearing on Thursday. | He is due to appear in court. Reports suggest he could remain in custody until a bail hearing on Thursday. |
| What does the charge sheet say? | What does the charge sheet say? |
| The indictment alleges Epstein knew his victims were under 18. Often they would be invited to carry out a massage nude before being subjected to sexual abuse, it says. | |
| The accused "also paid certain of his victims to recruit additional girls to be similarly abused", the document alleges. | The accused "also paid certain of his victims to recruit additional girls to be similarly abused", the document alleges. |
| He conspired with others "including employees and associates" who helped schedule encounters at his Manhattan mansion and Palm Beach residence, it is alleged. | He conspired with others "including employees and associates" who helped schedule encounters at his Manhattan mansion and Palm Beach residence, it is alleged. |
| Epstein has maintained that he believed the girls were at least 18 and that the encounters were consensual. | Epstein has maintained that he believed the girls were at least 18 and that the encounters were consensual. |
| At a news conference, US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Geoffrey Berman, said a police raid on Epstein's Manhattan property resulted in the seizure of what appeared to be photos of naked girls. | |
| He said that Epstein presented a flight risk and he would recommend that defendant remained in custody pending trial. Mr Berman appealed to anyone who may have been a victim or have information to come forward. | |
| "The alleged behaviour shocks the conscience," he said. "And while the alleged conduct is from a number of years ago it is still profoundly important to the many alleged victims. They deserve their day in court." | |
| What about previous allegations? | What about previous allegations? |
| Epstein, once a friend of Prince Andrew, former US President Bill Clinton and President Donald Trump, was previously accused of abusing dozens of teenage girls between 1999 and 2007. | Epstein, once a friend of Prince Andrew, former US President Bill Clinton and President Donald Trump, was previously accused of abusing dozens of teenage girls between 1999 and 2007. |
| But he reached a plea deal to avoid federal sex trafficking charges in the case. | But he reached a plea deal to avoid federal sex trafficking charges in the case. |
| He instead pleaded guilty in 2008 to lesser Florida state charges of soliciting and procuring a person under the age of 18 for prostitution. | He instead pleaded guilty in 2008 to lesser Florida state charges of soliciting and procuring a person under the age of 18 for prostitution. |
| He spent 13 months in jail and registered as a sex offender, avoiding a possible life sentence. | He spent 13 months in jail and registered as a sex offender, avoiding a possible life sentence. |
| Earlier this year, a Florida judge ruled that federal prosecutors broke the law by not informing Epstein's victims of the plea deal at the time. | Earlier this year, a Florida judge ruled that federal prosecutors broke the law by not informing Epstein's victims of the plea deal at the time. |
| Judge Kenneth Marra is currently deciding whether the non-prosecution agreement that protected Epstein from the more serious charges should still stand. | Judge Kenneth Marra is currently deciding whether the non-prosecution agreement that protected Epstein from the more serious charges should still stand. |
| Following the ruling, the White House said it was also "looking into" Labour Secretary Alexander Acosta's role in the plea deal, which he approved in his previous role as a US attorney. | Following the ruling, the White House said it was also "looking into" Labour Secretary Alexander Acosta's role in the plea deal, which he approved in his previous role as a US attorney. |
| Epstein in December deprived his alleged victims of the chance to testify against him for the first time by reaching a last-minute agreement to settle a civil lawsuit. | Epstein in December deprived his alleged victims of the chance to testify against him for the first time by reaching a last-minute agreement to settle a civil lawsuit. |
| What is Epstein's background? | What is Epstein's background? |
| As a young man, New York-born Epstein taught mathematics and physics at Manhattan's private Dalton School. | As a young man, New York-born Epstein taught mathematics and physics at Manhattan's private Dalton School. |
| He moved into finance in 1976, working as an options trader for investment banking company Bear Stearns. Within four years, he was made a limited partner. | He moved into finance in 1976, working as an options trader for investment banking company Bear Stearns. Within four years, he was made a limited partner. |
| He then went on to found his own financial management firm J Epstein & Co, reportedly managing the assets of clients with more than $1bn (£798m) in net worth. | He then went on to found his own financial management firm J Epstein & Co, reportedly managing the assets of clients with more than $1bn (£798m) in net worth. |
| In 1996, he changed his company's name to The Financial Trust Co and based it in the US Virgin Islands for tax purposes. | In 1996, he changed his company's name to The Financial Trust Co and based it in the US Virgin Islands for tax purposes. |
| His lavish lifestyle, along with the secrecy surrounding his client list and other details of his business, earned Epstein a reputation as a mysterious moneyman. | His lavish lifestyle, along with the secrecy surrounding his client list and other details of his business, earned Epstein a reputation as a mysterious moneyman. |
| One Wall Street insider described him to New York Magazine in 2002 as a "Gatsbyesque figure". | One Wall Street insider described him to New York Magazine in 2002 as a "Gatsbyesque figure". |
| "I've known Jeff for 15 years. Terrific guy," Mr Trump was quoted as saying in the New York Magazine profile. "He's a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side." | "I've known Jeff for 15 years. Terrific guy," Mr Trump was quoted as saying in the New York Magazine profile. "He's a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side." |
| Along with his wealth and high-profile friends, Epstein built a reputation as a philanthropist. | Along with his wealth and high-profile friends, Epstein built a reputation as a philanthropist. |
| In 2003, he hit headlines for making a $30m donation to Harvard University for the founding of a mathematical biology and evolutionary dynamics programme. | In 2003, he hit headlines for making a $30m donation to Harvard University for the founding of a mathematical biology and evolutionary dynamics programme. |
| Reports of his current wealth vary, with his Virgin Islands-based firm generating no public records. | Reports of his current wealth vary, with his Virgin Islands-based firm generating no public records. |
| According to Florida court records, cited by NBC News, Epstein also maintains properties in the US Virgin Islands, Paris and Mexico. | According to Florida court records, cited by NBC News, Epstein also maintains properties in the US Virgin Islands, Paris and Mexico. |