Ghislaine Maxwell could spend decades in prison after guilty verdict reached in sex-trafficking case

Ghislaine Maxwell, the wealthy socialite believed to be Jeffrey Epstein’s right-hand woman, was found guilty on Wednesday of five out of six counts at a federal court in New York. The jury reached its verdict after six days of deliberations that spanned around 40 hours.

Maxwell was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to entice individuals under the age of 17 to travel in interstate commerce with intent to engage in illegal sexual activity; one count of conspiracy to transport individuals under the age of 17 to travel in interstate commerce with intent to engage in illegal sexual activity; one count of transportation of an invidious under the age of 17 with intent to engage in illegal sexual activity as it relates to a victim using the pseudonym Jane; and one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of individuals under the age of 18, and sex trafficking of an individual under the age of 18 as it relates to a victim named Carolyn who only used her first name.

Maxwell could face decades in prison as the sex trafficking charge related to Carolyn carries a penalty of up to 40 years, while the other charges carry penalties of 5 to 10 years in prison. Maxwell was found not guilty of one count of enticement of an individual under the age of 17 to travel with intent to engage in illegal sexual activity as it relates to Jane.