EFTA00176507
LAW OFFICES OF
GERALD B. LEFammer, P.C.
148 EAST 78Th
NEW YORE, NEW YORK 10021
[email protected]
SHERYL E. REICH
NIcletcourtlawoom
slabIle&elcourIlawcorn
ffriocknon©lekoulaw.con
TELEPHONE
FACSIMILE
July 6, 2007
Jeffrey Sloman, Esq., First Assistant United States Attorney
Matthew Menchel, Esq., Chief, Criminal Division
The United States Attorney's Office
Southern District of Florida
99 NE 4th Street
Miami, Florida 33132
Andrew Lourie, Deputy Chief, Northern Region
A. Marie Villafaila, Assistant United States Attorney
The United States Attorney's Office
Southern District of Florida
500 South Australian Avenue, Suite 400
West Palm Beach, Florida 33401
Jeffrey Epstein
Dear Messrs. Sloman, Menchel and Lourie and Ms. Villafafia:
We write as counsel to Jeffrey Epstein to follow-up on our meeting on June 26,
2007. We thought the meeting was extremely productive and appreciate your giving us
the opportunity to engage you on the facts, law and policy that will inform any decision
you make on how and whether to proceed.
I.
18 U.S.C. §2422(b) Has No Applicability to the Facts Here.
Even assuming the facts as you believe them to be, as demonstrated below, a
prosecution under 18 U.S.C. §2422(b) would violate the explicit terms of the statute, pose
insurmountable constitutional barriers, and be unprecedented, unwise, and utterly
inappropriate. This statute, with its mandatory minimum sentence' was designed to reach
I The statute in effect during the events at issue carries a mandatory five-year period of
incarceration. The current ten-year mandatory minimum was instituted in 2006.
EFTA00176508
LAW °MCC!,
OF
Jeffrey Sloman, Esq.
Matthew Menchel, Esq.
Andrew Lourie, Esq.
A. Marie Villafafia, Esq.
The United States Attorney's Office
Southern District of Florida
July 6, 2007
Page 2
those who deliberately, knowingly, and intentionally target and exploit children through
the intemet. Though the literal language may superficially apply to a wider variety of
behaviors, we submit that the statute cannot properly be used to prosecute what have
traditionally been viewed as state offenses, even if some facility or means of interstate
commerce can be said to have been used by someone at some point during the course of
events.
1.
Congress's Purpose
Section 2422(b), the so-called "Internet Luring Statute", addresses online
enticement of children. The subsection was included in Title, of the
Telecommunications Act of 1996, entitled "Obscenity and Violence", after the Senate
Judiciary Committee held a hearing regarding child endangerment via the intemet. See
H.R. Conf. Rep. No. 104-458, at 193 (1996), quoted in United States I Searcy, 418 F.3d
1193, 1197 (11th Cir. 2005); see also K. Seto, "Note: How Should Legislation Deal with
Children and the Victims and Perpetrators of Cyberstalking?" 9 Cardoso Women k L.J. 67
(2002).
In enacting the statute, Congress recognized that young people were using the
intemet in ever-increasing numbers, and it was proving to be a dangerous place.
According to a DOJ study, one in five youths (aged 10 to 17) had received a sexual
approach or solicitation over the intemet in the previous year. One in 33 had received an
"aggressive sexual solicitation", in which a predator had asked a young person to meet
somewhere or called a young person on the phone. U.S.D.O.J., Office of Justice
Programs, OVC Bulletin," Internet Crimes Against Children" (12/2001);
www.oip.usdoj.gov/ovc/aublications/bulletons/intemet " 2 2001/intemet _2_01_6.html.
Congress saw that, with so many children online, the interne created a new place
— cyberspace — where predators could easily target children for criminal acts. Use of the
intemet, which occurs in private, and the secrecy and deception that acting in cyberspace
permits, eliminated many of the risks predators face when making contact in person, and
presented special law enforcement problems that are difficult for any local jurisdiction to
tackle. The mandatory minimum sentence for a violation of this section was increased
from five years to ten years in 2006, by virtue of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and
Safety Act of 2006, which also eliminated any statute of limitations. See 18 U.S.C.
EFTA00176509
LAW OFFICES OF
Jeffrey Sloman, Esq.
Matthew Menchel, Esq.
Andrew Lourie, Esq.
A. Marie Villafafia, Esq.
The United States Attorney's Office
Southern District of Florida
July 6, 2007
Page 3
§3299.2 The law was named in memory of Adam Walsh who, 25 years earlier, had been
abducted from a department store and was later found murdered, and whose parents had
become advocates for missing children. In his signing statement, President Bush noted
that it increased federal penalties for crimes against children, imposing "tough mandatory
minimum penalties for the most serious crimes against our children." 2006
U.S.C.C.A.N. S35, 2006 WL 3064686 (emphasis added). The five-year mandatory
minimum it replaced was itself established as part of the PROTECT Act of 2003, another
law designed to strengthen the government's ability to deal with certain dangerous sexual
predators who exploited children in ways the states had been unable to address fully.3
2.
General Overview
It must be remembered that §2422(b), by using the phrase "any sexual activity for
which any person can be charged with a criminal offense", in some sense incorporates
all the sex offense laws of all 50 states, in all their variety and in all their ambiguity. This
in itself raises questions of the utmost seriousness, implicating fairness and the due
process clause. It also constitutes an extreme example of federal pre-emption, or, more
precisely, the wholesale annexation of the enforcement responsibility of each of the 50
states' sex-related crime statutes — whether felony, misdemeanor or violation — wherever
there has been use of the ever-present wires. To make every state sex "offense" involving
a person under 18 potentially into a mandatory minimum ten-year federal felony without
any statute of limitations is certainly not what Congress had in mind when it enacted
§2422(b).
2 Other federal crimes with ten-year mandatory minimum involve very serious acts. See, e.g., 18
U.S.C. §2113(e) (bank robbery where a person is killed or kidnapped); 18 U.S.C. §924 (involving
discharge of firearm).
3 Section 2422(b) has always carried a substantial penalty. When first enacted, the maximum
sentence it permitted was ten years. Pub.L. 104-104, Title I Sec. 508, 110 Stat. 137. After that,
the maximum was increased to 15 years. Pub.L. 105-314, Ale I, sec, 102, 112 Stat. 2975 (Oct.
30, 1998 to April 29, 2003).
4 A phrase which, by itself, and in the context of the remainder of the statute, raises mind-
numbing questions as to what, exactly, is proscribed.
EFTA00176510
LAW orreccs or
GERALD B. LEFCO1URT. P.C.
C
Jeffrey Sloman, Esq.
Matthew Menchel, Esq.
Andrew Lourie, Esq.
A. Marie Villafafia, Esq.
The United States Attorney's Office
Southern District of Florida
July 6, 2007
Page 4
The bulk importation of complex bodies of state law is highly problematic, and
strongly counsels that such matters should be left to the states except in those rare
circumstances where both a federal interest is clear and weighty, and the states are for
some reason incapable of acting. Like issues of family law, these issues are
quintessentially of state concern within our federal system.
State laws regarding both sexual activity and the age of consent to engage therein
are hugely varied, reflecting different histories, values, politics, and personalities. See
Richard A. Posner & Katharine B. Silbaugh, A Guide to America's Sex Laws (1996). The
various and shifting societal reasons underlying those laws, and the societal pressures
operating in the area, where sexual mores change over time, complicate the matter even
further. See generally Richard A. Posner, Sex and Reason (1992). The history of the
Mann Act confirms the caution with which the federal government should approach this
entire area. For example, historically, the Act was used by some prosecutors in some
jurisdictions to prosecute acts — such as a man traveling with his paramour — which, we
submit, never implicated a legitimate federal concern. See generally D.J. Langum,
Crossing the Lines: Legislating Morality Under the Mann Act (1994).
Even where there is broad agreement that certain conduct should be criminalized,
the various states treat the very same conduct differently; to apply such laws selectively
by different federal prosecutors would undermine further what uniformity does exist. In
New York, for example, a 50 year old man who patronizes a 15 year old prostitute is
guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. New York Penal Law §230.04. If §2422(b) were read
expansively, then such person would face a 10-year mandatory minimum if he used the
telephone to set-up his date with the young prostitute, even if the date never happened.
And that would be so even if the prostitute were 17 'A (and despite the fact that in New
York the age of consent is 17, since prostitution is a "sexual offense" in New York).
Clearly, these are applications and outcomes Congress did not contemplate when it
enacted the law.
Instead, these are matters best left to state law and state law enforcement. In the
state, prosecutors and law enforcement authorities, who have far more experience dealing
with sexual crimes, can exercise their discretion as to whom to prosecute and for what
charges, taking into account both local attitudes and the wide range of circumstances that
may exist when sexual offenses, or possible sexual offenses, involving minors were, or
may have been, committed. That is particularly so since state laws generally permit the
exercise of sentencing discretion, allowing the punishment to fit both the crime and the
EFTA00176511
LAW CWINCEJ or
Jeffrey Sloman, Esq.
Matthew Menchel, Esq.
Andrew Lourie, Esq.
A. Marie Villafafia, Esq.
The United States Attorney's Office
Southern District of Florida
July 6, 2007
Page 5
perpetrator. Section 2422(b), with its ten-year mandatory minimum is far too blunt a tool
to use in any circumstances except the narrow, clear-cut, and egregious circumstances
Congress had in mind when it enacted this law.5
Though §2422(b) is susceptible to multiple interpretations, it was designed to
address a specific a problem with which Mr. Epstein's case has nothing in common. If
stretched to reach beyond the core concern of the statute, a host of problems immediately
arise. A simple reading of the words of the statute leaves any reasonable reader with far
more questions than answers as to what is illegal. Any attempt to apply the statute to Mr.
Epstein's situation highlights the many problems of vagueness, overbreadth, and simple
incomprehensibility lurking in or just below the statute's text.
3.
The Statute's Text And Its Thrust
Section 2422(b) currently provides:
Whoever, using the mail or any facility or means of
interstate or foreign commerce, or within the special
maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United
States knowingly persuades, induces, entices or
coerces any individual who has not attained the age
of 18 years, to engage in prostitution or any sexual
activity for which any person can be charged with a
criminal offense, or attempts to do so, shall be fined
under this title and imprisoned not less than ten
years or for life.
The statutory language and reported decisions confirm the statute's important, but
narrow, focus: the luring of children over the intemet. Unlike 18 U.S.C. §§2241 et seq.,
5 Penalties under state statutes criminalizing online enticement also vary widely. According to the
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, though the offense can be a felony in all
states, l5 states permit misdemeanor sentences in some cases (generally where the victim is 14 or
older). Nineteen states classify online enticement as a felony, but grant judges statutory
discretion to sentence offenders to less than one year in prison
/missingkids/servlet/NewsEventServlet?LanguageCounuy=en... 6/28/2007.
EFTA00176512
LAW orriccs OF
Jeffrey Sloman, Esq.
Matthew Menchel, Esq.
Andrew Lourie, Esq.
A. Marie Villafafla, Esq.
The United States Attorney's Office
Southern District of Florida
July 6, 2007
Page 6
§2422(b) does not establish any federal sex crimes with a minor. Section 2422's subject
is not sex or sexual activity or face-to-face sexual exploitation of minors. Such behavior
remains a matter of state, not federal, concern. The plain language of the statute
mandates focus on the communication and demands that the knowing "persuasion",
"inducement", "enticement" or "coercion" be done "using the mail or any facility or
means of interstate ...commerce" (emphasis added). Any other reading would violate
constitutional principles of fair warning, notice, lenity and due process. Additionally, any
broader reading would violate the clearly stated intent of Congress that enacted the law
and the President who signed it. It would also exceed the authority of Congress under the
Commerce Clause by federalizing virtually all state sex offenses involving people under
the age of 18.
Section 2422(b) defines a crime of communication, not of contact. It makes
unlawful a narrow category of communications, ones not protected by the First
Amendment. Both the attempt and the substantive crime defined by §2422 are complete
at the time when communication with a minor or purported minor takes place; the essence
of the crime occurs before any face-to-face meeting or any sexual activity with a minor,
and regardless of whether any meeting or activity ever occurs.
Turning the statute on its head by first looking at the alleged sexual activities and
then seeking to find a mailing, a use of the wires, or the involvement of another facility or
means of interstate commerce as a pretext for the invocation of federal jurisdiction would
be without precedent and make a narrowly-focused statute into virtually a complete
federalization of all state sex offenses involving minors.
4. The Statute Is Violated Only If A Facility Or Means Of Interstate
Commerce Is Used To Do the Persuading Or Inducing
Though the statute raises several difficult issues of construction, on one point it is
clear and unambiguous: To be guilty of a crime under §2422(b), the mail or a facility or
means of interstate commerce must be used to do the persuading or inducing. As the
Court wrote in United States I=
165 F.3d Appx. 586, 2006 WL 226038 (10th Cir.
2006), to prove a violation, the government must show "(1) the use of a facility of
interstate commerce; (2) to knowingly persuade, induce, entice or coerce, as well as
the other elements. See also United States' Bolen, 136 Fed. Appx. 325, 2005 WL
1475845 (11th Cir. 2005).
EFTA00176513
LAW OIIICL• or
C
Jeffrey Sloman, Esq.
Matthew Menchel, Esq.
Andrew Lourie, Esq.
A. Marie Villafana, Esq.
The United States Attorney's Office
Southern District of Florida
July 6, 2007
Page 7
The statutory language can bear no other construction. The words "whoever,
using . . . knowingly persuades .. ." necessarily requires that the "whoever" must "use"
the interstate facility to knowingly persuade. That is, the word "using" is in the present,
not the past, tense. Thus, the "using" must occur at the same time as the "persuading". If
the statute meant otherwise, it could and would have been drafted differently: "whoever
having used the mail and knowingly persuades" or "whoever uses the mail and
knowingly persuades". But, as it is written, the actor must use the interstate facility to
persuade or to entice, or to attempt to do so; use of the instrumentality cannot be
incidental or peripheral.
Indeed, assuming, arguendo, that the grammar and structure of the statute would
allow another interpretation — which we believe it does not — nevertheless the obvious,
straightforward reading controls. Anything else would violate the rule of lenity, requiring
strict construction of penal statutes, as well as the requirement of fair notice guaranteed
by the due process clause. 6 As Thomas Jefferson put it in 1823: "Laws are made for men
of ordinary understanding, and should therefore be construed by the ordinary rules of
common sense. Their meaning is not to be sought for in metaphysical subtleties, which
may make any thing mean every thing or nothing, at pleasure".
According to one of the world's leading experts on grammar and specifically, the
syntax and semantics of verbs, these rules of "ordinary understanding" and "common
sense" dictate that
. . . an English speaker, reading the statute, would naturally
understand it as applying only to persuasion (etc.) that is
done while "using the mail" (etc.). To understand it as
applying to persuasion (etc.) done subsequent to the use of
6 We note that the structure of this statute is radically different from the structure of §1341, the
mail fraud statute. There, the statute first describes the fraud and recognizes the federal concern
by requiring, for purposes of executing such scheme or artifice, that the defendant use the mail.
Section 2422(b) on the other hand defines the crime as using the mail to knowingly persuade, etc.
The difference in the language and structure of the two crimes clearly shows that with §2422(b),
using the mail to knowingly persuade is the essence of the crime.
EFTA00176514
LAW orriccs or
('
Jeffrey Sloman, Esq.
Matthew Menchel, Esq.
Andrew Lourie, Esq.
A. Marie Villafaila, Esq.
The United States Attorney's Office
Southern District of Florida
July 6, 2007
Page 8
the mail, phone, etc., would be an unnatural and
grammatically inaccurate reading of the language. 7
That the statute is so limited is also confirmed by the fact that prosecutors have
clearly understood this limitation. After conducting extensive research, we find no case
of a defendant being prosecuted under §2422(b) where he has used the internet or the
telephone, and then, by some other means, such as personal contact, attempted to
persuade, induce, or entice. On the contrary, all §2422(b) prosecutions we have reviewed
are premised on a defendant's use of the internet (or occasionally the text messaging on a
phone) as the vehicle of the inducement. See, e.g., United States, Murrel, 368 F.3d
1283, 1286 (11th Cir. 2004) (government must ... prove that Murrel , using the intemet,
acted with a specific intent to persuade a means to engage in unlawful sex).
In fact, we have reviewed every indictment filed in the Southern District of
Florida in which there is at least one allegation of a violation of §2422(b). To the extent
the facts could be discerned from the indictment, we found no case brought where the use
of the means of communication was remote from the persuading, coercion, etc.s
Such prosecutorial restraint is in full accord with the legislative intent, which, as
set forth above, was to go after intemet predators who use the means of communication
to persuade, coerce, etc. That the statute also makes reference to the mails and facilities
or means of interstate commerce other than the intend does not suggest that the statutory
purpose was broader: it is a common modus operandi of intemet predators to continue to
pursue young people whom they first contact on the intemet. If the statute were read to
make it a crime to induce or persuade where the inducement or persuasion did not occur
over the wires, the statute would sweep within it conduct that Congress had no intention
of making a federal crime. Given the ubiquity of the telephone in modem life, especially
To confirm our view of the "plain meaning" of the words, we asked Steven Pinker, Johnstone
Family Professor at Harvard University's Department of Psychology and a noted linguist, to
analyze the statute to determine the natural and linguistically logical reading or readings of the
section. Specifically, we asked whether the statute contemplates necessarily that the means of
communication must be the vehicle through which the persuading or enticing directly occurs.
According to Dr. Pinker, that is the sole rational reading in the English language. See Letter
annexed at Tab "A" at 3.
8 Annexed at Tab "B" is a chart in which each of the cases and its relevant facts are listed.
EFTA00176515
LAW OFFICILS or
Jeffrey Sloman, Esq.
Matthew Menchel, Esq.
Andrew Lourie, Esq.
A. Marie Villafafia, Esq.
The United States Attorney's Office
Southern District of Florida
July 6, 2007
Page 9
in the lives of young people, de-coupling the "persuasion/enticement" element from the
"use of the interstate facility" would make virtually any sexual activity with a minor,
chargeable under state law, a federal offense — with no statute of limitations and a
mandatory ten-year minimum sentence.
Indeed, given that the interstate highway system is itself an avenue of interstate
commerce, United States'. Home, 474 F.2d 1004, 1006 (7th Cir. 2007), allowing a
prosecution wherever a means or facility of interstate commerce is used and a forbidden
inducement later occurs, would mean that anyone who used the interstate highways, and
then, at some other time, induced a minor face-to-face to engage in forbidden activity (or
attempted to do so), would be subject to the mandatory ten years. The complete
federalization of sex crimes involving children would have occurred, though there is no
indication whatsoever that such a sea change in the federal/state balance was intended or
is even needed.
Moreover, such an expansive reading, even if permissible, would very likely
exceed the Commerce Clause power as the Supreme Court presently construes it. In
United Statest.
, 514 U.S. 549 (1995), the Supreme Court struck down the Gun-
Free School Zones Act, holding that it exceeded Congress's Commerce Clause authority.
In so ruling, the Court reaffirmed a set of fundamental principles, including that the
powers delegated to the federal government are few and defined, and that this
"constitutionally mandated division of authority was adopted by the Fjamers to ensure
protection of our fundamental
Id. at 552, quoting Gregory'. Ashcroft, 501
U.S. 452, 458 (1991). The
majority concluded that the statute before the Court
"upsets the federal balance to a degree that renders it an unconstitutional assertion of the
commerce power." Id at 580. In so ruling, the Court expressed its concern that an
overly expansive view of the interstate Commerce Clause "would effectively obliterate
the distinction between what is national and what is local and create a completely
centralized government." Id. at 557.
4
Makin it clear that the Court meant what it said in
five years later, in
United States' Morrison, 529 U.S. 598 (2000), the Court struck down the civil remedy
provision of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994, ruling that it, too, was beyond
Congress's Commerce Clause powers. Once again, the majority expressed concern that
"Congress might use the Commerce Clause to completely obliterate the Constitution's
distinction between national and local authority." Id at 615.
EFTA00176516
LAW orriccs or
Jeffrey Sloman, Esq.
Matthew Menchel, Esq.
Andrew Laurie, Esq.
A. Marie Villafafla, Esq.
The United States Attorney's Office
Southern District of Florida
July 6, 2007
Page 10
To the extent that §2422(b) criminalizes the use of the internet (or telephone) by a
sexual predator to target a vulnerable minor and to convince, or to try to convince, her to
engage in conduct proscribed by law, the statute may not be unconstitutional on its face.
See United States'. Tykarsky, 446 F.3d 458, 470 (3d Cir. 2006) (both §§ 2422(b) and
2423(6) "fall squarely Congress's power to regulate the first two categories of
activities described in..."). The statute would, however, be plainly unconstitutional if
it were applied to situations like Mr. Epstein's, where neither the telephone nor the
internet was used in that fashion, and where the use of the telephone was, at most, a
tenuous link in a chain of events that may, or may not, have preceded or followed sexual
contact with a minor? In other words, if the instrumentality of commerce is not the
vehicle used to facilitate the harm Congress is trying to address, but is simply a
"jurisdictional hook," the hook is too weakly connected to the problem (sexual crimes
against minors) to sustain the statute as a proper exercise of Commerce Clause power.
Questions about the nature of federalism, and, specifically, just how far the
federal government may go into matters of traditionally state concern, will continue to
arise and will be answered case-by-case. As Justice O'Connor said in her dissent in
Gonzales'. Raich, 545 U.S. 1, 47 (2005), ". . . the task is to identify a mode of analysis
that allows Congress to regulate more than nothing ... and less than everything..."
(O'Connor, J. dissenting). United States'. Ballinger, 395 F.3d 1218 (11th Cir. 2005),
illustrates the difficulty of the task. In that case, the deeply split en banc Court
considered whether and to what extent the Commerce Clause authority included the
power to punish a church arsonist who had traveled in interstate commerce to commit his
arsons.
Though clearly not settled, what is clear is that Congress's specification of a
jurisdictional element such as the use of an instrumentality or channel of interstate
9 As can be readily noted on the chart at Tab "B", to the extent discernable, every case brought
under §2422(b) in this district includes use of the internet. There are only four reported cases in
the Eleventh Circuit involving use of the phones only: three of them concern telephone calls to
travel agencies advertising overseas underage sex tou
and involved explicit talk of sexual
activity with known minors. A fourth is United States' Evans, 476 F.3d 1176 (11ih Cir. 2007)
(11th Cir, 2007). But there, in facts far different from those presented here, the defendant
"admitted using both a cellular telephone and a land-line telephone to entice Jane Doe to engage
in prostitution" (emphasis added). That admission makes Evans no precedent for a prosecution
here, since there is no evidence the phones were used "to entice".
EFTA00176517
LAW OMGCS Of
Jeffrey Sloman, Esq.
Matthew Menchel, Esq.
Andrew Lourie, Esq.
A. Marie Villafafia, Esq.
The United States Attorney's Office
Southern District of Florida
July 6, 2007
Page 11
commerce does not, in and of itself, end the inquiry. Where the use of such
instrumentality is far removed from the conduct being targeted (in the case of §2422(b),
sexual exploitation of children), the lack of any basis for federal jurisdiction presents
itself squarely.
In Mr. Epstein's case, since the crime being considered (as Congress intended) is
the use of the internet by internet predators to target and lure vulnerable children to
engage in illicit sex, the law is arguably within Congress' Commerce Clause powers. But
Mr. Epstein's conduct would be outside the law's scope. If you were to contend that any
use of the telephone which is connected in any fashion to an act of sexual misconduct
with a minor is within the statute's scope, Congress would then have reached well into
traditional state spheres, and there is a powerful argument that Congress would have been
acting in excess of its Commerce Clause authority.
Elimination of Constitutional uncertainty regarding §2422(b) depends upon
confining it to situations where an instrumentality of interstate commerce has itself been
used for an immoral or injurious purpose. Statutes must be read to eliminate serious
doubts as to Constitutionality, as long as such a reading is not plainly contrary to the
intent of Congress. United States i X-Citement Video, Inc., 513 U.S. 64, 78 (1994),
citing Edward J. DeBartolo_Corp. . Florida Gulf Coast Building & Constr. Thades
Council, 485 U.S. 568 (1988). At the least, to eliminate questions as to its
constitutionality, §2422(b)'s reach must be limited to situations where there is a very
close connection between the use of an instrumentality of interstate commerce and the
persuasion or attempted persuasion that the statute makes a crime.
Moreover, even if, arguendo, the expansive reading of the statute would not
violate the Commerce Clause — which current case law strongly suggests it would —
nevertheless the federal interest in prosecuting sexual offenses involving minors where
the facility or means of interstate commerce was not the vehicle for committing the crime
is so attenuated that no such federal prosecution should be brought.
Here, there is no evidence that Mr. Epstein himself ever persuaded, induced,
enticed, or coerced anyone under the age of 18 over the telephone or internet to engage in
prostitution or other illegal conduct. Any prosecution would therefore have to be
predicated on a theory that he was criminally culpable for a telephone call made by a
third party. Such a theory of vicarious liability requires proof beyond a reasonable doubt
that the person making the telephone call and Mr. Epstein shared the same criminal intent
EFTA00176518
LAW *FMCS or
Jeffrey Sloman, Esq.
Matthew Menchel, Esq.
Andrew Lourie, Esq.
A. Marie Villafafia, Esq.
The United States Attorney's Office
Southern District of Florida
July 6, 2007
Page 12
and knowledge and, critically, that the shared intent and knowledge existed at the time of
the communication in question. Absent proof beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr.
Epstein had actual knowledge that the person making a telephone call would induce or
persuade a specific underage person during the telephone call to engage in unlawful
sexual activity or to engage in prostitution, there can be no federal crime.
If the telephone call in question were simply to schedule a topless massage, then
the call lacked the essential element of inducement, persuasion, enticement, or coercion.
If the telephone call in question was to schedule a topless massage (or even more) with a
woman whose age was not known by Mr. Epstein to be under 18, it also fails to satisfy
the requirements of §2422(b). If Mr. Epstein had not formed the intent to engage in
unlawful sexual activity as of the time of the communication (even if he did form the
intent thereafter), an essential element of the federal statute is again lacking. If the
person making the call had knowledge or a criminal intent or belief not fully shared by
Mr. Epstein (for example, Mr. Epstein did not know the telephone call was intended to
induce a minor to engage in unlawful activity), the essential element of shared intent and
shared knowledge is again lacking.1° Finally, even if there were a call to schedule a
second meeting with someone who had previously been to the Epstein residence, this call
lacks the necessary element of persuasion, inducement, or enticing even if the person
receiving the call hoped or expected remuneration from the return visit. That is so
because the statute focuses on the content of the communication, not on any quid pro quo
that occurs thereafter at a meeting. The latter conduct is exclusively within the ambit of
state prosecution.
5. Other Reasons Whv 4 2422(b) Does Not Apply
As we demonstrate above, this statute is addressed to those who purposely and
intentionally target children. Here, there was no such targeting. As the Sixth Circuit said
in rejecting a First Amendment challenge to the statute: "The statute only applies to those
who `knowingly' persuade or entice, or attempt to persuade or enticesminors. United
States' Bailey, 228 F.3d 637, 639 (6th Cir. 2000). See United States'. Pcmfil, 338 F.3d
1° Indeed, this last problem is best illustrated by any cal
may claim to have made
to solicit persons to massage Mr. Epstein. Though Ms.
may have known the actual ages
of the women whom she called at the time she called, and may therefore have known that one or
more was in fact under 18, she was clear in speaking to detectives that she never communicated
such information to Mr. Epstein. Rather, she unders
on
wanted massages from
women at least 18 years of age. (Video Interview oft.
on October 3, 2005).
EFTA00176519
LAW OrrICCO or
GERALD B. LEFCOUler, P.C.
Jeffrey Sloman, Esq.
Matthew Menchel, Esq.
Andrew Lourie, Esq.
A. Marie Villafafia, Esq.
The United States Attorney's Office
Southern District of Florida
July 6, 2007
Page 13
1299 (11th Cir. 2003) (scienter requirement discourages "unscrupulous enforcement" and
clarifies §2422(b)). Directed towards those who commit "the most serious crimes against
children," it cannot properly be used as a trap for the unwary, sweeping within its net all
who may — even unwittingly and unintentionally — communicate or otherwise interact
improperly with persons who turn out to be minors.
A prosecution of Mr. Epstein would violate the teachings of Bailey and Panfil. As
we believe we persuaded you at the June 26th meeting, Mr. Epstein never targeted minors.
On the contrary, what he did — at worst — was akin to putting up a sign saying to all, come
in if you are interested in giving a massage for $200. A few among those who accepted
the general invitation may have in fact been under 18 (though they lied about that age and
said they were 18), but that is, at its worst, comparable to "post[ing] messages for all
intemet users, either adults or children, to seek out and read at their discretion," which the
courts have held does not violate §2422(b).
Thus, for this reason as well, Mr. Epstein's case is far outside the parameters of
the §2422(b) cases that have been prosecuted. A key factor common to cases brought
under §2422(b) is not present here: Prosecutions under this statute have focused on a
sexual predator who used the internet to identify and to communicate with a child or
purported child (or a person with influence over such child or purported child), and did so
with the intent to arrange to engage in sexual activity with the child, with full knowledge
that sexual activity with an individual of that age was illegal. In light of this common and
well-accepted understanding, the cases decided under §2422(b) take as a given that its
proper application lies only where the defendant knows or believes the person with whom
he is interacting is a child.
Virtually all of the prosecutions brought under §2422(b) resulting in published
decisions have involved undercover "sting" operations, involving an essentially standard
fact pattern in which over an extended period of time and in the course of multiple
conversations on line an undercover agent pretends to be a young teenager. In each of the
cases, the prosecution had, from the very words used by the defendant, an all but
irrefutable case showing the clear knowledge and intent of the defendant. A prototypical
case is United States' Farner, 251 F.3d 510 (5th Cir. 2001), where the defendant
participated, over time, in instant messaging, e-mail, and follow-up telephone calls with a
person who identified herself as 14 years old, engaged in explicit internet conversation,
sent her pornographic pictures, persuaded her to meet with him for sexual activity,
arranged such a meeting, and traveled to the meeting place. The Fifth Circuit held that
EFTA00176520
LAW OFFICES OF
Jeffrey Sloman, Esq.
Matthew Menchel, Esq.
Andrew Lourie, Esq.
A. Marie Villafafla, Esq.
The United States Attorney's Office
Southern District of Florida
July 6, 2007
Page 14
defendant's §2422(b) attempt conviction was valid; it mattered not that the 14 year old
was really an adult FBI agent engaged in a sting operation, for the defendant "believed
Cindy to be a minor and acted on that belief." 251 F.3d at 512. Our own survey of the
cases brought in this district under §2422(b) confirms that prosecutions in this District
have also been all but limited to intemet sting cases. See Tab "B".
In the context of this standard fact pattern involving the internet's use by
predators, other Circuits, including the Eleventh, have been unanimous in holding that the
non-existence of an actual minor was of no moment; defendant's belief that hs was
dealing with a minor was sufficient to make out the crime. See United States'. Root, 296
F.3d 1222, 1227-32 (j1 di Cir. 2002); United States' Sims, 428 F.3d 945, 9a9 (10th Cir.
2005); United Stalest. Helder, 452 F.3d 751 (8th Cir. 2006); United States'. Meek, 366
F.3d 705, 717-20 (9th Cir. 2004). Likewise, the Circuits have rejected void for vagueness,
overbreadth, and First Amendment challenges to the statute, brought in the context of
these prototypical prosecutions where the internet was the vehicle of communication and
enticement, and the defendant demonstrated in writing his
lief that he was dealing with
a child well below the age ofsonsent. E.g., United States'. Tykarslcy, 446 F.3d 458, 473
(3d Cir. 2006); United States'. Thomas, 410 F.3d 1235, 1243-44 (10th Cir. 2005); United
Statest Panfil, supra, 338 F.3d at 1300-01 (11th Cir. 2003)."
II There are approximately two dozen Eleventh Circuit cases that include a prosecutio under
§2422(b), most of which involve the prototypical fact pattern. See, e.g., United States'. Morton,
364 F.3d 1300 (I I* Cir. 2004), judgment vacated for Booker consideration, 115 S. Ct. 1338
(2006); United Stalest Grego, 363 F.3d 1093 (II* Cir. 2004); United States'. Miranda, 348
F.3d 1322 (I I lb Cir. 2003); United States'. 7illmon, 195 F.3d 640 (11* Cir. 1999); United States1
&mill, supra, 338 F.3d 1299 (11* Cir. 2003); United Stalest. Garrett, 190 F.3d 1220 (11th Cir.
1999); United States' Burgess, 175 F.3d j261 (11th Cir. 1999); United States' Rojas, 145 Fed.
Appx. 647 (11* Cir. 2005); United States'. Root, 296 F.3d 1222 (11th Cir. 2002).
United Stalest Murrell, 368 F.3d 1283 (116 Cir. 2004), is in the same mold, except that, in that
sting operation, the defendant communicated, not with the purported 13 year old girl, but with an
undercover agent holding himself out to be the imaginary girl's father. The initial contacts
between Murrell and the agent occurred in internet chatrooms named "family love" and "Rent F
Vry Yng." Over time, Murrell sought to make arrangements with the girl's father to make his
daughter available for sex in exchange for money. After the initial intemet communications
concerning renting the girl for sexual purposes, further negotiations between the defendant and
the undercover occurred via the phone, per the defendant's suggestion. The Eleventh Circuit,
framing the issue to be whether the defendant must communicate directly with the minor or
supposed minor to violate §2422(b), answered the question in the negative, reasoning that "the
EFTA00176521
LAW OFFICES OF
GERALD B. Lamour:et PC.
Jeffrey Sloman, Esq.
Matthew Menchel, Esq.
Andrew Lourie, Esq.
A. Marie Villafafia, Esq.
The United States Attorney's Office
Southern District of Florida
July 6, 2007
Page 15
In light of this common and well-accepted understanding, the cases decided under
§2422(b) take as a given that its proper application lies only where the facts demonstrate
beyond dispute that the defendant knows or believes the person with whom he is
interacting is a minor.
The Ninth Circuit has so held. United States' Meek 366 F.3d 705, 718 (9h Cir.
2004), held that the term "knowingly" refers both to the verbs — "persuades", "induces",
"entices", or "coerces" — as well as to the object — "a person who has not achieved the
age of 18 years," citing United States' X-Citement Video, Inc., 513 U.S. 64 (1994), and
Staples' United States, 511 U.S. 606 (1994). The Meek Court wrote:
The statute requires mens rea, that is, a guilty mind. The
guilt arises from the defendant's knowledge of what he
intends to do. In this case, knowledge is subjective — it is
what is in the mind of the defendant.'
The very lengthy sentence under §2422(b) speaks against strict liability,
especially since it applies in cases where there is no sexual contact at all with any
person, let alone with a real minor. The Eleventh Circuit's decision in United States
Murrell, supra, reflects this same understanding of the statute. The Murrell court wrote
that, under the "plain language" of §2422(b), "to prove an attempt the government must
efficacy of §2422(b) would be eviscerated if a defendant could circumvent the statute simply by
employing an intermediary to carry out his intended objective. Id. at 1287. Fact patterns similar
to Murrell's exist in United States Hornaday, 392 F.3d 1306 (11 di Cir. 2004); United States
Houston, 177 Fed. Aepx. 57 (11" Cir. 2006); Chilled States' Searcy, 418 F.3d 1193 (11* Cir.
2005); United States' Scott, 426 F. 3d 1324 (11th Cir. 2005); and United States. Bolen, 136 Fed.
Appx. 325 (I Id' Cir. 2002).
12 Several Courts of Appeal have held that, in a prosecution under §2422(a), the defendant need
not know that the individual that a defendant has persuaded, induced, enticed, or coerced to
travel in interstate commerce is under the age of 18. United States Jones, 471 F.3d 535 (4th
Cir. 2006), is one of these cases, though its facts are very different, and much more egregious
than Mr. Epstein's. Assuming Jones was correctly decided and that the government need not
prove defendant's knowledge under §2422(a), that still does not answer the question under
§2422(b). The two are very different statutes, with different histories and different purposes.
And §2422(a), unlike subsection (b), carries no mandatory minimum sentence, let alone ten years.
EFTA00176522
LAW OIIICL• 01
GERat. B. Lisrcourr. P.C.
Jeffrey Sloman, Esq.
Matthew Menchel, Esq.
Andrew Lourie, Esq.
A. Marie Villafafia, Esq.
The United States Attorney's Office
Southern District of Florida
July 6, 2007
Page 16
first prove that Murrell, using the intemet, acted with a specific intent to persuade a
minor to engage in unlawful sex." 368 F.3d at 1286 (emphasis added).11 United States
Root, supra, 296 F.3d at 1227, follows this pattern, and confirms that, at the time the
defendant induces or entices the minor, he must intend to have sexual conduct with a
minor or one he believes to be a minor and know that such conduct is proscribed.
("Root's statement to task force agents upon his arrest confirmed that he believed he
would meet a 13-yearvld girl for sex, which he said he knew was wrong but `exciting").
See also United States'. Rojas, 145 Fed. Appx. 647 (11th Cir. 2005) (unpublished). This
mens rea requirement applies equally where the completed crime occurs.14
Finally, actus non Tacit reum, nisi mens sit rea — the act alone does not amount to
el<
guilt; it must be accompanied by a guilty mind. This principle of concurrence mandates
that the actus reus and the mens reus concur in time. See Paul H. Robinson, Criminal
Law §4.1 at 217 (1997) (concurrence requirement "means that the required culpability as
to the element must exist at the time of the conduct constituting the offense"); LaFave,
Substantive Criminal Law §3.11(a) (West 1986) (noting that Concurrence is a basic
principle of criminal law and "the better view is that there is concurrence when tke
defendant's mental state actuates the physical conduct"). See also United Stalest Bailey.
supra, 444 U.S. at 402. In this case, the requisite actus reus is absent; likewise the
required mental state. Even if those two fatal defects could be set aside, nevertheless,
there was no concurrence of guilty mind and evil act, providing an additional reason why
a successful prosecution under §2422(b) could not be brought.
6. Conclusion
In Mr. Epstein's case, there was no use of the intemet to induce, etc., and, given
the legislative history and purpose, that is itself dispositive. Nor does the case present
any of the dangers associated with intemet predators and cyberspace. Not surprisingly
13 Otherwise, the police could, for example, conduct a sting operation with a 17 year-old
pretending to be an 18 year-old. Such an absurd operation is surely not intended by the statute.
14 Even the completed crime does not require any sexual activity. Arguably, one commits the
attempt offense when the actor, on the intemet, asks a known or believed-to-be minor to have sex,
even if she says no. The completed offense occurs when he takes an additional step, even before
any sexual activity and regardless of whether one ever takes place.
EFTA00176523
LAW OFFICES OF
GEEtALD B. LEFCOURT, PC.
Jeffrey Sloman, Esq.
Matthew Menchel, Esq.
Andrew Lourie, Esq.
A. Marie Villafaiia, Esq.
The United States Attorney's Office
Southern District of Florida
July 6, 2007
Page 17
then, the statutory language does not fit: Mr. Epstein did not use any facility of interstate
commerce to do the forbidden act — to persuade, entice, induce, or coerce — nor did he
attempt to do so. Others did use the telephone to make a variety of arrangements for Mr.
Epstein's residence in Palm Beach, including getting the house ready for his arrival,
checking movie schedules, and making telephone calls to schedule doctor's
appointments, personal training, physical therapy and massages. Even if Mr. Epstein
could be held responsible for the use of the telephone on his behalf, nevertheless, calls
made by others regarding massages were not the statutorily proscribed persuasions or
enticements of a known minor to do acts known to be illegal. Within his home, even if
Mr. Epstein may arguably have persuaded or induced individuals to engage in forbidden
conduct with him, he did not violate §2422(b). If he engaged in such persuasion or
inducement, it occurred only face to face and spontaneously.
If such conduct constituted a crime, it would be a classic state offense. The state
is the appropriate forum for addressing these issues. Though in our meeting it was
asserted that cases under §2422(b) are often brought where there was simply use of a
telephone, and casual use at that, it would not from our survey appear to be so on either
count — that is, use of a telephone rather than the intemet, and use of the means of
communication remote from the enticing, etc. This is neither the defendant, nor the
factual context, to break new ground.
II.
Mr. Epstein Warrants Declination to Prosecute as Exercise of Discretion.
t
We believe strongly that no federal case would lie under the facts here. Moreover,
as we discussed, there is a pending state case against Mr. Epstein which can be resolved
in a way that vindicates the state's rights and obligations in this matter.
In considering an appropriate disposition in a case such as this, where the
applicability of the statute, both legally and as a matter of policy, raise serious questions,
and both the reliability and admissibility of much of the evidence is in doubt, it is useful
to consider how best to use the broad discretion you enjoy in choosing whether to
prosecute. In this regard, we suggest that having a greater understanding of who Jeffrey
Epstein is as a person may help inform how best to proceed.
Jeffrey Epstein was raised in a middle class neighborhood in Brooklyn, New
York, by hardworking parents. His father was a laborer and his mother a secretary. They
lived comfortably, but were by no means well off. Mr. Epstein's parents instilled a strong
work ethic in him, and growing up he held a variety of jobs to support himself, from
EFTA00176524
tAW OFFICES OF
GERALD B. Lurcourr, PC.
Jeffrey Simian, Esq.
Matthew Menchel, Esq.
Andrew Lourie, Esq.
A. Marie Villafatia, Esq.
The United States Attorney's Office
Southern District of Florida
July 6, 2007
Page 18
driving a taxi cab to working as a mechanic. Any notion that he was born with a "silver
spoon in his mouth" should be dismissed.
Although Mr. Epstein is self-made and worked long and hard, he could not have
achieved his successes without the personal guidance and support of others. These key
people first identified the promise in Mr. Epstein and brought him to Bear Stearns and
Company, Inc. There, starting in 1976 at the age of 23 as a floor trader's junior assistant,
he became in 1980 a limited partner. Among the very many benefits that his experience
there provided was an introduction to the people who ultimately became his clients.
Early in his professional career, Mr. Epstein realized the profound impact that
even one person can have on the life of another. His gratitude for the assistance he
personally received, and his sense of obligation to provide similar assistance and
guidance to others, is in large part, the motive for the primacy of philanthropy in his life
or his particular philanthropic interests. Mr. Epstein has devoted a substantial portion of
his time, efforts and financial resources to helping others, both on an individual basis and
on a more far reaching scope. Mr. Epstein gives generously, of both his time and his
financial resources equally to individuals whom he knows personally and well and to
those with whom he has had little or no personal contact. Just a few examples:
Some time ago, the two year old son of an employee was diagnosed with retinal
blastoma. When told, Mr. Epstein not only gave the employee unlimited time off to
attend to his son and promised whatever financial support was needed, but Mr. Epstein
made the full list of his medical and research contacts available. The employee was put
in contact with a former colleague who was then conducting eye research at Washington
University. Mr. Epstein organized several meetings to determine how the colleague could
be of assistance, including by arranging for further meetings with experts at Washington
University. Though the employee's son lost one eye, he is now an otherwise normal
twelve year old who attends private school along with his five siblings, the expenses of
which are borne by Mr. Epstein.
Several years ago, a new employee with whom Mr. Epstein had little or no prior
contact approached Mr. Epstein to request a change in his medical insurance. It was soon
revealed that the employee and his wife were experiencing fertility problems and they
were seeking treatments that cost nearly $15,000 per month. Mr. Epstein insisted on
paying directly for the treatments, and did so month after month. After each
unsuccessful cycle, Mr. Epstein sat with the employee, exploring available alternatives,
including adoption, and encouraging the employee to continue additional cycles at Mr.
Epstein's. Mr. Epstein referred the employee to medical experts with whom Mr. Epstein
EFTA00176525
LAW OFFICES OF
Jeffrey Sloman, Esq.
Matthew Menchel, Esq.
Andrew Lourie, Esq.
A. Marie Villafafta, Esq.
The United States Attorney's Office
Southern District of Florida
July 6, 2007
Page 19
r
was acquainted and assigned personnel to assist the employee with administrative and
secretarial needs that arose in seeking a solution to the problem. Mr. Epstein is now the
godfather of the employee's seven-year old twins.
Recently, both a second employee and a consultant of Mr. Epstein each confided
that they and their respective spouses were experiencing similar fertility problems.
Again, Mr. Epstein offered to pay the uncovered medical costs. The consultant and his
wife are now expecting their first child. The second employee continues with infertility
treatments.
Two years ago, a building workman approached Mr. Epstein with news that the
workman's wife needed a kidney transplant and that the workman's sister-in-law in
Colombia was a willing donor. The non English speaking workman had neither the
financial resources nor the know-how to get the sister-in-law to the United States. Mr.
Epstein arranged for immigration counsel to expedite a visa for the sister-in-law and
purchased the plane tickets for the sister-in-law's visit to the United States. The surgery
was a success and both patients recovered completely. The sister-in-law flew back to
Colombia at Mt Epstein's expense.
Mr. Epstein is a devoted advocate of personal improvement through education.
As a former board member of Rockefeller University, Mr. Epstein has made available
academic scholarships to worthy students, most of whom he has had no prior connection
to whatsoever. In addition, Mr. Epstein covers the tuition required to send the family
members of his employees to nursery, private elementary, middle and secondary schools
and colleges. He has funded and personally encouraged continuing education programs
for his adult employees and professional consultants.
Among his other acts:
•
On a trip to Rwanda to inspect the genocide camps, Mr. Epstein
approached the President of Rwanda and offered to help identify and then
to fund two worthy Rwandan students to earn undergraduate degrees in
the United States. The students, whom Mr. Epstein did not meet until after
their second year of studies, both are expected to graduate with honors
from the City University of New York in 2008. Notes from each of them
are annexed at Tab "C".
•
Even to those with less lofty goals, seeking only to advance in their chosen
paths, Mr. Epstein freely gives of his time to provide guidance and, when
appropriate, financial support. For example, Mr. Epstein has been meeting
EFTA00176526
LAW orrecc• or
Jeffrey Sloman, Esq.
Matthew Menchel, Esq.
Andrew Lourie, Esq.
A. Marie Villafafia, Esq.
The United States Attorney's Office
Southern District of Florida
July 6, 2007
Page 20
monthly with a teenage building workman whose expenses of vocational
school are being paid by Mr. Epstein. Each month, Mr. Epstein reviews
the workman's school progress and discusses career opportunities. One of
the monthly reports is annexed at Tab "D".
•
In addition, Mr. Epstein blocks out time each week to meet with young
professionals to discuss their career prospects and counsel them regarding
appropriate next steps.
Although Mr. Epstein is deeply committed to helping others in very personal and
meaningful ways, he has also sought to use his good fortune to help others on a broader
basis. Mr. Epstein has sponsored more than 70 athlete wellness programs, building
projects, scholarship funds and community interest programs in the United States Virgin
Islands alone.
Moreover, Mr. Epstein has given generously to support philanthropic
organizations across the United States and around the world, including America's
Agenda; Robin Hood; Alliance for Lupus Research; Ovarian Cancer Research Fund;
Friends of Israel Defense Forces; Seeds of Peace; the Jewish National Fund; the Hillel
Foundation; the National Council of Jewish Women; and the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund
— to name only a few.
In a feature article about Mr. Epstein in New York Magazine, former President
Clinton aptly described Mr. Epstein as "a committed philanthropist with a keen sense of
global markets and an in-depth knowledge of twenty-first-century science." President
Clinton reached this conclusion during a month-long trip to Africa with Mr. Epstein,
which Mr. Epstein hosted. The purpose of that trip was to increase AIDS awareness; to
work towards a solution to the AIDS crisis; and to provide funding to reduce the costs of
delivering medications to those inflicted with the disease.
Both before and after that trip to Africa, Mr. Epstein worked hard to achieve
improvements in people's lives on a global basis. He actively sought advancement of his
philanthropic goals through his participation and generous support of both the Trilateral
Commission and the Council on Foreign Relations. As you may know, the Trilateral
Commission was formed to foster closer cooperation among core democratic
industrialized areas of the world in the pursuit of goals beneficial to the global
population. The Council on Foreign Relations is an independent, national membership
organization and a nonpartisan center for scholars dedicated to increase international
understanding of world issues and the foreign policy decisions that affect those issues.
EFTA00176527
LAW omen
or
Jeffrey Sloman, Esq.
Matthew Menchel, Esq.
Andrew Lourie, Esq.
A. Marie Villafitfia, Esq.
The United States Attorney's Office
Southern District of Florida
July 6, 2007
Page 21
Mr. Epstein was part of the original group that conceived the Clinton Global
Initiative, which is described as a project "bringing together a community of global
leaders to devise and implement innovative solutions to some of the world's most
pressing challenges." Focuses of this initiative include poverty, climate change, global
health, and religious and ethnic conflicts.
Mr. Epstein has sought to improve people's lives through active participation in
worthy scientific and academic research projects, as well. He spent hundreds of hours
researching the world's best scientists, and he himself studied as a Harvard Fellow in
order to increase his own knowledge in fields that he believed could provide solutions to
the world's most difficult problems. He is committed to helping the right researchers find
those solutions, especially in the fields of medical science, human behavior and the
environment.
In the past four years alone, Mr. Epstein has made grants to research programs at
major institutions under the supervision of some of the most highly regarded research
professionals and scholars in their fields, including Martin Nowak, a mathematical
biologist who studies, among other things, the dynamics of infectious diseases and cancer
genetics; Martin Seligman, known for his work on Positive Psychology — that is to say
the psychology of personal fulfillment; Roger Schank, a leading researcher in the
application of cognitive learning theory to the curricula of formal education; the renown
physicist/cosmologist
Krauss, and many others. Institutions funded include
Harvard University; Penn State University; Lenox Hill Hospital (New York); the
Biomedical Research and Education Foundation; the Santa Fe Institute; Massachusetts
Institute of Technology; Case Western Reserve University; and Harvard Medical School's
Institute for Music and Brain Science.
Moreover, Mr. Epstein has sponsored and chaired symposia that have provided a
rare opportunity for the world's leading scholars and research professionals to share ideas
across interdisciplinary lines. These leaders gather to discuss important and complex
topics, including the origin of life, systems for understanding human behavior, and
personal genomics.
In order to expand the pool of qualified research professionals actively engaged in
addressing the world's numerous problems, Mr. Epstein co-founded, and served as a
trustee and actively participated in the selection committee of, the Scholar Rescue Fund.
The Scholar Rescue Fund (SRF) is a program of the Institute of International Education,
the group that, inter alia, administers the Fulbright Scholarship program. The SRF
provides support and safe haven to scholars at risk from around the world. Over the past
EFTA00176528
LAW orrice.
OF
Jeffrey Sloman, Esq.
Matthew Menchel, Esq.
Andrew Lourie, Esq.
A. Marie Villafatia, Esq.
The United States Attorney's Office
Southern District of Florida
July 6, 2007
Page 22
five years, SRF has made 155 grants to scholars from more than 37 countries. Scholars
are placed at host universities in a safe country. More than 87 institutions around the
world have hosted SRF scholars to date, including eight of the top ten universities in the
United States. Most recently, SRF launched the Iraq Scholar Rescue Project to save
scholars in Iraq, many of whom have been particularly targeted for kidnapping and death
since the conflict there began. Mr. Epstein is a highly valued member of the selection
committee. Just a few articles mentioning these and other projects are annexed at Tab
I
Even a casual review of the good works large and small in which he has involved
himself leads one to conclude that he has a powerful instinct to help others. He does this
not simply because he can, but because he has a deeply ingrained desire to do so. In fact,
he believes that, as a result of his good fortune, he is obligated to do so.
Since 2000, Mr. Epstein has funded educational assistance, science and research
and community and civic activities. As you can see, his philanthropy is not limited to
financial support. To the contrary, it has involved the dedication of a remarkable amount
of his time and effort and has yielded admirable results. It is noteworthy that a majority
of the people he has helped over the years have been those with whom he has had little or
no contact, which further confirms that he derives no personal benefit from his good
works, other than the personal satisfaction derived from using his good fortune to help
others.
The sincere devotion to others evidenced by Mr. Epstein's philanthropic activities
is no less apparent in his interpersonal relationships. Mr. Epstein has maintained both
long term significant, intimate as well as professional relationships. He remains close
personal friends with people with whom he went to high school and, to this day,
maintains close business contacts with his former colleagues at Bear Stearns. Those who
know Mr. Epstein well describe him admittedly as quirky but certainly not immoral; and
overall as kind, generous and warm-hearted. They have remained staunch supporters
despite the lurid media attention during this two-year investigation.
Mr. Epstein acknowledges that the activities under investigation, as well as the
investigation itself, have had and continue to have an unfortunate impact on many people.
With a profound sense of regret, Mr. Epstein hopes to end any further embarrassment to
all who are and who may become involved in this serious matter. Resolution of the
outstanding charges in the state would put an appropriate end to the matter for everyone.
EFTA00176529
LAW orrias or
Jeffrey Sloman, Esq.
Matthew Menchel, Esq.
Andrew Lourie, Esq.
A. Marie VillafaiIa, Esq.
The United States Attorney's Office
Southern District of Florida
July 6, 2007
Page 23
Again, we and our colleagues thank you for your attention at the June 26 meeting.
I welcome any questions or comments you may have and am available to discuss this and
any other issues at your earliest convenience.
Very truly yours,
Goud?
Gerald B. Lefcourt
cati
a
.O i b m
Alan Dershowitz
Roy Black, Esq.
EFTA00176530
•
C.)
c
EFTA00176531
STEVEN PINKER
Johnstone Family Professor
Professor Alan Dershowitz
Harvard Law School
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA 02138
June 28, 2007
Dear Alan,
I'm happy to offer the help of my knowledge in linguistics to determine the natural
interpretation of a statute you have inquired about. My comments refer to how a literate English
speaker would interpret the statute, based on research on the syntax and semantics of verbs. I
consider myself an expert on this topic, having written about it in many scholarly articles and in
three books: Learnability and Cognition (MIT Press, 1989), Lexical and Conceptual Semantics
(coedited with Beth Levin; Blackwell, 1992), and The Stuff of Thought: Language as a Window
into Human Nature (Viking, 2007).
The statute at issue is as follows:
Whoever, using the mail or any facility or means of interstate or
foreign commerce, or within the special maritime and territorial
jurisdiction of the United States knowingly persuades, induces,
entices, or coerces any individual who has not attained the age of
18 years, to engage in prostitution or any sexual activity for which
any person can be charged with a criminal offense, or attempts to
do so, shall be fined under this title and imprisoned not less than
ten years or for life.
Your question, as I understand it, pertains to the temporal and causal relationship
between the person's use of the mail (or other interstate/foreign instrument) and his knowingly
persuading (inducing, cnticing, etc.) the minor. Simplifying the various disjuncts and subordinate
clauses so that we may concentrate on the semantics, the relevant part of the statute is effectively
this:
Whoever, using the mail etc., knowingly persuades a minor to
engage in a criminal sexual activity, shall be fined and imprisoned.
So the question is: does this statute apply (1) to someone who uses the mail (or Internet or
phone) and subsequently persuades a minor, in person, to engage in sex, or does it apply only to
(2) someone who persuades a minor, over the phone (etc.) to engage in sex? That is, if John
phones a woman asking her only to have dinner, and then, at dinner, persuades her to engage in
illegal sex, does his behavior fall under the language of the statute?
Linguistically, this boils down to how the appositive gerundive phrase "using the mail"
relates to the causative main verb "persuades." The gerundive phrase is playing the semantic role
William James.' 970 I 33 Kirkland Street I Cambridge I Massachusetts 02138
P 617.495.0831 I f 617.495.8279 I
[email protected]
EFTA00176532
of instrument: something used as a means to the ends specified by the causative verb. So the
question is how an instrument-phrase is ordinarily interpreted. We can clarify this by simplifying
even further and substituting concrete events for the abstract ones in the statute:
(a) John, using a hammer, broke the glass.
Now consider the following scenarios:
(b) John uses a hammer to bang nails into a piece of wood. Then
he puts the hammer down, reaches for a glass, and deliberately
smashes the glass against the table.
(c) With his right hand, John hammers in a nail. While he is doing
this, he reaches for a glass with his left hand, and deliberately
smashes the glass against the table.
(d) John takes a hammer and deliberately swings it against the
glass, breaking it.
It's clear that no English speaker would ever use the sentence (a) to describe scenario (b).
Similarly, sentence (a) would almost certainly not be used to describe scenario (c): any English
speaker would say "while using a hammer," not just "using a hammer." The only scenario that
can be described by (a) is the one in (d). In other words, the event denoted by the instrumental
gerundive phrase must immediately precede the event denoted by the causative verb, and the
actor has to use the instrument in order to bring about the change indicated by the causative
verb; that is, it has to be the means to an end.
There is an additional condition that has to be met. Consider scenario (e):
(e) Mary is holding a glass. John stands behind Mary, and bangs a
hammer against an iron bar. The noise startles Mary, who drops
the glass, breaking it.
Here, too, it would be pretty weird to use sentence (a) to describe the scenario, even if John
intended for the glass to break as a result of the scenario. As far as English verbs are concerned,
the only means to the end that counts is the one that directly and immediately precedes the end.
In addition, the way in which the means brings about the end has to be more-or-less
stereotyped—the circuitous and unconventional means in this case (startling Mary) renders the
sentence unacceptable.
Finally, to be as charitable as possible to alternative interpretations, consider scenario (f):
(f) A glass is packed in a wooden crate. John smashes the crate
with a hammer in order to open it. He reaches for the glass and
hurls it against the floor, breaking it.
Even with this scenario it would be very odd to say "John, using a hammer, broke the glass."
Once again, the use of the hammer has to the immediate cause of the breaking of the glass, not
one separated from it by several links in a causal chain.
Getting back to the statute in question, I would conclude that it would naturally apply
only to someone who used the Internet or phone (or other relevant facility) as the direct,
immediate, and intended means to the end of persuasion: that is, the sexual come-on would have
to be on the phone or in the Internet message. If one doubts this, one only has to consider a
scenario in which John phones Mary to invite her to dinner, having no sexual intentions
whatsoever, and during dinner is struck by her beauty and relaxed by the wine, and decides on
EFTA00176533
the spur of the moment to try to seduce her. No one could possibly describe that as "John, using
the phone, seduced Mary," since he had no such intention at the time he used the phone.
These properties of the use of verbs—immediateness, means-ends, directness,
stereotypy—have been discussed in the literature on the lexical semantics of causative verbs for
almost forty years. They have also been confirmed in experiments that ask people whether they
could use various sentences to describe particular scenarios. I append below a few of the
references to the relevant scholarly literature.
My professional conclusion, in sum, is that an English speaker, reading the statute, would
naturally understand it as applying only to persuasion (etc.) that is done while "using the mail"
(etc.). To understand it as applying to persuasion (etc.) done subsequent to the use of the mail,
phone, etc., would be an unnatural and grammatically inaccurate reading of the language.
I hope this helps to clarify your question. Please don't hesitate to be in touch if I can
clarify or expand on this analysis.
Sincerely,
Fodor, J. A. (1970). Three reasons for not deriving "kill" from "cause to die". Linguistic
Inquiry, 1, 429-438.
Gergely, G., & Bever, T. G. (1986). Relatedness intutions and mental represenation of
causative verbs. Cognition, 23, 211-277.
Levin, B., & Pinker, S. (Eds.). (1992). Lexical and conceptual semantics. Cambridge, Mass.:
Blackwell.
Pinker, S. (1989). Learnability and cognition: The acquisition of argument structure.
Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press.
Shibatani, M. (1976). The grammar of causative constructions: A conspectus. In M.
Shibatani (Ed.), Syntax and semantics 6: The grammar of causative constructions. New
York: Academic Press.
Talmy, L. (1988). Force dynamics in language and cognition. Cognitive Science, 12, 49-
100.
Wolff, P. (2003). Direct causation in the linguistic coding and individuation of causal
events. Cognition, 88, 1-48.
Wolff, P., & Song, G. (2003). Models of causation and the semantics of causal verbs.
Cognitive Psychology, 47, 276-332.
EFTA00176534
It
EFTA00176535
Southern District of Florida Cases Charging 18 U.S.C.S. 2422 (b)
Case #
Defendant
Counts
Other Charges
Summary
97-8093
Paul Panunzio
2
2 counts 2422(6)
Use of intemet to entice
minor to engage in sex
activity.
00-6034
John Palmer
2
18 U.S.C.S.
2252A(a)(5)(B)
Use of internet to entice
minor to engage in sex
activity.
01-0704
Michael Nyberg
1
[None]
D met u/c officer (posing
as 13 y.o. girl) on internet
chat service. D had
sexually explicit
conversation with ofc., set
up meeting on internet for
purpose of having sex;
arrested at meeting site.
(Affidavit attached).
01-0734
Franco Sabri
1
[None]
D met u/c officer (posing
as 13 y.o. girl) on intemet
chat service. D had
sexually explicit
conversation with ofc., set
up meeting on internet for
purpose of having sex;
arrested at meeting site.
(Affidavit attached).
01-0756
Eduardo Alvarez
1
[None]
D met u/c officer (posing
as 13 y.o. girl) on intemet
chat service. D had
sexually explicit
conversation with ofc., set
up meeting on internet for
purpose of having sex;
arrested at meeting site.
(Affidavit attached).
01-0783
Prem D'Sa
1
[None]
D met u/c officer (posing
as 13 y.o. girl) on intemet
chat service. D had
sexually explicit
EFTA00176536
conversation with ofc., set
up meeting on internet for
purpose of having sex;
arrested at meeting site.
(Affidavit attached).
01-0961
Jose Mayorga
I
[None]
D met u/c officer (posing
as 13 y.o. girl) on internet
chat service. D had
sexually explicit
conversation with ofc., set
up meeting on internet for
purpose of having sex;
arrested at meeting site.
(Affidavit attached).
01-0998
Gustavo Desouza
1
[None]
D met u/c officer (posing
as 13 y.o. girl) on internet
chat service. D had
sexually explicit
conversation with ofc., set
up meeting on internet for
purpose of having sex;
arrested at meeting site.
(Affidavit attached).
01-1004
Ferrys Miranda
I
[None]
D met u/c officer (posing
as 12 y.o. girl) on internet
chat service. D had
sexually explicit
conversation with ofc., set
up meeting on internet for
purpose of having sex;
arrested at meeting site.
(Affidavit attached).
01-1139
James Patterson
1
[None]
D met u/c officer (posing
as 13 y.o. girl) on internet
chat service. D had
sexually explicit
conversation with ofc., set
up meeting on internet for
purpose of having sex;
arrested at meeting site.
(Affidavit attached).
01-1174
Roberto
I
[None]
Use of internet to entice
minor to engage in sex
2
EFTA00176537
activity.
01-6024
James Boutin
2
18 U.S.C.S.
2252A(a)(5)(B)
Use of internee to entice
minor to engage in sex
activity.
01-6107
Otis Wragg
1
[None]
Use of Internet to entice
minor to engage in sex
activity.
01-6157
Kelly Jones
4
18 U.S.C.S.
2252A(a)( I );
18 U.S.C.S.
2252A(a)(2)(A);
18 U.S.C.S.
2252A(a)(5)(B)
Use of intemet to entice
minor to engage in sex
activity.
01-6185
Byron Matthai
1
[None]
Use of internee to entice
minor to engage in sex
activity.
01-6203
Anthony Gentile
2
18 U.S.C.S.
2252A(a)(5)(B)
Use of intemet to entice
minor to engage in sex
activity.
01-8073
Jerrold Levy
5
2 counts 2422(b);
18 U.S.C.S.
2252A(a)(2);
18 U.S.C.S.
2252A(a)(5)(B);
18 U.S.C.S.
2252(a)(4)
D communicated with u/c
officer (posing as 14 y.o.
boy) on Internet; D had
sexually explicit
conversation with ofc., set
up meeting on internee for
purpose of having sex; D
arrested at meeting site.
Police obtained SW for
D's home and seized
computer. Police located
another minor boy that D
had previously
communicated w/ and
engaged in sexual activity
md; child pornography also
found on computer.
(Affidavit attached).
01-8097
John Estevez
1
[None]
D met u/c officer (posing
as 13/14 y.o. girl) on
intemet chat service. D
had sexually explicit
3
EFTA00176538
conversations with ofc.; D
gave u/c his cell phone
#; u/c called D (3 taped
phone calls); set up
meeting on internet for
purpose of having sex;
arrested at meeting site.
(Affidavit attached).
01-8161
Carlos Navas
I
[None]
Use of internet to entice
minor to engage in sex
activity.
02-
14077
Anthony Murrell
I
[None]
D met u/c officer (posing
as a mother with a 13 y.o.
daughter) on Internet chat
room; D was looking to be
w/ a mother and daughter.
D gave his phone # to u/c.
D met same u/c (posing as
dad with 13 y.o. daughter)
in another chat room; D
wanted to rent daughter. D
gave his phone # to u/c and
u/c called him to speak
about arrangements. Next
day D & u/c had further
conversation thru the chat
room. 4 days later D
called u/c on phone
making meeting
arrangements & agreed to
pay $300. D arrested at
hotel meeting site.
(Affidavit attached).
02-
14080
Douglas
Bourdon
I
[None]
Use of internet to entice
minor to engage in sex
activity.
02-
14081
James Hornaday
I
[None]
D met u/c (posing as father
with 2 minor
children) in internet
chatroom. D looking to
have sex with family; u/c
called D several times
and D had sexually explicit
conversations w/
4
EFTA00176539
u/c. D also sent nude
photos of himself for
minors to see.
02-
Brian Pan fi I
I
[None)
D met u/c officer (posing
20342
as 13 y.o. girl) on intemet
chat service. D had
sexually explicit
conversation with ofc., set
up meeting on Internet for
purpose of having sex; D
asked u/c to call him once
she reached the meeting
point; u/c called; D
arrested at meeting site.
(Affidavit attached).
02-
John Orrega
I
[None}
D met u/c officer (posing
20408
as 13 y.o. girl) on Internet
chat service. D had
sexually explicit
conversation with ofc., set
up meeting on Internet for
purpose of having sex;
arrested at meeting site.
(Affidavit attached).
02-
Donald Kent
I
i None]
D met u/c officer (posing
20437
as 13 y.o. girl) on Internet
chat service. D had
sexually explicit
conversation with ofc., set
up meeting on intemet for
purpose of having sex;
arrested at meeting site.
(Affidavit attached).
02-
Mark 0beinuner
2
18 U.S.C.S. 1470
D met u/c officer (posing
20705
as 13 y.o. girl) on
Internet chat service. D
had sexually explicit
conversation with ofc. D
sent obscene photos to
u/c and masturbated on
webcam for u/c. D gave
u/c his phone #; u/c called
5
EFTA00176540
D and D had sexually
explicit conversation with
u/c on phone.
02-
21012
William Yon
3
3 counts of 2422(b)
D contacted 2 15 y.o.
girls/students via the
Internet and had sexually
explicit conversations with
them. Girls went to police.
D set up meeting with u/c
ofc. posing as one of the
girls for purpose of having
sex. D went to meeting
site and then returned
home. D arrested at home.
(Affidavit attached).
02-
80042
Samuel Morton
25
2 counts 2422(b);
18 U.S.C.S.
2252A(a)(2);
18 U.S.C.S.
2252(a)(2);
18 U.S.C.S.
2252(a)(4);
18 U.S.C.S. 2253
D met several u/c officers
(posing as minor
girls) on intemet chat
service. D had sexually
explicit conversation with
ofcs. D sent obscene
photos to u/c. D had
several phone
conversations w/ different
u/c officers.
02-
80072
Todd Kroeber
6
18 U.S.C.S.
2252(a)(2);
18 U.S.C.S.
2252A(a)(2);
18 U.S.C.S.
2252A(a)(5)(B)
Use of facility of interstate
commerce to entice a
minor to engage in sex
activity (does not specify
the facility).
Knowingly received child
pornography.
Knowingly distributed
child pornography in
interstate commerce by
computer.
02-
80171
Elias Guimaraes
1
[None]
Use of intemet to entice
minor to engage in sex
activity.
03-
14028
Edgar Searcy
1
[None]
D met u/c officer (posing
as a dad with a 13 y.o.
6
EFTA00176541
daughter) on intemet chat
room utilized by people
trading their children for
sex. D gave his phone # to
u/c. U/c called D at set up
meeting. D stated that he
intended to have sex w/
u/c's daughter. D arrested
at meeting site.
03-
Joesph Poignant
1
[None]
Use of intemet and
13068
telephone to entice minor
to engage in sex activity.
03-
David Brautigam
I
[None]
D met u/c officer (posing
20043
as 13 y.o. girl) on intemet
chat service. D (using 2
usernames) had sexually
explicit conversation with
ofc., set up meeting on
intemet for purpose of
having sex; arrested at
meeting site. (Affidavit
attached).
03-
Joseph Messier
1
I None]
D met u/c officer (posing
20060
as 13 y.o. girl) on Internet
chat service. D had
sexually explicit
conversation with ofc., set
up meeting on intemet for
purpose of having sex;
arrested at meeting site.
(Affidavit attached).
03-
Marco Pena
I
[None]
D met u/c officer (posing
20132
as 13 y.o. girl) on intemet
chat service. D had
sexually explicit
conversation with ofc., set
up meeting on intemet for
purpose of having sex;
arrested at meeting site.
(Affidavit attached).
03-
Jaime
2
2 counts of 2422(b)
D met u/c officer (posing
20133
Montealegre
as 14 y.o. girl) on intemet
chat service. D had
7
EFTA00176542
sexually explicit
conversation with ofc., set
up meeting on intemet for
purpose of having sex;
arrested at meeting site.
(Affidavit attached).
03-
Kenneth Sciacca
I
(None I
Use of intemet to entice
80164
minor to engage in sex
activity.
04-
1 imothy Dal nail
1
[None]
Use of intemet to entice
14009
minor to engage in sex
activity.
04-
James Brown
I
[None]
Use of intemet to entice
14032
minor to engage in sex
activity.
04-
William Kama!
I
[None]
Use of intemet to entice
14063
minor to engage in sex
activity.
04-
Andres Rojas
I
[None]
D met u/c officer (posing
20040
as minor girl) on
intemet chat service. D
had sexually explicit
conversation with u/c ofc.
04-
Carlos Barroso
3
2 counts of 18
Use of intemet to entice
20055
U.S.C.S. 1470
minor to engage in sex
activity.
Transfer of obscene
material via the intemet.
04-
Derek
2
18 U.S.C.S. 1594(a)
D responded to an
20408
advertisement in a
newspaper
for Costa Rica Taboo
Vacations, a fake travel
agency run by federal
investigators. D
negotiated and paid for a
trip to Costa Rica in
which he planned to have
sex with 16-year old
minors. He cancelled the
8
EFTA00176543
trip, but arranged for
Taboo Vacations to
provide him with underage
sex with the Costa Rican
girls in the U.S. D set
up meeting at hotel. D
arrested at hotel.
04-
.lames Marquez
3
18 U.S.C.S. 2423(e);
Knowingly attempted to
20409
18 U.S.C.S. 1594(a)
induce minor to engage in
prostitution. [no other
facts]
04-
Wallace Strevell
3
18 U.S.C.S. 2423(e);
D called "travel agency" to
20520
18 U.S.C.S. 1594(a)
arrange for trip to
Costa Rica for sex w/
minors. D had several
phone conversations w/
travel agency. D bought
tickets and made
reservations at hotel. D
arrested at airport.
04-
Vincent Springer
3
18 U.S.C.S. 2423(e);
Knowingly attempted to
20551
18 U.S.C.S. 1594(a)
induce minor to engage in
prostitution. [no other
facts]
04-
Clarke
18 U.S.C.S. 2423(e);
D attempted to arrange to
20656
18 U.S.C.S. 1594(a)
have sex w/ minor
girls in Costa Rica thru
fake "travel agency."
04-
Ryan Kannett
9
18 U.S.C.S.
Use of Internet to entice
20837
2252A(a)(2)(A);
18 U.S.C.S.
minor under 12 y.o. to
engage in sex activity.
2252A(a)(5)(B);
21 U.S.C.S. 841(a)(1);
Possessed and distributed
child pornography.
18 U.S.C.S.
924(c)(1XA);
Possession with intent to
sell drugs.
18 U.S.C.S. 2253;
21 U.S.C.S. 853
18 U.S.C.S. 924(d)(1)
Knowingly carry firearm
during drug trafficking
crime.
04-
Raymond
13
2 counts 2422(b);
Use of intemet to entice
60046
Bohning
18 U.S.C.S.
2251(c)(1), (c)(2), and
minor to engage in sex
activity.
(e);
Traveled to England for
9
EFTA00176544
18 U.S.C.S. 2423(b)
and (f);
purpose of having sex with
minor.
18 U.S.C.S.
2252A(a)(1);
18 U.S.C.S.
Sent, distributed, and
received child
pornography.
2252A(a)(2)(A);
18 U.S.C.S.
2252A(a)(2)(B);
18 U.S.C.S.
2252A(a)(6)0;
18 U.S.C.S.
2252A(a)(5)(B)
05-
Gerald Smith
1
[None]
Use of internet to entice
14011
minor to engage in sex
activity.
05-
Timothy
4
2 counts of 2422(b)
Use of internet to entice
14024
Campbell
18 U.S.C.S.
2252(a)(2);
minor to engage in sex
activity.
18 U.S.C.S.
2252(A)(4)(B)
Received and possessed
child pornography that had
been transported in
interstate commerce.
05-
Adam Statland
3
18 U.S.C.S. 2423(b)
Use of internet to entice
14039
minor to engage in sex
activity.
Traveled from California
to Florida w/ intent to
engage in sexual activity
with a minor.
05-
Robert Carlo
1
[None]
Use of internet to entice
14046
minor to engage in sex
activity.
05-
Mark Rader
2
18 U.S.C.S.
Use of internet to entice
14047
2252(a)(1)
minor to engage in sex
activity.
Knowingly transported
child pornography in
interstate commerce.
05-
Robert Latham
2
18 U.S.C.S.
Use of internet to entice
14060
2252(a)(1)
minor to engage in sex
activity.
Knowingly transported
10
EFTA00176545
child pornography by a
computer.
05-
Ralph Poole, Jr.
1
[None]
Use of internet to entice
14099
minor to engage in sex
activity.
05-
Mark Madison
3
18 U.S.C.S.
Operation of child
20444
Justin Evans
3
1591(a)(1);
prostitution ring in Miami.
Chad Ycarby
3
18 U.S.C.S.
14 y.o. girl worked for
1591(a)(2);
Evans as prostitute.
18 U.S.C.S. 2423(e)
Evans arranged dates for
her at hotels, and she
gave money from dates to
Evans. Evans called
14 y.o. girl to inform her
of dates. Evans also
gave girl's phone /4 to
customers. Evans
supplied girl with
condoms.
05-
Edward Byrd
1
[None]
Use of internet to entice
60049
minor to engage in sex
activity.
05-
Callahan
2
18 U.S.C.S. 2423(b)
Use of internet to entice
60073
minor to engage in sex
activity.
05-
Thomas
1
[None]
D met u/c officer (posing
80023
Bohannon
as 15 y.o. girl) on
internet chat service. D
had sexually explicit
conversation with ofc., set
up meeting on
internet for purpose of
having sex; arrested at
meeting site.
05-
Laronn Houston
1
[None]
D met u/c officer (posing
80029
as a mother with a 14
y.o. daughter) on internet
chat room. D set up
meeting w/ mother &
11
EFTA00176546
minor. D arrested at
meeting site.
05-
80200
Lucas Phelps
5
18 U.S.C.S. 1470
Use of intemet to entice
minor to engage in sex
activity.
Attempt to knowingly
transfer child pornography
in interstate commerce to a
minor.
06-
14003
Octavio
Villalona
2
18 U.S.C.S.
2252(a)(1)
Use of intemet to entice
minor to engage in sex
activity.
Knowingly transported
child pornography by a
computer.
06-
14006
Daniel Williams
1
[None]
Use of internet to entice
minor to engage in sex
activity.
06-
14007
Ricky Barnett
1
[None]
Use of Internet to entice
minor to engage in sex
activity.
06-
14011
John Everhart, II
I
[None]
Use of internet to entice
minor to engage in sex
activity.
06-
14016
Eric Rollins
3
2 counts 2422(b)
18 U.S.C.S. 2422(a)
Use of Internet to entice
minor to engage in sex
activity.
Knowingly enticed a
minor to travel in interstate
commerce to engage in
sexual activity.
06-
14053
Richard Grande,
Jr.
1
[None]
Use of intemet to entice
minor to engage in sex
activity.
06-
14069
Eric Matthews
4
18 U.S.C.S. 1470;
18 U.S.C.S.
2252(a)(2)
Use of intemet to entice
minor to engage in sex
activity.
Knowingly transferred
obscene material to a
minor in interstate
commerce.
12
EFTA00176547
Knowingly distributed
child pornography in
interstate commerce.
06-
14074
Anthony Perez
3
18 U.S.C.S. 1470;
18 U.S.C.S. 2251 (a)
and (e)
Use of intemet to entice
minor to engage in sex
activity.
Knowingly transferred
obscene material to a
minor under 16 y.o. in
interstate commerce.
Enticed minor to engage in
sexual conduct for purpose
of transporting visual
depiction in interstate
commerce.
06-
20249
Michael
I
[None]
Knowingly attempted to
induce minor to engage in
prostitution. [no other
facts]
06-
20341
Dino Pancaro
3
18 U.S.C.S. 2423(e);
18 U.S.C.S. 1594(a)
Knowingly attempted to
induce minor to engage in
prostitution.
Attempted to travel to
engage in commercial sex
act with a minor.
06-
20734
Demond Osley
Stacey Greer
8
18 U.S.C.S.
1591(aX1);
18 U.S.C.S. 2421;
18 U.S.C.S. 2422(a);
18 U.S.C.S.
1001(aX2);
18 U.S.C.S.
1028(aX4)
Minor arrested for
prostitution on Miami
Beach.
When questioned by
officers, minor said Osley
brought her from Michigan
to Florida for
purpose of prostitution;
Osley became unhappy
with minor b/c she was not
meeting daily quota;
Osley sold minor to Greer.
Greer takes minor to
hotel, forces her to have
sex, video tapes minor
and takes photos of her to
distribute on internet.
Greer also forces minor
into prostitution thru
13
EFTA00176548
threats of violence. Minor
identified Osley and
Greer. Both arrested.
06-
20783
Keith Lanzon
I
[None
Use of intemet to entice
minor to engage in sex
activity.
06-
80031
Lynn Mann
3
18 U.S.C.S. 1470;
18 U.S.C.S.
2252A(a)(5)(B);
18 U.S.C.S.
2252A(b)(2)
Use of Internet to entice
minor to engage in sex
activity.
Distribute child
pornography to a minor.
Possession of child
pornography.
06-
80034
Rafael Ramirez,
Jr.
1
[None]
Use of internet to entice
minor to engage in sex
activity.
06-
80058
Adam McDaniel
2
18 U.S.C.S. 2423(b)
D was 19 in Texas, met 14
y.o. girl on internet
who lived in Florida. D &
girl communicated
by email & phone. D flew
to Florida, met w/
girl and had sex w/ her in a
hotel.
06-
80135
David Girouard
2
18 U.S.C.S. 2423(b)
Use of Internet and cellular
telephone to entice minor
to engage in sex activity.
07-
14002
Benjamin■
4
18 U.S.C.S. 1470;
18 U.S.C.S.
2252A(aX2)(M;
18 U.S.C.S.
2252(bX1);
18 U.S.C.S.
2252(a)(4)(B)
Use of intemet to entice
minor to engage in sex
activity.
Knowingly transferred
obscene material to a
minor under 16 y.o. in
interstate commerce.
Knowingly distributed
child pornography in
interstate commerce.
Possession of child
pornography.
07-
14004
Ricky
2
18 U.S.C.S. 2251 (a)
and (e)
Use of internet to entice
minor to engage in sex
14
EFTA00176549
activity.
Attempted production of
child pornography thru
interstate commerce.
07-
Carl Berrier
2
18 U.S.C.S.
Use of internet to entice
14005
2252A(a)(2)(A);
18 U.S.C.S.
minor to engage in sex
activity.
2252A(b)(1)
Knowingly distributed
child pornography in
interstate commerce.
07-
Francesco Simo
1
[None]
Use of internet to entice
14015
minor to engage in sex
activity.
07-
Joseph Crutchley
I
[None]
Use of internet to entice
14016
minor to engage in sex
activity.
07-
14024
Evans
il
Evans
i
3
1
18 U.S.C.S. 2423(a);
18 U.S.C.S. 2423(e)
Use of internet to entice
minor to engage in sex
activity.
Conspiracy to transport a
minor to engage in sexual
activity.
Knowingly transport (or
attempt) a minor to engage
in sexual activity.
07-
Sammy
4
18 U.S.C.S. 1591(a);
Knowingly attempted to
20214
Carpenter,
Darryl Jennings,
Luroy Jennings
18 U.S.C.S. 2422(a)
induce minor to engage in
prostitution.
07-
Nelson Cintron
3
18 U.S.C.S.
Use of intemet to entice
60049
2252A(a)(2)(A);
18 U.S.C.S.
minor to engage in sex
activity.
2252A(a)(5)(B)
Possessed and distributed
child pornography.
07-
Oliver Buelow
2
18 U.S.C.S. 2423(b)
[No factual information]
60084
07-
Marion
3
18 U.S.C.S. 2423(a);
Use of internet and cellular
80099
Yarbrough
18 U.S.C.S. 2422(a)
telephone to entice
minor to engage in sex
15
EFTA00176550
activity.
Transport minor to engage
in sex activity.
Entice minor to travel in
interstate commerce to
engage in sex activity.
16
EFTA00176551
f
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4-
C
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EFTA00176552
City College
UI NewYork
Jeffrey Epstein
do Darren Indyke Esq.
457 Madison Avenue — 14th Floor
New York,
N.Y. 10022.
Dear Mr. Epstein,
North Academic Center, Room 6/141
160 Convent Avenue
New York, New York 10031
TEL:l
FAX:
www.ccny.cuny.edu
August 21,2006.
Thank you for your continued and generous support of the undergraduate academic
careers of Georges Ndabashimiye and Nicole Mutesi.
Both students have done very well both academically and in co-curricular life and expect
to graduate in June, 2008. Georges will return to Rwanda to teach and Nicole plans to
join the energy industry which is focused on developing Rwanda's newly found resources
in natural gas.
Your support of these two students will thus contribute to the human resource wealth of
Rwanda.
Yours sincerely,
Marina W. Fernando Ph.D.
Director, International Studies Program
and Deputy Dean of Social Science.
EFTA00176553
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447 of 1456 DOCUMENTS
Copyright 2004 Gale Group, Inc.
ASAP
Copyright 2004 American Association for Artificial Intelligence
AI Magazine
June 22, 2004
SECTION: No. 2, Vol. 25; Pg. 113; ISSN: 0738.4602
LAC-ACC-NO: 119024857
LENGTH: 7274 words
HEADLINE: The St. Thomas common sense symposium: designing architectures for human-level
intelligence.
BYLINE: Minsky, Marvin; Singh, Push; Stomas, Aaron
BODY:
To build a machine that has "common sense" was once a principal goal in the field of artificial
intelligence. But most researchers in recent years have retreated from that ambitious aim. Instead, each
developed some special technique that could deal with some class of problem well, but does poorly at
almost everything else. We are convinced, however, that no one such method will ever turn out to be
"best," and that instead, the powerful AI systems of the future will use a diverse array of resources that,
together, will deal with a great range of problems. To build a machine that's resourceful enough to have
humanlike common sense, we must develop ways to combine the advantages of multiple methods to
represent knowledge, multiple ways to make inferences, and multiple ways to learn. We held a two-day
symposium in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, to discuss such a project--to develop new architectural
schemes that can bridge between different strategies and representations. This article reports on the events
and ideas developed at this meeting and subsequent thoughts by the authors on how to make progress.
• *****•*•
*
The Need for Synthesis in Modern AI
To build a machine that has "common sense was once a principal goal in the field of artificial
intelligence. But most researchers in recent years have retreated from that ambitious aim. Instead, each
developed some special technique that could deal with some class of problem well, but does poorly at
almost everything else. An outsider might regard our field as a chaotic array of attempts to exploit the
advantages of (for example) neural networks, formal logic, genetic programming, or statistical inference--
with the proponents of each method maintaining that their chosen technique will someday replace most of
the other competitors.
We do not mean to dismiss any particular technique. However, we are convinced that no one such
method will ever turn out to be "best," and that instead, the powerful AI systems of the future will use a
diverse array of resources that, together, will deal with a great range of problems. In other words, we
should not seek a single "unified theory!" To build a machine that is resourceful enough to have humanlike
common sense, we must develop ways to combine the advantages of multiple methods to represent
knowledge, multiple ways to make inferences, and multiple ways to learn.
We held a two-day symposium in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, to discuss such a project--to
develop new architectural schemes that can bridge between different strategies and representations. This
article reports on the events and ideas developed at this meeting and subsequent thoughts by the authors on
how to make progress. (1)
Organizing the Diversity of Al Methods
EFTA00176560
Marvin Minsky kicked off the meeting by discussing how we might begin to organize the many
techniques that have been developed in AI so far. While AI researchers have invented many
representations, methods, and architectures for solving many types of problems, they still have little
understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of each these techniques. We need a theory that helps to
map the types of probkms we face onto the types of solutions that are available to us. When should one use
a neural network? When should one use statistical learning? When should one use logical theorem proving?
To help answer these kinds of questions, Minsky suggested that we could organize different AI
methods into a "causal diversity matrix" (figure I). Here, each problem-solving method, such as analogical
reasoning, logical theorem proving, and statistical inference, is assessed in terms of its competence at
dealing with problem domains with different causal structures.
[FIGURE I OMITTED]
Statistical inference is often useful for situations that are affected by many different matched causal
components, but where each contributes only slightly to the final phenomenon. A good example of such a
problem-type is visual texture classification, such as determining whether a region in an image is a patch of
skin or a fragment of a cloud. This can be done by summing the contributions of many small pieces of
evidence such as the individual pixels of the texture. No one pixel is terribly important, bu