Text extracted via OCR from the original document. May contain errors from the scanning process.
Memorandum
Subject
Re: Operation Leap Year
Date
May 1, 2007
(Revised 9/13/07)
(2nd Revision 2/19/08)'
To
From
R. Alexander Acosta, United States Attorney
First Assistant United States Attorney
Chief, Criminal Division
MAUSA, Northern Region
, Chief, Northern Region
I. Introduction
This memorandum seeks approval for the attached indictment char in Jeffrey
Epstein, Min
a/k/a'
JEGE
Inc., and Hyperion Air, Inc. The proposed indictment contains 60 counts and seeks the
forfeiture of Epstein's Palm Beach home and two airplanes?
The FBI has information regarding Epstein's whereabouts on May 16th and May
19th and they would like to arrest him on one of those dates. Epstein is considered an
extremely high flight risk' and, from information we have received, a continued danger
'The second revision amends the Jane Doe numbering system to correspond with the most
recent indictment. It also removes the references to the overt acts and substantive allegations related
to each Jane Doe because the indictment has been revised to group the overt acts related to each Jane
Doe.
'Each of the airplanes is held in a separate "shell corporation," JEGE, Inc., and Hyperion Air,
Inc. Epstein is the sole shareholder in both of these corporations and they serve no purpose other
than to hold and maintain the airplanes for Epstein's personal use. Because these assets are not held
as personal property in Epstein's name, I have indicted the two corporations, which will be named
as co-conspirators and as aiders and abettors in the relevant offenses.
3Epstein's resources are virtually limitless. In addition to the two airplanes, one of which cost
$42,000,000, he has homes around the world, and a fortune estimated to exceed $1 billion.
EFTA00234517
to the community based upon his continued enticement of underage girls. For these
reasons, we would like to present a sealed indictment to the Grand Jury on May 15,
2007, and we would like the presentation of that indictment and the status of the
investigation to remain confidential. Epstein's crimes are considered crimes of violence
and negotiation with his attorneys may undermine our arguments for pretrial
detention.
The investigation initially was undertaken by the City of Palm Beach Police
Department in response to a complaint received from the parents of a 14-year-old girl,'
IP, from Royal Palm Beach. When
and another girl began arguing at school
because the other girl accusedlingi of being a prostitute, one of the school principals
intervened. The principal search
purse and found $300 cash. The principal asked
gal where the money came from.
initiall claimed that she earned the money
working at "Chik-Fil-A," which no one believed.
en claimed that she made the
money selling drugs; no one believed that either.
finally admitted that she had been
paid $300 to give a massage to a man on Palm Beach Islands'', parents approached the
Palm Beach Police Department ("PBPD") about pressing charges.
PBPD be an investigating the recipient of the massage, Jeffrey Epstein, and two of
his assistants,
and
. PBPD identified approximately 27 girls
who went to Epstein's house to perform "sexual massages" (not including one licensed
massage therapist) or who recruited girls to do the same. The girls' ages ranged from 14
years' old to 23 years' old. Some girls saw Epstein only once and some saw him dozens of
times. The "sexual massages" performed also varied. Some girls were fully clothed while
they massaged Epstein; some wore only their underwear; and some were fully nude. During
all of these massages, Epstein masturbated himself and he would touch the girl performing
the massage, usually fondling their breasts and touching their vaginas - either over their
clothing or on their bare skin. Epstein often used a vibrator to masturbate the girls and
digitally penetrated a number of them. For the girls who saw him more often, Epstein
dusted to oral sex and vaginal sex. Epstein sometimes brought his assistant/girlfriend,
into the sexual activity.
On October 18, 2005, PBPD obtained a search warrant with the assistance of the Palm
Beach County State Attorney's Office ("PBSAO"). By this time, PBSAO had already been
contacted by Epstein's cadre of lawyers. When PBPD arrived at Epstein's home two days
later (10/20/05) to execute the search warrant, they found several items conspicuously
missing. For example, computer monitors and keyboards were found, but the CPUs were
2
EFTA00234518
gone.° Similarly, surveillance cameras were found, but they were disconnected and the
videotapes were gone. Nonetheless, the search did recover some evidence of value,
including message pads showing messages from many girls over a two-year span. The
messages showgirls
rnin
hone calls to confirm ap intments to "work." Messages
were taken by
r
and
s The search also
recovered numerous photos of Epstein sifting with naked girls whose ages are undetermined.
Photographs taken inside the home show that the girls' descriptions of the layout of
the home and master bedroom/bathroom area are accurate. PBPD also found massage tables
and oils, the high school transcript of one of the girls, and sex toys.
In sum, the PBPD investigation showed that girls from a local high school6 would be
contacted by one of Epstein's assistants to make an appointment to "work." Up to three
appointments each day would be made. The girls would travel to Epstein's home in Palm
Beach where they would meet Epstein's chef and Epstein's assistant—usually an
the
kitchen. The assistant normally would escort the girls upstairs to the master
bedroom/bathroom area and set up the massage table and massage oils. The assistant would
leave and Epstein would enter the room wearing a robe or a towel. He would remove the
clothing and lie face down and nude on the massage table. Epstein would then instruct the
girl on what to do and would ask her to remove her clothing. After some time, Epstein would
turn over, so that he was lying face up. Epstein would masturbate himself and fondle the girl
performing the massage. When Epstein climaxed, the massage was over. The girl was
instructed to get dressed and to go downstairs to the kitchen while Epstein showered. Epstein
would pay the girl—usually $200—and if it was a "new" girl, would ask for the girl's phone
'During a meeting, Epstein's current attorneys, Gerald Lefcourt and Lilly Ann Sanchez,
admitted that attorney Roy Black instructed Epstein to have the CPUs removed, but they insisted that
those instructions were given well in advance of the execution of the search warrant — not in
response to a "leak."
maiden name was '
" which was the name she used during the
relevant period.
'Of the 12 underage girls who are the subject of the indictment, 9 attended
High School, 1 attended'
High School, 1 attendedetligh
School, 1
attendedinSHigh
School, and 1 was home schooled. There are ten other girls whose
telephone records are still being analyzed, some of whom will probably be the subject of a
superseding indictment. Some of those girls came forward following the press coverage of the state
investigation. We anticipate that more girls will come forward after Epstein's arrest.
3
EFTA00234519
number to contact her in the future.' Girls were encouraged to find other girls to bring with
them. If a girl brought another girl to perform a "massage," each girl would receive $200.
The PBPD investigation consists primarily of sworn taped statements from the girls.
When PBPD began having problems with PBSAO, they approached the FBI. The
investigation was formally presented to FBI and to me after PBSAO "presented" the case to
a state grand jury and that grand jury returned an indictment charging Epstein with three
counts of solicitation of prostitution.'
Once I determined that there were federal statutes violated, FBI, ICE, and I opened
files. The federal investigation has focused on the interstate nexus required for all of the
federal violations, so a number of grand jury subpoenas were issued for telephone records,
flight manifests, and credit card records. The federal agents also re-interviewed some of the
girls, but limited their questions to "new" topics, such as the specific means of contact, to
avoid creating inconsistent Jencks materials. The agents also delved into Epstein's history
and interviewed others and obtained records to corroborate the girls' stories. FBI also
interviewed girls who came forward after the PBSAO indictment was reported in the papers,
and additional girls identified through those interviews.
I will first address the different crimes with which Epstein can be charged, setting
forth the elements of those offenses and the types of evidence that I intend to use to satisfy
those elements. Second, I will summarize the evidence related to each girl who has been
identified as a potential victim in this case.
Following the discussion of the girls' statements and evidence, there is a discussion
of the evidence from other witnesses, including corroborating evidence and information
related to Epstein's background. The last section discusses forfeiture.
'Usually Epstein made the payment and asked for the phone number, but sometimes it was
the assistant.
(t1
'The presentation consisted almost entirely of cross-examination of the girls who testified
and
Jane Doe #16) using the materials presented by Epstein's attorneys (discussed below).
We were unable to obtain the tape of the State Attorney's instructions on the law and presentation
of the indictment, so we do not know whether the grand jury was told that lack of knowledge of age
only heard
in not a defense under Florida
about the two girls who testified. An indictment was returned charging Epstein with three counts
law or the charges that they chose from. The grand jury
of solicitation of prostitution - two are misdemeanors, a third conviction (even simultaneously) is
a felony. Our information is that Epstein is negotiation a misdemeanor plea.
4
......!. r
EFTA00234520
II. The Law of the Offenses Charged'
Epstein's conduct violates a number of federal statutes, all of which are discussed
herein. None of the statutes or their penalties changed during the time period charged (early
2004 through mid-2005), although many have changed since then. I use the language of the
statutes as they appeared while Epstein was committing the offenses.
In addition to conspiracy charges, there are five statutes related to sexual activity that
have been violated. First, Epstein traveled in interstate commerce with the intent to engage
in illicit sexual conduct, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2423(b). Second, Epstein and his
assistants used a facility of interstate commerce to induce or entice minors to engage in
prostitution and sexual activity for which anperson can be charged, in violation of 18
U.S.C. § 2
ird, Epstein transported
in interstate commerce with the
intent that
engage in sexual activity for which a person can be charged, in
violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2421. For these three offenses, knowledge of the victim's age does
not need to be proven, although a reasonable belief that a person is over 18 is an affirmative
defense to a limited portion of § 2423(b).1°
In those instances where Epstein and/or the assistants knew the ages of the girls (or
had reason to know their ages but willfully blinded themselves to that knowledge), they can
S
iar ed with sex trafficlthiSolation of 18 U.S.C. § 1591(a)(1). In such instances,
,
and
also can be charged with benefitting from their
participation in a venture engaged in human sex trafficking, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §
1591(a)(2).
'Attached as Appendix A are materials received from counsel for Epstein, including their
legal analysis. The points they raise are addressed in this memo.
'Section 2421 was originally referred to as the Mann Act. Sections 2422 and 2423 are more
recent additions, which focus on children. All three sections are sometimes jointly referred to as the
Mann Act.
5
EFTA00234521
A.
Violations of the Mann Act: 18 U.S.C. 8§ 2421-2423
1.
Knowledge of Age Is Not Required.
The Mann Act criminalizes traveling in interstate commerce to engage in "illicit
sexual conduct," (§ 2423(b)), using a facility of interstate commerce to entice a minor to
engage in sexual activity or prostitution (§ 2422(b)), and transporting a person to engage in
sexual activity (§ 2421). Sections 2423(b) and 2422(b) require a minor victim, but they do
not require that the defendant know that the victim is a minor.
For example, in December, the Fourth Circuit issued its opinion in United States.
Jones, 471 F.3d 535 (4th Cir. 2006). Jones was charged with transporting a minor across
state lines for sexual purposes, in violation of Section 2423(a), which reads:
A person who knowingly transports an individual who has not attained the age
of 18 years in interstate or foreign commerce ... with intent that the individual
engage in prostitution, or in any sexual activity for which any person can be
charged with a criminal offense, shall be fined under this title and imprisoned
not less than 5 years and not more than 30 years.
Jones argued that the term "knowingly" in that section required the Government to prove that
Jones knew the age of the victim. The Fourth Circuit soundly rejected the argument, citing
the other circuits reaching the same conclusion. Jones, 471 F.3d at 538-39 (citing United
States I. Griffith, 284 F.3d 338, 351 (2d Cir. 2002); United States, Taylor, 239 F.3d 994,
997 (9th Cir. 2001); United States I Scisum, 32 F.3d 1479, 1485-86 (10th Cir. 1994); United
States Hamilton, 456 F.2d 171, 173 (3d Cir. 1982)). Instead, the court concluded that the
Government need only prove that the defendant "knowingly transported" someone. The
Government must also prove that the person transported was, in fact, a minor, but need not
prove that the defendant was aware of her minority. In conducting its analysis, the Jones
Court relied upon cases interpreting sections of Title 21 relating to the distribution of drugs
to a minor. See Jones at 540. Those cases have held that the Government must prove only
that the defendant knowingly distributed the narcotics to someone who happened to be
underage.
While the Eleventh Circuit has not addressed the question posed by Jones, it has
addressed 21 U.S.C. § 861(a)(3) and has reached the same conclusion in approving the
district court's instructions to the juty:
6
EFTA00234522
Section 845 of 21 U.S.C.A. provides that anyone who knowingly or
intentionally distributes controlled substances to a person under twenty-one is
subject to enhanced penalties. . . . [T]he court instructed the jury that it is not
an essential element of the crime that the person who distributes be
knowledgeable that the person to whom he distributes is under twenty-one
years old; it is the distribution that must be knowing, although it is an essential
element that the person to whom the distribution is made is under twenty-one.
United Stalest Pruitt, 763 F.2d 1256, 1261 (11th Cir. 1985). In reaching this decision, the
Eleventh Circuit relied upon the Third Circuit's Hamilton decision, supra:
There is, however, a precise analogue to this statute, 18 U.S.C.A. § 2421 et
seq. (White Slave Traffic Act), which prohibits the interstate transportation of
persons in order to engage in immoral practices including prostitution, and
which provides enhanced penalties for the knowing transportation of persons
under the age of eighteen years. Under this statute, knowledge of the victim's
age is not an element of the crime; the "knowing" component applies to the
transportation itself.
Id. at 1262 (citing Hamilton). See also United States'. Williams, 922 F.2d 737, 739 (11th
Cir. 1991) (using same rationale to decide that Government need not prove knowledge of age
for a charge of knowingly employing, using, persuading, inducing, enticing, or coercing a
person under eighteen years of age in the commission of a drug offense).
In United States. Taylor, 239 F.3d 994 (9th Cir. 2001), the Ninth Circuit addressed
a defendant's assertion that knowledge of minority is required to convict him of transporting
a minor for purposes of prostitution. The Ninth Circuit held that the "more natural reading
of the statute, however, is that the requirement of knowledge applies to the defendant's
conduct of transporting the person rather than to the age of the person transported." Id. at
997. In Taylor, the defendant argued that the court should analogize the statute to the
transportation of hazardous waste, which requires a showing that the defendant knew the
waste was hazardous. The Ninth Circuit rejected that suggestion:
in contrast, the transportation of any individual for purposes of prostitution or
other criminal sexual activity is already unlawful under federal law. 18 U.S.C.
§ 2421. Under 18 U.S.C. § 2423(a), the fact that the individual being
transported is a minor creates a more serious crime in order to provide
heightened protection against sexual exploitation of minors. As Congress
7
EFTA00234523
intended, the age of the victim simply subjects the defendant to a more severe
penalty in light of Congress' concern about the sexual exploitation of minors.
Cf. United States I. Figueroa, 165 F.3d 111, 115 (2d Cir. 1998) (noting that,
if a criminal statute's language is unclear, its scienter requirement is presumed
to be met once an individual forms the requisite intent to commit some type of
crime).
•
•
•
.. . Ignorance of the victim's age provides no safe harbor from the penalties
in 18 U.S.C. § 2423(a). If someone knowingly transports a person for the
purposes of prostitution or another sex offense, the transporter assumes the risk
that the victim is a minor, regardless of what the victim says or how the victim
appears.
Id. (emphasis added; additional internal citations omitted). Cf. United States'. Wild, 143
Fed. Appx. 938, 942 (4th Cir. 2005) (the parties agreed that, to prove a violation of §
2423(a), the United States had to show that (1) the defendant transported the victim in
interstate commerce; (2) the defendant did so knowingly and with the intent that the victim
engage in prostitution; and (3) the victim was under the age of 18 at the time she was
transported).
This reading finds additional support in the Mann Act itself using the doctrine of
"expressio unius est exclusio alterius" (to express or include one thing implies the exclusion
of the other). Section 2423(g) creates an affirmative defense to one portion of a violation of
Section 2423(b). For purposes of that subsection alone, a defendant may raise an affirmative
defense, which he must prove, that the defendant "reasonably believed that the person with
whom the defendant engaged in the commercial sex act had attained the age of 18 years."
18 U.S.C. § 2423(g). The inclusion of that affirmative defense shows that Congress
considered the issue and decided that the United States does not have to make an initial
showing of knowledge of age for violations of 2423(b). Congress likewise considered the
same issue for the other portions of the Mann Act and reached the same conclusion. If
Congress had intended to place the burden of proving age on the United States — or if it had
decided that it should create an affirmative defense to those charges — it could have done so.
Congress' use of similar offense language for the other sections of the Mann Act shows that
Congress likewise did not intend to require proof of knowledge of age to violate those
sections either. See Gustafson" Alloyd Co., Inc., 513 U.S. 561, 570 (1995) (noting the
"normal rule of statutory construction" that "identical words used in different parts of the
8
EFTA00234524
same act are intended to have the same meaning").
In United States I. Scott, 999 F.2d 541, 1993 WL 280323 (6th Cir. 1993), the
defendant argued that the Mann Act was unconstitutional for failing to include a requirement
that the Government prove the defendant's knowledge of the age of the minor. The Sixth
Circuit rejected the argument. First, it found that "[k]nowledge that a girl is under 18 years
of age when transported interstate is not part of the proof required of the government in order
to sustain a conviction under 18 U.S.C. § 2423. The government proved, as it must, that [the
victim] was in fact a minor at the time of the interstate transportation ... The Mann Act does
not require more." Id., 1993 WL 280323 at *6 (citation omitted). The Sixth Circuit then
stated:
it does not offend due process for Congress to draft a statute that does not
require the prosecution to show that a defendant believed the victim to be
under the age of 18 when she was transported interstate, because the law has
traditionally afforded minors substantial protection from others.... Similarly,
the Constitution does not require that a defendant be provided a defense of
mistake of age when accused of a Mann Act violation involving a minor.
Id. (citations omitted).
This approach is consistent with the law of statutory rape, which generally holds that
a defendant's good faith mistake as to the victim's age is no defense. In United States'.
Ransom, 942 F.2d 775 (10th Cir. 1991), the Tenth Circuit addressed a federal statutory rape
provision, which provides: "Whoever, in the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of
the United States or in a Federal prison, knowingly engages in a sexual act with another
person who has not attained the age of 12 years, or attempts to do so, shall be fined under this
title, imprisoned for any term of years or life, or both." Id. at 775 (quoting 18 U.S.C. §
2241(c)). The defendant asserted that a "reasonable mistake as to age defense" should be
read into the statute or, alternatively, that the statute was unconstitutional for failing to
include such a defense. The Tenth Circuit rejected the arguments, noting that "the majority
of courts that have considered the issue have rejected the reasonable mistake of age defense
to statutory rape absent some express legislative directive." Id. (citations omitted). Further,
the "Supreme Court has recognized that the legislature's authority to define an offense
includes the power 12 exclude elements of knowledge and diligence from its definition."
Id. (quoting Lambert. California, 355 U.S. 225, 228 (1957)). The Tenth Circuit also agreed
with the legislative history, finding that the statute "protects children from sexual abuse by
placing the risk of mistake as to a child's age on an older, more mature person who chooses
9
EFTA00234525
to engage in sexual activity with one who may be young enough to fall within the statute's
purview." Id. at 777 (citing Nelson" Moriarty, 484 F.2d 1034, 1035 (1st Cir. 1973)). The
Ninth Circuit addressed similar arguments in United States'. Juvenile Male, 211 F.3d 1169
(9th Cir. 2000), and reached the same conclusions.
As discussed in Ransom, Epstein and his assistants were the "older, more mature
person[s]" who chose to engage in sexual activity and prostitution with young girls. The risk
of mistake regarding the ages of those victims should lie with the targets.
2.
Coercion and Enticement: 18
§ 2422 Wounts 5 to 161
Whoever, using the mail or any facility or means of interstate . . . commerce,
... knowingly persuades, induces, [or] entices ... 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 5 years and not more
than 30 years.
18 U.S.C. § 2422(b).
The United States must show either:
Ekt
That the Defendant knowingly used a facility of interstate commerce to
persuade, induce, or entice a person to engage in prostitution; and
Second:
That the person so persuaded was under the age of 18;
or
First:
That the Defendant knowingly used a facility of interstate commerce to
persuade, induce, or entice a person to engage in sexual activity;
Second:
That the person so persuaded was under the age of 18; and
Dug
That the Defendant could have been charged with a criminal offense
10
EFTA00234526
under the law of Florida based upon the sexual activity."
The statute does not define "facility or means of interstate commerce" or
"prostitution."
a.
A telephone is a "facility of interstate commerce."
The Eleventh Circuit has ruled that evidence of the use of a telethone satisfies the
element of using a facility or means of interstate commerce. United States.. Drury, 396 F.3d
1303, 1311 (11th Cir. 2005) (the term "facility of interstate commerce ... establishes federal
jurisdiction whenever any "facility of interstate commerce" is used in the commission of
[the] offense, regardless of whether the use is interstate in nature (Le., the telephone call was
between states) or purely intrastate in nature (Le., the telephone call was made to another
telephone within the same state)."). In Drury, the defendant used his land-line telephone to
call an undercover agent's cellular telephone. Although both the defendant and the agent
were in Georgia, the signals to the agent's cell phone had to pass through VoiceStream's
Jacksonville, Florida switching center. The defendant argued that he did not know or intend
that the call pass in interstate commerce. The Eleventh Circuit was unpersuaded:
The calls were not accidentally or incidentally placed, but rather were made
knowingly to further a scheme. . . . Accordingly, whether Drury knew or
intended that they would travel across state lines is immaterial.
Id. at 1313. In Drury, the Eleventh Circuit did not address whether the district court erred
by instructing the jury that telephones are "facilities in interstate commerce." In an
unpublished decision from last year, the Eleventh Circuit wrote, in dicta, that there was no
error in instruging a jury that "the telephone system was a facility of interstate commerce."
United States'. Roberts, 2006 WL 827293 n.1 (11th Cir. Mar. 30, 2006). See also United
"Note that there is an Eleventh Circuit Pattern Jury Instruction for attempted enticement of
a minor. In that instruction, the Eleventh Circuit included a willfulness requirement — including a
requirement that the defendant believe that the individual was under eighteen. Those additional
requirements apply to a charge of attempted enticement because attempt is a specific intent offense
that requires the United States to prove that the defendant "knowingly and willfully intended to
commit the offense" — i.e., that he intended to commit the crime. 11th Cir. Pattern Jury Instr.,
Special Instr. 11 ("Attempt(s)") (2003). Where, as here, the offense is completed, the statutory
language requires only that the defendant knowingly persuade, induce, or entice someone to engage
in prostitution or criminal sexual activity.
11
EFTA00234527
States'. Strevell, 2006 WL 1697529, *3 (11th Cir. June 20, 2006) (finding that a defendant's
placing of "numerous phone calls from Philadelphia to Miami in order to arrange his sexual
encounter" was sufficient to prove the use of a facility and means of interstate and foreign
commerce).
Earlier this year, the Eleventh Circuit found that the United States adequately proved
the jurisdictional element of § 2422(b) when evidence was introduced that the defendant used
both a cellular telephone and a land-line telephone to entice a minor to engage in prostitution,
even though no evidence was introduced that the calls were routed through interstate
channels. United States I. Evans, 476 F.3d 1176, 1180 (11th Cir. 2007). The Eleventh
Circuit then held:
Telephones and cellular telephones are instrumentalities of interstate
commerce. Evans's use of these instrumentalities of interstate commerce
alone, even without evidence that the calls he made were routed through an
interstate system, is sufficient to satisfy § 2422(b)'s interstate-commerce
element.
Id. at 1180-81 (citations omitted).
b.
"Prostitution"
As noted above and discussed more thoroughly below, almost none of the girls
engaged in traditional sexual intercourse with Epstein. The common activity included
allowing Epstein to fondle the girl while he masturbated himself, Epstein's digital
penetration of the girl, and Epstein's use of a vibrator on the girl while he masturbated
himself. It is clear that this activity was done in exchange for money, but the defense will
likely argue that some of the activity was not "sexual enough" to qualify as "prostitution."
Title 18 carries no definition of "prostitution." In United States I. Prince, the Fifth
Circuit approved of the generic definition "sexual intercourse for hire". Prince, 515 F.2d
564, 566 (5th Cir. 1975).12 In 1946, the Supreme Court defined prostitution as the "offering
of the body to indiscriminate lewdness for hire." Cleveland'. United States, 329 U.S. 14,
17 (1946). Black's Law Dictionary contains several definitions of prostitution:
'=In Bonner'. City of Prichard, 661 F. 2d 1206 (1 1 th Cir. 1981), the Eleventh Circuit
adopted as binding precedent all Fifth Circuit decisions rendered prior to October 1, 1981.
12
EFTA00234528
Prostitution: Act of performing, or offering or agreeing to perform a sexual
act for hire. Engaging in or agreeing or offering to engage in sexual conduct
with another person under a fee arrangement with that person or any other
person.
Includes any lewd act between persons for money or other
consideration. Within meaning of statute proscribing prostitution, comprises
conduct of all male and female persons who engage in sexual activity as a
business.
Black's Law Dictionary (6th Ed. 1990) at 1222. The term "lewd" is especially broad, and
probably covers all of the acts described below.
The district court may decide to limit the term to the definition contained in Florida
law. The Florida Statutes define prostitution as "the giving or receiving of the body for
sexual activity for hire ..." Fl. Stat. § 796.07(1)(a) (2004).'3 Sexual activity, in turn, means
"oral, anal, or vaginal penetration by, or union with, the sexual organ of another, anal or
vaginal penetration of another by any other object; or the handling or fondling of the sexual
organ of another for the purpose of masturbation . . ." Fl. Stat. § 796.07(1)(d). If this
definition is used, those instances where the girls remained clothed and where Epstein did
not fondle the girls' vaginas would probably fall outside the definition of "prostitution."'
In light of the Mann Act's legislative history, the broadest definition should apply, and I have
used that in my charging decisions.15
c.
"Any sexual activity for which any person can be charged
with a criminal offense"
Section 2422 outlaws both the use of a facility of interstate commerce to entice a
minor to engage in prostitution and the use of that facility to entice a minor to engage in "any
13I have used the Florida Statutes in effect at the time that the offenses occurred. They have
not changed since then although, as shown below, amendments are currently pending.
"There currently is legislation pending before the Florida Legislature increasing the penalties
related to child prostitution. The section defining "prostitution" has been renumbered but the
language remains the same. That chapter also has an offense of obtaining a person for "lewdness,"
(Proposed Fl. Stat. 796.07), which is defined as "any indecent or obscene act." (Proposed Fl. Stat.
796.011(4))
13If we restricted charges to instances where Epstein stroked a girl's vagina or digitally
penetrated her, we would need to drop the counts related to Jane Doe #5 and Jane Doe #6.
13
EFTA00234529
sexual activity for which any person can be charged with a criminal offense." According to
the Eleventh Circuit Pattern Jury Instruction, the determination of what sexual activity is
criminal is governed by Florida law.
Florida law bars a person from procuring anyone under the age of 18 to engage in
prostitution or to cause a minor to be prostituted. Fl. Stat. § 796.03 (2004). Florida also
defines four categories of lewd or lascivious offenses that criminalize behavior between
adults and children under the age of 16:
1.
"Lewd or lascivious battery" occurs when an adult "[e]ngages in sexual
activity16 with a person 12 years of age or older but less than 16 years of age."
Fl. Stat. § 800.04(4)(a) (2004).
2.
"Lewd or lascivious molestation" occurs when an adult "intentionally touches
in a lewd or lascivious manner the breasts, genitals, genital area, or buttocks,
or the clothing covering them, of a person less than 16 years of age, or forces
or entices a person under 16 years of age to so touch the perpetrator." Fl. Stat.
§ 800.04(5Xa) (2004).
3.
"Lewd or lascivious conduct" occurs when a person intentionally touches a
person under 16 years of age in a lewd or lascivious manner or solicits a
person under the age of 16 to commit a lewd or lascivious act. Fl. Stat. §
800.04(6)(a) (2004).
4.
"Lewd or lascivious exhibition" occurs when a person intentionally
masturbates or exposes his genitals in a lewd or lascivious manner in the
presence of a victim who is less than 16 years of age. Fl. Stat. § 800.04(7)(a)
(2004)."
'Sexual activity" is defined as "the oral, anal, or vaginal penetration by, or union with, the
sexual organ of another or the anal or vaginal penetration of another by any other object; however,
sexual activity does not include an act done for a bona fide medical purpose." Fl. Stat.
§ 800.04(1)(a). The only girl under 16, Saige, was digitally penetrated, which satisfies this
definition.
"The Florida Legislature currently is amending § 800.04(7) making it a second-degree felony
to commit lewd or lascivious exhibition in front of any victim, regardless of the victim's age.
14
EFTA00234530
All of these offenses are classified as second degree felonies when perpetrated by an adult.
Fl. Stat. §§ 800.04, 800.04(5)(c)(2), 800.04(6)(b), 800.04(7)(c) (2004).
Section 800.04 affirmatively bars two defenses to these charges. First, "[n]either the
victim's lack of chastity nor the victim's consent is a defense to the crimes proscribed by this
section." Fl. Stat. § 800.04(2) (2004). Second, the "perpetrator's ignorance of the victim's
age, the victim's misrepresentation of his or her age, or the perpetrator's bona fide belief of
the victim's age cannot be raised as a defense in a prosecution under this section." Fl. Stat.
§ 800.04(3) (2004).
Florida law also bars "sexual activity" between adults over the age of 24 and minors
who are 16 or 17 years' old. Fl. Stat. § 794.05(1) (2004). In those cases, "sexual activity"
is defined as "oral, anal, or vaginal penetration by, or union with, the sexual organ of
another." Id. With this offense, ignorance of the victim's age, misrepresentation of the
victim's age, and a bona fide belief that the victim is over the age of 17 are not defenses. Fl.
Stat. § 794.021 (2004).
d.
Charging Decisions
All of the girls were enticed into committing prostitution and some were also enticed
into engaging in criminal sexual activity. I have charged the defendants with enticing each
girl into prostitution or criminal sexual activity.
e.
Conspiracy to Violate Section 2422(b) (Count II
Unlike most of the other statutes discussed herein, Section 2422(b) does not include
its own conspiracy prohibition. Accordingly, a conspiracy to violate Section 2422(b)
requires the allegation of a Section 371 conspiracy. While, generally speaking, it is nice to
avoid the trouble of alleging a 371 conspiracy, in this case it actually may work to our
benefit. First, it allows us to set forth in the indictment, in painstaking detail, the scope of
the conspiracy. Second, it allows us to allege as "overt acts," items that might otherwise be
excluded pursuant to Fed. R. Evid. 404(b). For example, if Epstein and his assistants
engaged the services of an eighteen-year-old girl ("A") to perform a sexual massage on
Epstein, that could not be charged as a substantive offense. But, if A was asked to bring
additional girls and A later brought Epstein girls who were under eighteen, then the activities
15
EFTA00234531
with A were overt acts in the conspiracy.18
1.
Penalties and Forfeiture
The charged offenses occurred before the enactment of the Adam Walsh Act, so each
count carries a sentence of 5 to 30 years in prison, supervised release of up to life, and a
$250,000 fine.
The current version of 18 U.S.C. § 2428 states that the Court, in imposing sentence,
"shall order, in addition to any other sentence imposed . . . that such person shall forfeit to
the United States — (1) such person's interest in any property, real or personal, that was used
or intended to be used to commit or to facilitate the commission of such violation[.]"
Applying this language, Epstein's Palm Beach home and the two airplanes that he used to
travel to West Palm Beach are subject to forfeiture.
Section 2428 went into effect on January 10, 2006, so unless we can show activity
continuing past that date, it will not apply. For the relevant time period (2004 to late 2005),
criminal forfeiture was governed by 18 U.S.C. § 2253(a), which states:
[a] person . . . who is convicted of an offense under section 2421, 2422, or
2423 of chapter 117, shall forfeit to the United States such person's interest in
— ... (3) any property, real or personal, used or intended to be used to commit
or to promote the commission of such offense.
This language also should apply to Epstein's Palm Beach home and the two airplanes.
The charge of conspiracy to violate Section 2422 carries a penalty of only 5 years in
prison because it must be charged as a Section 371 conspiracy. Forfeiture of the relevant
property is still available through enabling provisions.
3.
Traveling with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct: 18
U.S.C. § 2423(b) [Counts 17 to 50]
A person who travels in interstate commerce ... for the purpose of engaging
"'An 'overt act' is any transaction or event, even one which may be entirely innocent when
considered alone, but which is knowingly committed by a conspirator in an effort to accomplish
some object of the conspiracy." 11th Cir. Pattern Jury Instr., Offense Instr. 13.1 (2003).
16
EFTA00234532
in any illicit sexual conduct with another person shall be fined under this title
or imprisoned not more than 30 years, or both.
18 U.S.C. § 2423(b).
Thus, the United States must prove that Epstein knowingly traveled in interstate
commerce and that he did so for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct, as defined
below.
a.
Proof of intent to travel
In apparent anticipation of this charge, In Appendix A, Epstein's attorneys assert that
Epstein's trips to Florida were not undertaken for the sole purpose of engaging in illicit
sexual conduct—he traveled just to visit his home and attend meetings, etc.— and, therefore,
he lacked the requisite intent to violate Section 2423(6).
The Eleventh Circuit has held that, in order to be convicted of violating Section
2423(b), the United States must prove that the defendant "had formed the intent to engage
in sexual activity with a minor19 when he crossed state lines." United States' Hersh, 297
F.3d 1233, 1246 (11th Cir. 2002). See also United States I Han, 230 F.3d 560 (2d Cir.
2000) (defendant could be convicted of violating Section 2423(b) even though no sexual
activity occurred and "minor" was really an undercover officer because the defendant had
formed the necessary intent by developing a plan to cross state lines to engage in sexual acts
with the minor); United States I Root, 296 F.3d 1222, 1231-32 (11th Cir. 2002).
Just a few weeks ago, the Eleventh Circuit addressed for the first time the issue of a
"combined motive" for traveling, and approved the following instruction:
the Government [] does not have to show that engaging in criminal sexual
activity with a minor was the Defendant's only purpose, or even his primary
purpose, but the Government must show it was one of the purposes for
transporting the minor or for the travel. In other words, the Government must
show that the Defendant's criminal purpose was not merely incidental to the
travel.
19Although Hersh specifically mentions "sexual activity with a minor," knowledge of age is
not required, as discussed above.
17
EFTA00234533
United States Hoschouer,
F.3d
2007 WL 979931, *1 (11th Cir. Apr. 3, 2007).
The decision of the Eleventh Circuit was consistent with every other circuit that has
addressed the issue:
It is not necessary for the government to prove that the illegal sexual activity
was the sole purpose for the transportation. A person may have several
different purposes or motives for such travel, and each may prompt in varying
degrees the act of making the journey. The government must prove beyond a
reasonable doubt, however, that a significant or motivating purpose of the
travel across state or foreign boundaries was to have the individual transported
engage in illegal sexual activity. In other words, the illegal sexual activity
must have not been merely incidental to the trip.
United States I. Hayward, 359 F.3d 631, 637-38 (3d Cir. 2004). See also United States
Garcia-Lopez, 234 F.3d 217, 220 (5th Cir. 2000) (The district court did not err in instructing
the jury that "it was sufficient for the Government to prove that one of the [the defendant's]
motives in traveling was to engage in a sexual act with a minor."); United States
Yang, 128
F.3d 1065, 1072 (7th Ci/.1997); United States 1. Meacham, 115 F.3d 14882.1495 (10th
Cir.1997); United States Sirois, 87 F.3d 34, 39 (2d Cir.1996); United States' Campbell,
49 F.3d 1079, 1082-83 (5th Cir.1995) ("[I]t is not necessary to a conviction under the [Mann]
Act that the sole and single purpose of the trans rtation of a female in interstate commerce
was such immoral practices."); United States
Ellis, 935 F.2d 385, 389-90 (1st Cir.1991)
(jury could consider that defendant's personal motive for bringing minor on interstate family
vacations and business trips was to have her available for sexual abuse even though there
were other purses for the trips); United States. Snow, 507 F.2d 22, 24 (7th Cir.1974);
United States
Harris, 480 F.2d 601, 602 (6th Cir.1973); United States. Cole, 262 F.3d
704, 709 (8th Cir. 2001) ("The illicit behavior must be one of the purposes motivating the
interstate transportation, but need not be the dominant purpose," and a defendant's intent may
be inferred from all of the circumstances) (citations omitted).
For each substantive count of violating § 2423(b), we have evidence that Epstein or
one of his assistants called a girl a day or two before traveling to Florida, and called again
while he was in Florida. The evidence consists of cell phone records from the assistants and
the girls, the message pads recovered from the search of Epstein's home and from trash pulls,
the flight manifests from Epstein's private lanes, and testimony from the girls about how
the appointments were made. So, if
called Jane Doe #8 to make an appointment on
January 1st; Epstein traveled to Florida on January 2nd; and
called Jane Doe #12 on
18
EFTA00234534
January 3rd (when they were already in Florida) to make an appointment, I have charged a
travel count but have listed only Jane Doe #8 as the victim of that offense.2°
b.
Illicit Sexual Conduct
The United States must prove that one of the purposes of the defendant's travel was
to engage in "illicit sexual conduct" "Illicit sexual conduct" means:
(1) a sexual act (as defined in section 2246) with a person under 18 years of
age that would be in violation of chapter 109A if the sexual act occurred in the
special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States; or (2) any
commercial sex act (as defined in section 1591) with a person under 18 years
of age.
18 U.S.C. § 2423(f).
(I)
A "sexual act"
Title 18, United States Code, Section 2246(2) defines "sexual act" as:
(A) contact between the penis and the vulva or the penis and the anus, and for
purposes of this subparagraph contact involving the penis occurs upon
penetration, however, slight;
(B) contact between the mouth and the penis, the mouth and the vulva, or the
mouth and the anus;
(C) the penetration, however slight, of the anal or genital opening of another
by a hand or finger or by any object, with an intent to abuse, humiliate, harass,
degrade, or arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any person; or
(D) the intentional touching, not through the clothing, of the genitalia of
another person who has not attained the age of 16 years with an intent to
abuse, humiliate, harass, degrade, or arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any
person.
'Based on this scenario, both Jane Doe #6 and Jane Doe #7 would still be victims of
enticement and sex trafficking.
19
EFTA00234535
And Chapter 109A states: "Whoever, in the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of
the United States or in a Federal prison, knowingly engages in a sexual act with another
person who — (1) has attained the age of 12 years but has not attained the age of 16 years; and
(2) is at least four years younger than the person so engaging; or attempts to do so" has
committed a federal offense.
This definition is limited to activity witle
(the 14-year-old), who also engaged
in a commercial sex act.
(ii)
A "commercial sex act"
"The term `commercial sex act' means any sex act, on account of which anything of
value is given to or received by any person." 18 U.S.C. § 1591(cX 1 ). The statute does not
go on to define "sex act," but the legislative history of this statute makes clear that the term
is to be read very broadly. The term "commercial sex act" replaced the term "prostitution"
in an earlier version of the statute.
Section 1591 was enacted as part of the "Victims of Trafficking and Violence
Protection Act of 2000." Pub. L. 106-384, 114 Stat. 1464. In drafting that legislation,
Congress noted: "The sex industry has rapidly expanded over the past several decades. It
involves sexual exploitation of persons, predominantly women and girls, involving activities
related to prostitution, pornography, sex tourism, and other commercial sexual services."
Id. at § 102(b)(2). The highlighted language shows that "commercial sexual services" is a
broader term than "prostitution," and is meant to include prostitution, the creation of
pornography, and other [undefined] acts.
When the Sentencing Commission amended the Sentencing Guidelines to correspond
with this new legislation, it replaced the term "prostitution" with "commercial sex acts" in
the heading of part G of Section 2 and throughout that section 2' The Commission gave a
stated reason for the amendment:
This amendment ensures that appropriately severe sentences for sex trafficking
crimes apply to commercial sex acts such as production of child pornography,
in addition to prostitution . . . It proposes several changes to § 2G1.1 . . . to
address more adequately the portion of section 112(b) of the Victims of
21Part G contains the guidelines for calculating the offense levels for "Offenses Involving
Commercial Sex Acts, Sexual Exploitation of Minors and Obscenity."
20
EFTA00234536
Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000... The amendment proposes
three substantive changes to § 2G1.1. First, this amendment broadens the
conduct covered by the guideline beyond prostitution to encompass all
commercial sex acts, consistent with the scope of the Act. . . .
U.S.S.G. App. C, Vol II, Amendment 641 (emphasis added).
The reference to child pornography is especially helpful to us, because the child
pornography statutes use the term "sexually explicit conduct," which is extremely broad, and
includes masturbation and the "lascivious exhibition of the genitals or pubic area of any
person." 18 U.S.C. § 2256(2)(A). One can certainly argue that a commercial sex act
included receiving payment in exchange for engaging in "sexually explicit conduct."
c.
Charging Decisions
Charging decisions, I have charged traveling to engage in "illicit sexual conduct." I
have elected to treat all of these sexual massages as "commercial sex acts" regardless of
whether there was any penetration. Epstein exchanged money for the opportunity to view
underage girls in various states of undress and to masturbate in front of them. As described
by the girls, Epstein received sexual gratification from the experience and he constantly tried
to "push the envelope" to convince the girls to become more and more sexual. As
described, when a girl refused to let Epstein touch her, Epstein "down-promoted her" to
become a recruiter.
Conspiracy (Count 2i
Section 2423(e) creates a separate offense for conspiring to violate Section 2423(b),
so the indictment contains a single conspiracy count, without the allegation of overt acts, for
the entire period of the conspiracy.
e.
Additional Ancillary Offense (Count 3J
The statute contains an additional ancillary offense making it illegal, for the purpose
of commercial advantage or private financial gain, to arrange, induce, procure, or facilitate
the travel of a person knowing that such person is traveling in interstate commerce for the
purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct. 18 U.S.C. § 2423(c). One of
job
responsibilities, for which she was paid handsomely, was to arrange both the appointments
with the underage girls and also to arrange Epstein's travel. Epstein's pilots testified that
21
EFTA00234537
was the person who would call them to have them at the airport at a given time and
who would tell them where they would be traveling to. Accordingly, I have charged
alone with a single count of violating § 2423(c).
f.
The Affirmative Defense Regarding Knowledge of Age
Section 2423(g) provides that in "a prosecution under this section based on illicit
sexual conduct as defined in subsection (0(2), it is a defense, which the defendant must
establish by a preponderance of the evidence, that the defendant reasonably believed that the
person with whom the defendant engaged in the commercial sex act had attained the age of
18 years." So, for those allegations involving commercial sex acts with 16- and 17-year-old
girls, the defendant can come forward and present affirmative evidence that he reasonably
believed that the girls were 18 or older. The defense cannot be asserted for the sex acts with
girls under the age of 16.
Congress's decision to include an affirmative defense to part of the statute shows that
it has considered the issue and determined that the Government does not have to prove that
the defendant knew the victims were underage for the other portions of the statute. This is
consistent with the cases interpreting various sections of the Mann Act.
Thus, for that instance where we know that a 17-year-old girl affirmatively told
Epstein that she was 18 — and it would have been reasonable for Epstein to believe that
statement — I have not charged Epstein with violating 2423(b). Jane Doe #5 was 17 when
she met Epstein and told him that she was 18. She says that she believes that Epstein "knew
better," but Epstein can probably raise the affirmative defense as to her.
Ur
also told Epstein that she was 18. She was only 14 at the time and one girl
described her as by ft tkuoungest-looking girl whom Jane Doe #1 recruited. As with all
the girls, Esptein and l=
never asked anyone to present identification or did anything to
try to confirm that they were over 18. For all of the other girls, they either told Epstein their
ages or didn't say anything and he never asked. For a number of girls, Epstein provided
taxicabs or Town Cars because the girls could not drive. Epstein talked about high school
events (like prom and soccer practice) with the girls; he sent roses t
High
School to Jane Doe #8 when she was performing in a play. Jane Doe #8 also gave Epstein
a copy of her transcript on three separate occasions. He told Jane Doe #5, "the younger the
better." The evidence certainly is enough to give rise to a deliberate ignorance instruction
and it also defeats the affirmative defense, if raised.
22
EFTA00234538
g.
Penalties and forfeiture
A violation of section 2423, including the conspiracy provision of 2423(e), has no
mandatory minimum sentence, and the maximum sentence is 30 years in prison, lifetime
supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. As explained above, for the relevant time period
(2004 to late 2005), criminal forfeiture was governed by 18 U.S.C. § 2253(a), which also
applies to violations of section 2423.
4.
Transportation of an Individual to Engage in Sexual Activity: 18
U.S.C. § 2421 'Count 591
Whoever knowingly transports any individual in interstate or foreign
commerce ... with intent that such individual engage in prostitution, or in 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 or imprisoned not more than
10 years, or both.
18 U.S.C. § 2421. This traditional "Mann Act" section can be used to charge Epstein alone
with transporting his girlfriend,
, from New York to Florida to engage in
sexual activity with one of the girls. As will be explained below, one of the victims, Jane
Doe #8, estimates that she engaged in sexual activity with Epstein "hundreds of times." Jane
Doe #8 reports that, at some point, Epstein a eed to pay Jane Doe #8 more money if she
would engage in sexual activity with
while Epstein watched. Some of this
activity occurred before Jane Doe #8 turned 18 and some occurred afterwards. Jane Doe #9
and Jane Doe #17 also report getting paid to engage in sexual activity with •
but
etermine their ages at the time. Regardless of the Florida girl's age at the time,
"could have been charged with" the following criminal offenses:
•
offering to commit or committing prostitution or lewdness, Fl. Stat. §
796.07(2Xe) (2004);
•
soliciting, inducing, or enticing another to commit prostitution or lewdness, Fl.
Stat. § 796.07(2)0) (2004);
•
aiding, abetting, or participating in either of the above-listed offenses, Fl. Stat.
§ 796.07(2)(h) (2004); or
'This could be a state or a federal offense.
23
EFTA00234539
•
purchasing the services of any person engaged in prostitution, Fl. Stat. §
796.07(2)(I) (2004).
Since the transported individual is considered a "victim" under this statute,
cannot be charged, so Epstein is named alone. See, e.g., United States'. Love, 592 F.2d
1022, 1025 (8th Cir. 1979) (citing Gebardi I. United States, 287 U.S. 112, 118-19 (1932)).
Just as with Section 2423(b), the Government must prove that the defendant had the requisite
intent prior to the travel, but the Government does not have to prove that the defendant's sole
purpose for traveling and transporting the individual was to have the individual engage in
illegal sexual activity. Mortensen. United States, 322 U.S. 369, 374 (1944); Crespo I.
United States, 151 F.2d 44, 46 (1st Cir. 1945).
This offense carries a statutory maximum of ten years in prison. During the relevant
time period, the forfeiture provision of 18 U.S.C. § 2253(a)(3) applied, which mandates the
forfeiture of assets used in the commission of the violation of Section 2421.
B.
Sex Trafficking of Children: 18 U.S.C. § 1591(a)
For those cases where there is evidence that the defendants either knew or, but for
their willful blindness, would have known that the victim was under 18, the defendants can
be charged with violating two subsections of the child sex trafficking statute. Section
1591(aX1) prohibits recruiting or obtaining children to engage in a commercial sex act.
Section 1591(a)(2) punishes those who benefit financially from child sex trafficking.
1.
Obtaining Children to Engage in Commercial Sex Acts: 18 U.S.C.
§ 1591(a)(1) [Counts 51 to 58J
Section 1591(a)(1) makes it illegal for any person to knowingly, in or affecting
interstate or foreign commerce, recruit, entice, transport, provide, or obtain by any means a
person knowing that the person has not attained the age of 18 years and will be caused to
engage in a commercial sex act. The term "commercial sex act" has the same meaning as
discussed above ("any sex act, on account of which anything of value is given to or received
by any person").
This charge has frequently been used in connection with "sex tourism" cases
prosecuted by the Office, where the defendant arranged through an undercover "travel
agency" to travel overseas to have sex with underage prostitutes. This case is analogous with
24
EFTA00234540
M
and
serving as Esptein's "travel agency" for his interstate
travel to Florida to engage in prostitution with young girls.
In United States'. Roberts, 174 Fed. App. 475 (11th Cir. 2006), Roberts challenged
his conviction for attempting to engage a minor in commercial sex acts in violation of
Section 1591(aX1), all in violation of Section 1594(a).23 Roberts contacted an undercover
website promising travel to Costa Rica to meet underage prostitutes. Roberts arranged a trip
with the undercover website, but then changed his mind because he did not want to travel
internationally. Roberts and the undercover agent then arranged for the [non-existent]
prostitutes to travel to Florida to meet Roberts at a hotel there. Roberts challenged the proof
of the jurisdictional element of the offense. The Eleventh Circuit found sufficient evidence
that Roberts' activities were "in or affecting interstate commerce" based upon Roberts' use
of a credit card to pay for his trip with the travel agency, his decision to meet the prostitutes
at a hotel that served interstate travelers, and the fact that the prostitutes were supposed to
move in international commerce. Id. at 478-79.
The case of United States'. Strevell, 185 Fed. Appx. 841 (11th Cir. 2006), involved
one of the people who actually tried to travel to Costa Rica using the undercover website.
Strevell also challenged his conviction, claiming that the United States did not have
jurisdiction over activity that was to take place overseas. The Eleventh Circuit rejected the
argument, stating that Section 1591(a)(1):
criminalize[s] the use of interstate commerce in an attempt to obtain and entice
a minor for prostitution. Although all of Strevell's actions occurred in the
United States, it is clear that he used means of interstate commerce in
attempting to obtain and entice a minor for sex. He made numerous phone
calls from Philadelphia to Miami to order to arrange his sexual encounter in
Costa Rica. . . . he attempted to board a plane from Miami to Costa Rica in
order to meet one, if not two, 14-year-old prostitutes.
Id. at 845.
Thus, the evidence of Epstein's violation of this statute includes his travel in interstate
commerce to commit the offense; directing his assistants to make interstate telephone calls
to set up the appointments; and wiring money interstate to some of the girls as "bonuses."
"Section I594(a) makes it a crime for any person to attempt to violate Section 1591.
25
EFTA00234541
In United States' Evans, 476 F.3d 1176 (11th Cir. 2007), and United States. Sims,
161 Fed. Appx. 849 (11th Cir. 2006), the Eleventh Circuit affirmed Section 1591(a)(1)
convictions for "pimps" who obtained underage girls and forced the girls to engage in
prostitution. In Evans, the defendant argued that his purely intrastate activity was not "in or
affecting interstate commerce." The Eleventh Circuit found that Evans' "conduct
substantially affected interstate commerce" based on his "use of hotels that served interstate
travelers and distribution of condoms that traveled in interstate commerce." Evans, 476 F.3d
at 1179.
Evans shows that =,
and
are equally liable for violating
Section 1591(a)(1), since their actions were in and affecting interstate commerce (using the
telephone and traveling with Epstein), and they recruited, enticed, provided, and obtained
underage girls to work as prostitutes for Epstein.
I have charged counts relating to Jane Does 3 through 8, 12, and 13. With all of those
girls, there is affirmative evidence of some knowledge of age when the appointments were
made.
2.
Benefitting Financially from Participating in a Venture Engaged in
Sex Trafficking: 18 U.S.C. § 1591(a)(2) 'Count 4]
Section 1591(aX2) makes it illegal for a person to knowingly benefit "financially or
by receiving anything of value, from participation in a venture which has engaged in an act
described in violation of paragraph (1), knowing that ... the person has not attained the age
of 18 years and will be caused to engage in a commercial sex act."
The term "commercial sex act" has the same meaning as discussed above. The statute
defines "venture" as "any group of two or more individuals associated in fact, whether or not
a legal entity." 18 U.S.C. § 1591(b)(3) (emphasis added).
With respect to 1591(aX2), the Tenth Circuit has stated the elements as:
1.
the defendant knowingly benefitted financially from participating in a venture;
2.
the acts engaged in by the venture were in or affecting interstate commerce;
3.
the venture recruited, enticed, harbored, transported, provided, or obtained by
any means a person;
26
EFTA00234542
4.
the defendant knew that the person was under the age of eighteen;
5.
the defendant knew the minor would be caused to engage in a commercial sex
act.
United States I. Wild, 143 Fed. Appx. 938, 942 (10th Cir. 2005).
Epstein's assistants,
and
are
people who benefitted financially from their participation in the venture based upon the
salaries that they received from Epstein. They will, no doubt, argue that the salaries that they
received were unrelated to the work of setting appointments for Epstein to meet with
prostitutes. The eviden
w
veals the importance of this part of their jobs. For
example, in reviewing
telephone records, during periods that they were
traveling to Florida, a large number of the calls that she made — on a cellular telephone paid
for by Epstein — were to girls whom we have identified. There are, no doubt, girls whom we
have not identified. Setting up the appointments and travel arrangements, purchasing
gifts for the girls, and wiring funds to them all add up to a significantportion of
duties and, therefore, a significant part of her pay. With respect to
she
' •
in vile
sexual performances. During the relevant period,
and
all received a salary and free housing in Manhattan, as well as
the ability to travel with Epstein on his private plane, staying in his home, and being fed by
his private chef. All of these amount to "something of value" and the relationship of the
three assistants as co-employees amounts to a "group of two or more individuals associated
in fact, whether or not a legal entity," that is, a "venture" as defined in Section 1591(b)(3).
3.
Conspiracy
The Child Sex Trafficking statutes do not include a separate conspiracy charge, so,
if charged, it would have to be an object of a Section 371 conspiracy. In light of Section
1591(a)(2), which is directed to "ventures," a separate conspiracy charge might be subjected
to a multiplicity challenge. That challenge would probably be fruitless, as evidenced by the
fact that Epstein cannot be charged in the Section 1591(aX2) count but certainly could be
charged in a conspiracy to violation Section 1591(a)(1), but I have erred on the side of
caution and have not included violating Section 1591(a)(1) as a second object of the Section
371 conspiracy.
27
EFTA00234543
4.
Penalties and Forfeiture
These violations of Section 1591(a) carry a statutory maximum of 40 years'
imprisonment, supervised release of up to life, and a $250,000 fine. 18 U.S.C. § 1591(b)(2).
As discussed further below, one of the girls was told that she would only have to "model
lingerie." A violation of Section 1591(a) carries a harsher penalty if the offense was
"effected by fraud." There still is no mandatory minimum, but the maximum term of
imprisonment is life. 18 U.S.C. § 1591(b)(2).
As part of the sex trafficking legislation, Congress included a separate forfeiture
provision, which states:
The court, in imposing sentence on any person convicted of a violation of this
chapter, shall order, in addition to any other sentence imposed and irrespective
of any provision of State law, that such person shall forfeit to the United
States—(1) such person's interest in any property, real or personal, that was
used or intended to be used to commit or to facilitate the commission of such
violation ...
18 U.S.C. § 1594(b). Section 1594 also makes contraband any property used or intended to
be used to commit or to facilitate the commission of slavery violations. See 18 U.S.C. §
1594(c)(1)(A). Thus, these violations are another basis for forfeiting the Palm Beach home
and the two airplanes.
D.
Charges that Were Considered and Rejected
1.
Promotion Money Laundering: 18 U.S.C. § 1956(a)(3)(A)
Section 1956(a)(3)(A) states:
Whoever, with the intent - (A) to promote the carrying on of specified
unlawful activity; ... conducts or attempts to conduct a fmancial transaction
involving ... property used to conduct or facilitate specified unlawful activity,
shall be fined under this title or imprisoned for not more than 20 years, or both.
"'Conducts' includes initiating, concluding, or participating in initiating, or concluding a
transaction." 18 U.S.C. § 1956(c)(2). The "term 'transaction' includes a purchase, sale,
28
EFTA00234544
loan, pledge, gift, transfer, delivery, or other disposition, and with respect to a financial
institution includes a deposit, withdrawal, transfer between accounts, . . . or any other
payment, transfer, or delivery by, through, or to a financial institution, by whatever means
effected." 18 U.S.C. § 1956(cX3). A "financial transaction" is:
(A) a transaction which in any way or degree affects interstate or foreign
commerce (I) involving the movement of funds by wire or other means or (ii)
involving one or more monetary instruments, . . . or
(B) a transaction involving the use of a financial institution which is engaged
in, or the activities of which affect, interstate or foreign commerce in any way
or degree.
18 U.S.C. § 1956(c)(4).
The "specified unlawful activity" is one of the offenses listed in 18 U.S.C. § 1961(1),
namely "any act which is indictable" under Section 1591(a) (sex trafficking) and Sections
2421 through 2423 (relating to white slave traffic). See 18 U.S.C. § 1961(1XB).
Epstein's Palm Beach property manager, Janusz Banasiak, was interviewed and served
with a subpoena for records relating to his employment. Banasiak resides in the "guest
house" on Epstein's property, and has access to a "Jeffrey Epstein Household Account."
Banasiak uses that account to pay for various household expenses. Banasiak's practice was
to withdraw $1500 at a time from the bank, and he then would keep a detailed accounting of
how the money was spent and, when the $1500 was used up, he would send a copy of the
accounting to Epstein's accountant and he maintained a copy for himself. A review of those
records showed a number of entries that would simply have a girl's name24 and a round dollar
amount — usually $200. Banasiak explained that on several occasions when Epstein was "in
residence," Epstein or Kellen2s would ask Banasiak to pa one of the girls after a masse e
was completed. On other occasions when Epstein and
were not in Florida,
'Some of the entries relate to girls we have identified; others do not.
2sOn one occasion, Banasiak was directed to give money by Ghislaine Maxwell. Maxwell
is the daughter of the late Robert Maxwell, a British newspaper tycoon. Maxwell is credited with
bringing Epstein into high society, and it appears that at some time they were romantically involved.
Maxwell also has been implicated in another act of molesting a young girl, which is discussed in the
404(b) section below.
29
EFTA00234545
would call Banasiak to say that a girl was coming to the house and Banasiak should give the
girl $200 in an envelope. Banasiak stated that he would follow these instructions and that
he knew that the money was for "massages," but he insisted that he did not know that sexual
activity was occurring. Why Epstein would pay "masseuses" when he was out of town has
not been explained.
Epstein also sent funds via Western Union as "bonuses" for some of the girls. These
transactions could also be considered to "facilitate" the criminal activity by insuring the girls'
loyalty and continued availability to Epstein for his sexual gratification.
Epstein's behavior seems to fall squarely within the language of the statute as written,
including the Eleventh Circuit's pattern jury instruction.26 In conducting research, however,
all cases charged under this section involved undercover "sting" operations. I contacted the
Department's Money Laundering Section and learned that subsection 1956(a)(3) was drafted
specifically to apply to money laundering "sting" operations, and was not intended to reach
the activity that Epstein was involved in. Accordingly, I chose the more conservative route
and decided not to charge Epstein with this offense.
2.
Aiding and Abetting an Unlawful Money Transmitter: 18 U.S.C. §
1960
Section 1960(a) makes it a crime for someone to knowingly conduct or direct all or
part of an "unlicensed money transmitting business." An "unlicensed money transmitting
business" means "a money transmitting business which affects interstate or foreign
commerce in any manner or degree and . . . (C) otherwise involves the transportation or
transmission of funds that are . . . intended to be used to promote or support unlawful
activity." 18 U.S.C. § 1960(b)(1).
ThThe Jury Instruction requires proof of three elements:
FEL
that the Defendant knowingly conducted a financial transaction;
Second:
that the financial transaction involved property used to conduct or
facilitate specified unlawful activity; and
Third:
that the Defendant engaged in the financial transaction with the intent
to promote the carrying on of specified unlawful activity.
Eleventh Cir. Pattern Jury Instr., Offense Instr. 70.4 (2003).
30
EFTA00234546
The term "unlawful activity" is not defined in Section 1960. Another one of the
money laundering statutes, Section 1956 cross-references Section 1961(1) for the definition
of "specified unlawful activity." Section 1961(1) defines "racketeering activity" to include
"any act which is indictable under any of the following provisions of title 18, United States
Code: . . . sections 1581-1591 (relating to peonage, slavery, and trafficking in persons), . .
. [and] sections 2421-24 (relating to while slave traffic) . ."
1.
The Money Transmitting
As I mentioned above, Epstein's property manager, Janusz Banasiak, would withdraw
$1500 at a time for household expenses from Commerce Bank. The funds in that bank
account were transferred from Epstein's main bank account in New York on an "as needed"
basis. Banasiak documented how
used the funds, including payments made to various
girls at the request of Epstein or
. Epstein also sent funds via Western Union as
"bonuses" for some of the girls. These transactions could also be considered to "promote or
support" the criminal activity by insuring the girls' loyalty and continued available to Epstein
for his sexual gratification.
2.
How Epstein "directed" an unlicensed money transmitting
business.
As mentioned above, I originally considered charging Epstein with promotion money
laundering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1956(a)(3XA). After conferring with the Money
Laundering Section at the Department of Justice, it was recommended that I forego the
Section 1956 charge and, instead, charge Epstein with aiding and abetting the unlicensed
money transmitting by causing his bank and Western Union unwittingly to transmit funds
intended to be used to promote and support sex trafficking and white slave traffic.
The Money Laundering Section referred me to the case of United States' Tobon-
Bulks, 706 F.2d 1092 (11th Cir. 1983), where a defendant was convicted of violating 18
U.S.C. § 1001 by causing banks to fail to file Currency Transaction Reports ("CTRs") by
structuring transactions.' Over a six-hour period, Tobon-Builes and an accomplice went to
ten different banks in Northern Florida where they each purchased a $9,000 cashier's check
with cash. Because each individual purchase was less than $10,000, thereby escaping the
"Tobon-Bugles was decided prior to the enactment of 31 U.S.C. § 5324(a), which created a
criminal offense for causing a domestic financial institution to fail to file a required report, such as
a CTR.
31
EFTA00234547
banks' duty to file a CTR for each transaction. Tobon-Builes was arrested and admitted that
he had won over $100,000 playing poker and was purchasing cashier's check in amounts less
than $10,000 to avoid bank reporting requirements because he did not want to pay federal
taxes on his winnings. Tobon-Builes argued that he could not be charged with concealment
of material information in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1001 because he did not have a duty to
file a CTA — only the financial institution has that legal obligation.
The Eleventh Circuit rejected the argument, stating that the government:
charged and proved that Tobon willfully and knowingly caused fmancial
institutions not to report currency transactions that they had a duty to report
and would have reported if they had known about such transactions. Support
for this holding is found in 18 U.S.C. § 2(b) which provides that one who
"willfully causes an act to be done which if directly performed by him or
another would be an offense against the United States, is punishable as a
principal."
Id. at 1099 (quoting 18 U.S.C. § 2(b)). Further, "it is well established that § 2(b) was
designed to impose criminal liability on one who causes an intermediary to commit a criminal
act, even though the intermediary who performed the act has no criminal intent and hence
is innocent of the substantive crime charged, in this case concealment." Id. (citations
omitted). The operation of Section 2(b) foreclosed Tobon-Builes' legal incapacity argument,
and the Eleventh Circuit noted a series of cases where someone without a legal duty used an
innocent agent to violate that agent's legal duty. In each of those cases, the defendant was
convicted via operation of Section 2(b). See id. at 1100-01 (citations omitted). Since its
issuance, Tobon-Builes has been cited in numerous cases for the proposition that a defendant
can be convicted as a principal, even where he uses as innocent intermediary to commit the
charged offense.
In this case, Commerce Bank and Western Union were the innocent intermediaries
who operated the money transmitting business. Nonetheless, Epstein's directions to pay the
girls caused Western Union to transmit funds that were intended to be used to promote or
support unlawful activity — the prostitution of minors. Epstein's directions to Banasiak
caused Commerce Bank to transmit funds via its ATM to Banasiak, who withdrew those
funds that Epstein intended to use or promote the same unlawful activity. Accordingly, one
could charge Epstein alone with individual counts of violating Section 1960 for each Western
Union transfer and for each ATM withdrawal that occurred immediately prior to one of
Banasiak's documented payments to one of the girls.
32
EFTA00234548
I decided not to include these charges because I felt that the charge would confuse the
jury or make them feel that the Government was overreaching, and the penalty for this
activity is less than the penalties for the other charged offenses.
2.
The Travel Act: 18 U.S.C. § 1952
Section 1952 bans the travel in interstate commerce in aid of racketeering. So, if a
person travels in interstate commerce with the intent to promote an unlawful activity, which
can include prostitution, and after this travel he performs an act to promote that unlawful
activity, then he has violated the Travel Act. At first blush, this appears to apply, but the
"unlawful activity" must be a "business enterprise involving" prostitution. If Epstein were
a pimp who was soliciting girls for other men and
was assisting him in that effort, the
Travel Act would apply. However, since Epstein is using
to solicit girls on Epstein's
own behalf, I don't believe that Epstein's personal use of the prostitutes can be considered
a business enterprise.
III.
VICTIMS
A.
Some time i
Som
inearlv2004,theexactdatebeingunknown,Swa
proached by two
individuals,
and,
while at a beac
on Singer Island. IM was a classmate
At
a
igh School.
askedilliptif she wanted to make some
money giving a massage to a wealthy man on Palm Beach Island. illatwas told that she
would be paid $200, she would have to remove some of her clothing, and that there might
be iiiifonciliii grapagreed to go to the house. Within a few da
was called
by
and
and all three drove to Epstein's home on Brillo Way in Pam Beach.
The three were admitted through the gate and went to the "back entrance" of the
house, entering through the kitchen. In the kitchen,
vas met by
and some other
members of the household.
pstairs to Epstein's dressing area28 where the
massage table was already set up.
then left the room and Epstein entered wearing a
"From the descriptions provided by the girls and by the police officers who conducted the
search of the home, attached to Epstein's master bedroom was a large room that contained a steam
shower, dressing area, and closets. This space was adjacent to the regular master bathroom. Because
some activity occurred in the bedroom itself, I will use the term "dressing area" to refer to the space
where the sexual massages occurred.
33
EFTA00234549
towel. Epstein laid face down andlilliwas told to remove her clothes (she remained in her
panties)
then began to massage Epstein as he directed her. After massaging his back
area for some time, Epstein turned over so that he was laying face up. Epstein began
masturbating and died numerous times to touch
grabbing her rear end and tying to
touch other places in a sexual mannerlillipulled away several times, telling Epstein that
she did not want him to touch her. Epstein continued to masturbate, and instructs
to
pinch his nipples, which she did. Epstein climaxed and the massage ended. Epstein s ood
up and wiped himself off. Epstein went into the master bathroom while Haley got dressed.
After both were dressed, Epstein paid
$200 in cash (2 $100 bills). Becausellill
would not let Epstein touch her, Epstein told a
that she shouldn't give him any more
massages, but she could bring girls to the house and she would get paid $200 for every girl
that she brought.29
When
ent downstairs,
asked
for her telephone number so that
could conta
directly.
ave her telephone number to =
and all
futur
unications were directly with
ays that she received the first call
from
soon after her first visit to Epstein's residence. Telephone records for
telephone
telephone were subpoenaed. The first telephone contact between
sand
was on March 12, 2004, and it continued through July 24, 2005.
allOdescribed how
would call to arrange appointments for Epstein.
would call to ask ININtif anyone was available to "work." —says that some of these
calls occurred prior to Epstein's travel to Florida others would occur when Epstein was
already in town. During some of the telephone calls,
would request a particular girl,
other times she would just askallarto find a girl or girls to come over.
stated that
she someti
ived multiple calls during one of Epstein's stays. On
eceived
a call from
would call one or more girls to see if they were available and then
would call
back to confirm the date and time. This is consistent with the telephone
records that were received. The
records that were subpoenaed show ap
70 telephone calls between
and lit
lasalso placed one call to
telephone.
allireceived $200 each time she brought a girl to Epstein's house, even if it was the
second or third time she brought that girl.
"More telephone calls occurred, but calls placed ti
home telephone from
Epstein's home telephone (or vice-versa) were not captured in the cellular phone records in our
possession. The same is true for all of the victims.
34
EFTA00234550
brought seven girls to Epstein's home ranging from 14 to 17 years' old. Every
time that she brought a girl
was paid $200, always in cash, always in $100 bills,
always by Epstein. Salso
brought one 23-year-old woman to Epstein's home. Epstein
"didn't care for her" and toldlikitsthat the woman was too old. Epstein told
"the
younger the better,s31 and toldSthat he didn't like to have problems with girls who
didn't know what to expect, so she should always tell the girls in advance what would happen
when they arrived. Illikreported that she always told the girls that they would have to get
undressed and give a massage and that there might be some "fondling."..kreports that
she told all of the girls that they could tell Epstein that the were uncomfortable with
anything and he would stop. Haley stated that she had asked
about a rumor that a girl
who had intercourse with Epstein had been paid $1,000.
said that she doubted that
was true because Esptein "doesn't have sex with the girls, he just plays around with them."
alinealso reports that
had toldSto tell Epstein that she was 18 if he asked
and that Haley told that to the girls whom she recruited. Slieksaid that she told Epstein that
she was 1
at "he knew better." a
also said that she was never instructed by
Mt
Epstein or
to make sure that the girls that she brought were over 18 and was never
asked to provide identification/proof of her age for herself or for any of the girls whom she
brought. One of IIIIIMII friends descri
as "the youngest-looking girl" that a
had brought to Epstein's house. Yet
made another appointment fo
to come to
Epstein's house without either
or Epstein asking about"... age.
was 14
years' old.
On March 11, 2004,
called
at 9:13 p.m. Epstein arrived the same day, at
11:20 p.m. On March 12, 2004,
called
at 8:59 a.m. and 9:21 a.m. At 3:38 that
afternoon, Haley received her first
from
provided one sexual massage where Epstein masturbated while trying to fondle
was 17 years' old at the timelliliptold Epstein that she was 18 years' old,
but Felieves that Epstein "knew better," based on her appearance and their discussion during
the massage.
I'During her interview with the police,Illicaught herself and said "He likes girls who
are 18 to 20," but in talking with the federal agents, she admitted that the only girls she brought
(other than the 23-year-old) were girls under 18, Epstein really liked the youngest girl (Saige, who
was 14), and he preferred young girls, not 18- to 20-year-olds.
35
EFTA00234551
Possible Credibility Challenges
ga las been granted 6001 immunity by the Department and has appeared before
the Grand Jury. After her experiences with Epstein,
became a stripper and worked in
various clubs in West Palm Beach and Orlando.
s currently working as a waitress at
a regular restaurant in the Fort Lauderdale area. She currently is living with her parents but
is scheduled to move out soon.11igatprimary credibility challenge is that she brought
several girls to Epstein's home — knowing that they were underage — and she has been given
immunity for her testimony. _suffers from depression and takes medication for that
condition.
The grand jurors listened attentively to Haley and seemed to believe her. After her
testimony they were anxious to indict Epstein, asking when an indictment would be
forthcoming . e
is very straightforward about Epstein's actions, and her own.
B.
As mentioned above,— parents originally brought Epstein's behavior to the
attention of the Palm Beach Police Department.
went to Epstein's house once, on February 6, 2005, when she was 14 years' old.
igh School at the time. erkwas recruited
cousin
was datingelip at the time. On February
5
her boyfriend went t
house to watch a movie. That evenin
`used her cell phone to call
over the telephone. After
hung up, isttsked why she was giving her physical
description to someone. aleskee
if she wanted to make $200 giving a massage to
a very rich man on Palm Beach. illemdelnibegan arguing becauseadidn't want
aao
do a massage. _decided to go anyway so that she could make $200.1
states that she knew she would have to take her top off and that Epstein would masturbate
during the massage. Haley states thailleknew she would have to strip down to her bra
and panties and that "the more she did, the more [money] she would make."111.0nstructed
ethat,
if Epstein askedawould say she was 18 and was a senior at Wellington High
School.
On February 6, 2005, at 12:50 pmScalled
cell phone. Two
minutes lateraalla
At 1:01 pm
ailed Epstein's Palm Beach house and,
one minute laterargain cal ledallipallean
oth say tand
another
36
EFTA00234552
girl I
went tom
house and picked her up. They drove to the Palm Beach house.
A security guard at Epstein's home asked why they were there, anall.paid they were
there to see Jeffrey. The guard let them in and they entered the house through a side door
into the kitchen.
Epstein and an assistant [either
or
I arrived and the assistant led
amp upstairs to the master bedroom where all the massages took place...I. was able to
describe the bathroom and the pictures of naked girls in the home accurately, and she
describes how she and the assistant picked out massage lotions—states that the assistant
told her to take her top off. Epstein entered shortly thereafter and forcefully ordered
to take her pants offSemoved her pants while Epstein left the room. When Epstein
returned, he was wearing only a towel. Epstein laid face down and told...to straddle him
to massage his back. Imp bare buttocks touched Epstein's lower back/top of his buttocks.
Epstein askant
age and where she went to school anfillIpaid that she was 18 and
was a senior at Wellington. Epstein got up from the massage table and went to the toilet area
where he masturbated and made moaning noises. Epstein then returned and laid down facing
up. He continued to masturbate while directing...Do massage his chest. Epstein then told
ai
o grab a large back massager/vibrator that was across the room. At Epstein's request,
removed her underwear. Epstein used the massager onlillavagina while he
masturbated. Epstein then digitally penetrates
looked at Epstein to express her
displeasure with the penetration and Epstein looked at her and sarcastically said, "What's the
matter?" albooked away. When Epstein ejaculated, the contact stopped. Epstein gave
4a$300, explaining that the extra $100 was because he "fingered her" and used a vibrator
on her. Esptein left...to get dressed. Epstein also asked
leave her telephone
n umber...Bigot dressed, went downstairs, and left with 1.1.1 Tidneceived
S200 for bringinall.
In the car on the way homelabtoldell.hat Epstein "fingered" her and paid her
$300. 111.1.confirms this, which should be admissible as a prior consistent statement.)
oked that they could get rich if they went to Epstein's house every weekend. The girls
went shopping and...then tool
home. laid
not purchase anything with the
$300 she had received from Epstein.
Wheieretumed to school on Monday, she told a friend what had happened. As
discussed in the introduction, rumors started flying around the school andllabind another
girl got into an argument. One of the school administrators searched 8...purse and found
the $300. When confronted,
initially stated that she earned the $300 through her job
at Chik-Fil-A. She then stated she had sold drugs to get the money, and finally admitted that
37
EFTA00234553
she had gotten the money from Epstein.
allellhbegan working with a PBPD Detective. Controlled calls were made taillp
1.111.6 was initially suspicious because she had heard about the problems at the school.s
convincedehat she wanted to return to Epstein's house because she needed more
money. linawas recorded saying, "the more you do, the more you make."
On March 30 and 31, 2005aliplaced controlled calls to
about setting up
another meeting with Epstein. Also on March 30 and 31, 20051Illsand
made calls
to and from each other. On March 31 and April 1, 200511., called
and left
voicemail messages, which were recorded, to confirm a visit to Epstein's house. Epstein
flew in to Palm Beach International Airport ("PBIA") on March 31, 2005. The April 1
recorded voicemail messages, were to confirm a visit to Epstein's house on "Saturday" which
would have been Saturday, April 2, 2005. On Tuesday, Ar
ita:
005, PBPD did a trash pull
at Epstein's home, and recovered a handwritten note,
walla
on Saturday at
10:30." Epstein departed PBIA on April 6, 2005.
Possible Credibility Challenges
Chas been the focus of Epstein's attorneys because she was the youngest girl and
the one who brought Epstein's activities to light. Copies of a MySpace page credited to
le
were provided to the State Attorney's Office and to our office. On that page, llIt
states that she is 21 years' old, she drinks and has taken drugs, she shoplifts, and she earns
$250,000 each year. The MySpace page also shows a picture oilawrestling with her
boyfriend and a photograph of a naked girl lying on a beach. Copies of those materials are
attached hereto at Tab 9.32 During her first sessions with the police, she also minimized what
"Also attached at Tab 10 are two police reports showing thatalawas under the influence
of Xanax in March 2006 and that her mother called the police fearing that she had run away in
January 2006. Both of these events occurred well after the events occurred with Epstein and after
the matter was reported to PBPD andilillwas interviewed. Sparents
report that once the
rumor at school started thaterwas a prostituteStarted having behavioral problems and had
to change schools twice. She has successfully completed a drug treatment programs since the
reported events at Tab 10.
Attached at Tab 11 is a booking photo oafather.
I have downloaded the docket sheet,
Information, J&C, Rule 35 motion, the Order granting the Rule 35 motion, and the Petition for
Violation of Supervised Release and I have added those to Tab #11. Attached at Tab#12 is
information related to an arrest oat
mother for "criminal use of identification information."
38
EFTA00234554
happened with Epstein, denying that he touched her.
With respect to the minimization of the conduct, we have secured two experts in these
types of cases, who will explain how child victims of sexual abuse minimize what happened
to them until they feel more secure about the interviewer. In addition, there is the prior
consistent statement that
made toff/awhile they were in the car driving away from
Epstein's home.
With respect to the MySpace pagessays that it is inaccurate. When she was
confronted with the page before the state grand jury, she denied putting certain items on the
page. When we met with her, she again said that she did not remember putting certain things
on the page and she believed that it wasn't her page. After that meeting, we tried to verify
statement, i.e., whether someone really had doctored her page. We were able to
determine that the page was created on a single day and had never been accessed since the
date of its creation. Some of the information was identical to e'active"
MySpace
page, and other parts were different. Unfortunately, because of the passage of time, the ISP
no longer had information about the specific IP address used to create the page, so we could
not trace the creation back to a particular persons address.
Even really
did create the MySpace page and simply forgot about it, in my
opinion, most of the information that they are focused on doesn't really undermine
credibility in this case. MySpace pages are notorious for "puffing," so claims that she was
18 and made $250,000 a year are not statements that a reasonable person would rely on to
avoid engaging in criminal conduct. Certainly Epstein never visited the site before molesting
amp so he did not rely upon the claim that
was 18 when he decided to digitally
penetrate her. admittedly drank and was sexually active with her boyfriend. AMIN
were not a person who engaged in these types of activities, elsvouldn't have approached
no
recruit her to give a sexual massage to Epstein. The photograph of the nude girl on
the beach is obviously a picture that was digitally created (there is a cruise ship headed
directly towards the girl on the beach) and also is obviously not..
C.
Jane Doe #15a
Jane Doe #15 also attended Royal Palm Beach High School within/land nig
recruited her to go to Epstein's home to perform a sexual massage when JD#15 was 16.
It is not expected than'
parents will be called as witnesses, but the defense has brought these
events to my attention.
39
EFTA00234555
.old JD#15 that she could make $200 for massaging Epstein. IIIN drove JD#15 to
Epstein's house and told her that Epstein may ask her to take her top off and may try to touch
her, but she could tell him if she felt uncomfortable. IIII also instructed JD#15 to tell
Epstein that she was 18, if he asked.
When the arrived at Epstein's house, they entered through the kitchen, and they were
met by
.
escorted.. and JD#15 upstairs to the dressibrea and helped
them set up the massage table, select the lotions, and obtain towels.
then left the
room. Epstein entered and introduced himself. Epstein and_
then stepped outside for
a moment and only Epstein returned. Epstein removed his clothing and laid down on his
stomach. During the massage, Epstein repeatedly grabbed and pulled at JD#15 to get her
closer to him so he could fondle her. At the end of the massage, Epstein paid JD#15 $200
and asked
telephone number. 5
also received $200 for bringing her. A short
time later,
called JD#15 and left a message asking her to perform another massage.
gillmade arrangements for JD#15 to return for a second massage. During the second visit,
Sand
JD#15 again entered through the kitchen, where they were greeted by Epstein.
Epstein led JD#15 upstairs, leavinglimmrin the kitchen. During the massage, Epstein was
on the telephone, and no sexual activity took place. Both...and JD#15 received $200.
JD#15 did not remove her clothing during either of these sessions.
JD#15 did not return to Epstein's residence for several months because she andl.
had gotten into an argument. We do not know the exact date when JD#15 returned to
Epstein's home, but we know that it was at least by December 3 2004, when JD#15 was 17,
because on that date, JD#15 received a call directly from =.
After that break in time,
JD#15 started going to Epstein's home on a regular basis. Each time she removed more and
more clothing, at Epstein's request. JD#15 also explains that Epstein pushed at every session
for more sexual activity. Epstein would masturbate during virtually every session, and would
ask JD#14 to pinch his nipples. Epstein would pinch JD#15's nipples, and rub her vagina.
On several occasions, Epstein digitally penetrated ID#15, he also used a large vibrator/back
massager on JD#15's vagina. Epstein asked JD#15 to straddle him naked while he was lying
on his back. Epstein then reached through her legs to masturbate himself. Epstein tried to
rub his penis against JD#15's vagina but never penetrated her.
JD#15 state
he was usually contacted by =,
via her cellular phone, to set
up appointments. illi swould sometimes call from New York or the U.S. Virgin Islands
stating, "we will be coming into town, can you work?" Sometimes
would call when
they l
were in town asking if JD#15 was able to work the same day or the following
day.
sometimes made appointments before Epstein left town for the next time that
40
EFTA00234556
they would be in town. On several occasions,
made the appointments with
JD#15.
Epstein gave JD#15 three Victoria's Secret bra and panty sets and gave her a "Pocket
Rocket" vibrator for her 18th birthday.
Jane Doe #15 never told Esptein her age, but she also never told him that she was 18.
They discussed her high school soccer games and her plans to attend college in the future.
In addition, as discussed below:OW was a close friend ofJD#15 and they often went to
Epstein's house together.
told Epstein that she and JD#15 went to the same school and
were in the same class, and
told Epstein that she was a junior in high school. There
also is evidence that Epstein gave JD#15 a vibrator for her 18th birthday, knowing that it was
her 18th birthday and offered to fly JD#15 to his home in the Virgin Islands after she was 18.
Wi
ct to the enticement charge and the human trafficking charge, I included
andlill
ebecause of the number of calls that they were involved with. There were
a total of 156 calls between
and JD# I 5, and there were 28 calls between
and
JD#15. Although
was aboard the plane during several trips, there is no evidence
that she ever had contact with JD#15 or arranged for ID#15 to engage in sexual activity with
Epstein; thus, I have not charged her in connection with any of this activity. Rather than try
to parse out each instance where JD#15 was enticed, I elected to charge the enticement and
fficking offenses over the range of dates representing the first telephone call from
to JD#15 until the last call from
before JD#15's 18th birthday (the activity
with Epstein continued thereafter, but at that point it is beyond our jurisdiction to prosecute).
ope
t for charging the travel offense is each trip, so I have charged the trips where
or =
spoke with JD#15 shortly before Epstein traveled, again stopping at the point
that JD#15 turned 18.
D.
Tallailla
also was recruited by,.
and was a student a
High
School.'
received approximately 60 calls from
during t e eriod of
April 25, 2004 (when she was 16) through October 6, 2005 (when she was 18). s
tates
that she performed only a few sexual massages, although that is belied by th
er of
telephone callsilareports that she performed the sexual massages while wearing her bra
and panties. During the sessions, Epstein pulled
bra down and grabbed her breast.
Epstein tried to touch
vagina and grabbed her butt. Epstein masturbated during the
sessions and he instructed
o pinch his nipples while he masturbated.
41
EFTA00234557
Epstein tolcallito take her clothes off and that she could make more mo
if she
would do more (engage in more sexual activity). Epstein constantly pushed ford
become more sexual, asking her if she had sex with her boyfriend and if she liked sex.
was paid $200 for each sexual massage that she performed, and she received the payments
from Epstein and
Epstein also toll.
that she could m e more