What is document EFTA00020355?

This is the July 2, 2020 court filing requesting and authorizing the unsealing of the federal criminal indictment against Ghislaine Maxwell. It consists of the government's formal request from Acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss and the corresponding order signed by U.S. Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker making the charges public.

What charges does this document reference?

The document references federal charges under 18 U.S.C. §§ 2422 and 2423(a) (sex trafficking and transportation of minors for illegal sexual activity), 18 U.S.C. § 1623 (perjury), and 18 U.S.C. § 371 (conspiracy). These charges related to Maxwell's alleged role in recruiting and grooming underage girls for Jeffrey Epstein's abuse.

Why was the indictment initially sealed?

Criminal indictments are often sealed temporarily to prevent the target from fleeing before arrest. Maxwell's indictment was unsealed on July 2, 2020, the same day she was arrested by the FBI at her New Hampshire estate. This timing is standard practice to ensure the defendant can be taken into custody before learning of the charges.

Who was Audrey Strauss and why is she significant?

Audrey Strauss was the Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York who led the prosecution of Ghislaine Maxwell. The same office had previously prosecuted Jeffrey Epstein in 2019 before his death in custody. Strauss announced Maxwell's arrest and indictment, calling her actions 'among the worst crimes imaginable.'

What happened after this indictment was unsealed?

Ghislaine Maxwell was arrested on July 2, 2020, at her estate in Bradford, New Hampshire. She was denied bail multiple times and remained in custody throughout her trial. In December 2021, she was convicted on five of six counts including sex trafficking of minors. She was sentenced in June 2022 to 20 years in federal prison.

What is document EFTA00020355?

This is the July 2, 2020 court filing requesting and authorizing the unsealing of the federal criminal indictment against Ghislaine Maxwell. It consists of the government's formal request from Acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss and the corresponding order signed by U.S. Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker making the charges public.

What charges does this document reference?

The document references federal charges under 18 U.S.C. §§ 2422 and 2423(a) (sex trafficking and transportation of minors for illegal sexual activity), 18 U.S.C. § 1623 (perjury), and 18 U.S.C. § 371 (conspiracy). These charges related to Maxwell's alleged role in recruiting and grooming underage girls for Jeffrey Epstein's abuse.

Why was the indictment initially sealed?

Criminal indictments are often sealed temporarily to prevent the target from fleeing before arrest. Maxwell's indictment was unsealed on July 2, 2020, the same day she was arrested by the FBI at her New Hampshire estate. This timing is standard practice to ensure the defendant can be taken into custody before learning of the charges.

Who was Audrey Strauss and why is she significant?

Audrey Strauss was the Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York who led the prosecution of Ghislaine Maxwell. The same office had previously prosecuted Jeffrey Epstein in 2019 before his death in custody. Strauss announced Maxwell's arrest and indictment, calling her actions 'among the worst crimes imaginable.'

What happened after this indictment was unsealed?

Ghislaine Maxwell was arrested on July 2, 2020, at her estate in Bradford, New Hampshire. She was denied bail multiple times and remained in custody throughout her trial. In December 2021, she was convicted on five of six counts including sex trafficking of minors. She was sentenced in June 2022 to 20 years in federal prison.

EFTA00020355 - EFTA00020357

This is the official court order from July 2, 2020, unsealing the federal indictment against Ghislaine Maxwell in the Southern District of New York.

This document consists of a formal request from Acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss to unseal the criminal indictment against Ghislaine Maxwell (Case 20 Cr. 330), followed by the unsealing order signed by U.S. Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker. The indictment charges reference federal statutes including sex trafficking (18 U.S.C. §§ 2422, 2423(a)), perjury (1623), and conspiracy (371). This marked the official public revelation of federal charges against Maxwell for her alleged role in Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking operation.

Key Highlights

•Official unsealing order dated July 2, 2020, making public the federal charges against Ghislaine Maxwell
•Charges include sex trafficking of minors (18 U.S.C. §§ 2422, 2423(a)), perjury (1623), and conspiracy (371)
•Filed by Acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss in the Southern District of New York, the same office that prosecuted Jeffrey Epstein
•Judge Katharine H. Parker signed the order unsealing the previously sealed indictment

Frequently Asked Questions

Books for Further Reading

The Spider: Inside the Tangled Web of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell

Perversion of Justice: The Jeffrey Epstein Story

Julie K. Brown

Investigative journalism that broke the Epstein case open

Filthy Rich: The Jeffrey Epstein Story

James Patterson

Bestselling account of Epstein's crimes and network

Document Information

Bates Range

EFTA00020355 - EFTA00020357

Pages

Document Content

Page 1 - EFTA00020355

U.S. Department of Justice United States Attorney Southern District of New York The Silvio J. Mollo Building One Saint Andrew's Plaza New York, New York 10007 July 2, 2020 The Honorable Katharine H. Parker United States District Court Southern District of New York 500 Pearl Street New York, New York 10007 Re: Unsealing of Indictment 20 Cr. 330 Dear Judge Parker: The Government respectfully requests that Indictment 20 Cr. 330 be unsealed and that a United States District Judge be assigned to the case. A proposed order to that effect is attached. This case is designated as a Wheel C case. By: Enclosure Respectfully submitted, AU ri REY STRAUSS Act g United States Attorney Assistant United States Attorneys Tel.: EFTA00020355

Page 2 - EFTA00020356

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK UNITED STATES OF AMERICA GHISLAINE MAXWELL, Defendant. Unsealing Order 20 Cr. 330 Upon the application of the United States, by the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Audrey Strauss, by Assistant United States Attorney It is found that the Indictment in the above-captioned case is currently sealed and the United States Attorney's Office has applied to have that Indictment unsealed, and it is therefore: ORDERED that the Indictment in the above-captioned action be unsealed and remain unsealed pending further order of the Court. Dated: New York, New York July 2, 2020 HONORABLE KATHARINE H. PARKER UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK EFTA00020356

Page 3 - EFTA00020357

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. GHISLAINE MAXWELL, Defendant. ORDER 20 Cr. 330 ( ) (18 U.S.C. §§ 2422, 2423(a), 1623, 371, & AUDREY STRAUSS Acting United States Attorney. EFTA00020357