What is document EFTA00021249?

This is an official letter dated July 10, 2008 from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida to Jack Goldberger, Jeffrey Epstein's defense attorney. It memorializes the terms of the controversial non-prosecution agreement under which the federal government deferred prosecution in favor of state charges.

Who is mentioned in this document?

The document names Jeffrey Epstein as the defendant, Jack Goldberger of Atterbury, Goldberger & Weiss as defense counsel, and references the U.S. Department of Justice. Alexander Acosta was the U.S. Attorney overseeing this office at the time, though not named directly in this letter.

What does this document reveal?

This document reveals the specific mechanics of the 2008 plea deal that has been widely criticized as a 'sweetheart deal.' It shows the federal government explicitly agreeing to defer prosecution while preserving certain victim rights. The inclusion of victim civil rights language suggests prosecutors anticipated scrutiny over the decision not to pursue federal charges.

Why is this document significant?

This letter is part of the documentary evidence of what a 2019 federal judge ruled was a violation of the Crime Victims' Rights Act. A DOJ Office of Professional Responsibility review later concluded that Acosta showed 'poor judgment' in the deal, which granted immunity to Epstein and unnamed co-conspirators while cutting short an FBI investigation.

What is document EFTA00021249?

This is an official letter dated July 10, 2008 from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida to Jack Goldberger, Jeffrey Epstein's defense attorney. It memorializes the terms of the controversial non-prosecution agreement under which the federal government deferred prosecution in favor of state charges.

Who is mentioned in this document?

The document names Jeffrey Epstein as the defendant, Jack Goldberger of Atterbury, Goldberger & Weiss as defense counsel, and references the U.S. Department of Justice. Alexander Acosta was the U.S. Attorney overseeing this office at the time, though not named directly in this letter.

What does this document reveal?

This document reveals the specific mechanics of the 2008 plea deal that has been widely criticized as a 'sweetheart deal.' It shows the federal government explicitly agreeing to defer prosecution while preserving certain victim rights. The inclusion of victim civil rights language suggests prosecutors anticipated scrutiny over the decision not to pursue federal charges.

Why is this document significant?

This letter is part of the documentary evidence of what a 2019 federal judge ruled was a violation of the Crime Victims' Rights Act. A DOJ Office of Professional Responsibility review later concluded that Acosta showed 'poor judgment' in the deal, which granted immunity to Epstein and unnamed co-conspirators while cutting short an FBI investigation.

EFTA00021249 - EFTA00021250

Official DOJ letter to Epstein's attorney Jack Goldberger outlining terms of the controversial 2008 federal non-prosecution agreement, including provisions allowing victims to pursue civil claims under Title 18 Section 2255.

This July 10, 2008 letter from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida to Jeffrey Epstein's defense attorney Jack Goldberger documents the execution of the infamous non-prosecution agreement. It confirms that on June 30, 2008, Epstein pleaded guilty to Florida state charges of felony solicitation of prostitution and procurement of minors to engage in prostitution, receiving 18 months in county jail with work release. The letter specifically addresses a condition requiring the government to preserve victims' rights to pursue civil claims under federal statute, indicating the DOJ would provide Epstein's attorneys with a list of individuals who would have been named as victims in a federal indictment.

Key Highlights

•Documents the exact terms of Epstein's state guilty plea that allowed him to avoid federal prosecution
•Confirms the 18-month sentence structure: 12 months imprisonment, 6 months additional imprisonment, then 12 months community control
•Contains provision preserving victims' federal civil rights under Title 18 Section 2255 despite the state-only prosecution
•Signed by the same U.S. Attorney's Office led by Alexander Acosta, later found to have used 'poor judgment' by DOJ review

Frequently Asked Questions

Books for Further Reading

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

Relentless Pursuit: My Fight for the Victims of Jeffrey Epstein

Bradley J. Edwards

Victims' attorney's firsthand account

Document Information

Bates Range

EFTA00021249 - EFTA00021250

Pages

Document Content

Page 1 - EFTA00021249

U.S. Department of Justice Untied States Attorney Southern District of Florida SOO South Australian Ave Suite 400 West Palm Beach. FL 3340! (56!) 820-8711 Facsimile: (561)8204777 July 10, 2008 VIA CERTIFIED MAIL . Jack A. Goldberger, Esq. Atterbury, Goldberger & Weiss, P.A. One Clearlake Centre, Suite 1400 250 Australian Ave S. West Palm Beach, FL 33401-5015 Re: Jeffrey Epstein Dear Mr. Goldberger: FINALM/TIFICATIQNOLMENTIFIELLYIKMAS On June 30, 2008, Jeffrey Epstein (hereinafter referred to as "Epstein) entered a plea of guilty to violations of Florida Statutes Sections 796.07 (felony solicitation of prostitution) and 796.03 (procurement of minors to engage in prostitution), in the 15th Judicial Circuit in and for Palm Beach County (Case Nos. 2006-cf-009454AXXXMB and 2008-cf- 00938 1 AXXXMB) and was sentenced to a term of twelve months' imprisonment to be followed by an additional six months' imprisonment, followed by twelve months of Community Control 1, with conditions of community confinepent imposed by the Court. In light of the entry of the guilty plea and sentence, the United States has agreed to defer federal prosecution in favor of this state plea and sentence, subject to certain conditions. One such condition to which Epstein has agreed is the following: "Any person, who while a minor, was a victim of a violation of an offense enumerated in Title 18, United States Code, Section 2255, will have the same rights to proceed under Section 2255 as she would have had, if Mr. Epstein had been tried federally and convicted of an enumerated offense. For purposcs EFTA00021249

Page 2 - EFTA00021250

JACK GOLDBERGER, ESQ. June 10, 2008 PAGE 2 OF 2 of implementing this paragraph, the United States shall provide Mr. Epstein's attorneys with a list of individuals whom it was prepared to name in an Indictment as victims of an enumerated offense by Mr. Epstein. Any judicial authority interpreting this provision, including any authority determining which evidentiary burdens if any a plaintiff must meet, shall consider that it is the intent of the parties to place these identified victims in the same position as they would have been had Mr. Epstein been convicted at trial. No more; no less." Through this letter, this Office hereby provides Notice that the individuals identified below are individuals whom the United States was prepared to name as victims of an enumerated offense. identified Individuals Sincerely, R. Alexander Acosta United States Attorney • EFTA00021250