What is document EFTA00028364?

This is the July 8, 2019 unsealing order for Jeffrey Epstein's federal indictment in the Southern District of New York. It includes the U.S. Attorney's request to unseal the charges and Judge Henry Pitman's order granting that request.

Who is mentioned in this document?

The key figures are U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman (who prosecuted the case), Magistrate Judge Henry Pitman (who signed the unsealing order), and Jeffrey Epstein (the defendant). The document also references charges under federal sex trafficking statutes.

What does this document reveal?

The document shows the formal legal process by which Epstein's 2019 indictment was made public. The charges cited — 18 U.S.C. §§ 1591 and 371 — indicate he was indicted for sex trafficking of minors and conspiracy. This unsealing occurred on July 8, 2019, two days after his arrest.

Why was this indictment initially sealed?

Indictments are often sealed before an arrest to prevent the defendant from fleeing or destroying evidence. Epstein was arrested on July 6, 2019 when his private jet landed at Teterboro Airport from Paris, and the indictment was unsealed two days later on July 8.

What happened after this unsealing?

Following the unsealing, Epstein was denied bail and held at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan. He died by apparent suicide in his cell on August 10, 2019, about one month after this unsealing order, while awaiting trial.

What is document EFTA00028364?

This is the July 8, 2019 unsealing order for Jeffrey Epstein's federal indictment in the Southern District of New York. It includes the U.S. Attorney's request to unseal the charges and Judge Henry Pitman's order granting that request.

Who is mentioned in this document?

The key figures are U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman (who prosecuted the case), Magistrate Judge Henry Pitman (who signed the unsealing order), and Jeffrey Epstein (the defendant). The document also references charges under federal sex trafficking statutes.

What does this document reveal?

The document shows the formal legal process by which Epstein's 2019 indictment was made public. The charges cited — 18 U.S.C. §§ 1591 and 371 — indicate he was indicted for sex trafficking of minors and conspiracy. This unsealing occurred on July 8, 2019, two days after his arrest.

Why was this indictment initially sealed?

Indictments are often sealed before an arrest to prevent the defendant from fleeing or destroying evidence. Epstein was arrested on July 6, 2019 when his private jet landed at Teterboro Airport from Paris, and the indictment was unsealed two days later on July 8.

What happened after this unsealing?

Following the unsealing, Epstein was denied bail and held at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan. He died by apparent suicide in his cell on August 10, 2019, about one month after this unsealing order, while awaiting trial.

EFTA00028364 - EFTA00028366

This is the official unsealing order for Jeffrey Epstein's 2019 federal indictment in the Southern District of New York (Case 19 Cr. 490).

Dated July 8, 2019, this document contains correspondence from U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman to Magistrate Judge Henry Pitman requesting the unsealing of Epstein's indictment, along with the signed unsealing order. The charges reference 18 U.S.C. §§ 1591 & 371, which relate to sex trafficking of minors and conspiracy. This represents the formal legal process that made Epstein's arrest public and initiated the criminal proceedings that ended with his death in custody on August 10, 2019.

Key Highlights

•Official request to unseal Epstein's federal indictment filed by U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman
•Charges under 18 U.S.C. §§ 1591 (sex trafficking of children) and 371 (conspiracy)
•Document dated July 8, 2019 — two days after Epstein's arrest at Teterboro Airport
•Judge Henry Pitman signed the unsealing order, making the case public

Frequently Asked Questions

Books for Further Reading

Perversion of Justice

Julie K. Brown

Investigative journalism that broke the case open

Perversion of Justice: The Jeffrey Epstein Story

Julie K. Brown

Investigative journalism that broke the Epstein case open

Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York

Document Information

Bates Range

EFTA00028364 - EFTA00028366

Pages

Document Content

Page 1 - EFTA00028364

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 8, 2019 The Honorable Henry Pitman United States District Court Southern District of New York 500 Pearl Street New York, New York 10007 Re: Unsealing of Indictment 19 Cr. 490 Dear Judge Pitman: The Government respectfully requests that Indictment 19 Cr. 490 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, GEO FREY S. BERMAN nit States Attome Assistant United tates Attorneys Tel.: EFTA00028364

Page 2 - EFTA00028365

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK UNITED STATES OF AMERICA JEFFREY EPSTEIN, Defendant. Unsealing Order 19 Cr. 490 Upon the application of the United States, by the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Geoffrey S. Berman, 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 8, 2019 HONORABLE HENRY PITMAN UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK EFTA00028365

Page 3 - EFTA00028366

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. JEFFREY EPSTEIN, Defendant. ORDER 19 Cr. 490 ( ) (18 U.S.C. §5 1591 & 371.) GEOFFREY S. BERMAN United States Attorney. EFTA00028366