Jeffrey Epstein, 66, killed himself in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges
The woman at the center of charges against Jeffrey Epstein in New York had reportedly spoke with the FBI in Florida 11 years before his arrest last year.
Convicted pedophile Epstein, 66, killed himself in his Manhattan jail cell in August while awaiting trial after pleading not guilty on federal sex trafficking charges.
He had already pleaded guilty in a Florida court to a single charge of soliciting an underage prostitute in 2008 under a ‘sweetheart deal’ that saw him serve just 13 months in prison and required him to register as a sex offender. He was allowed out on day release for a substantial amount of time.
Now it has emerged the woman whose allegations of abuse formed a crucial part of the New York charges had already spoken with officials regarding the first investigation into the billionaire, ABC News reports.
And despite being subpoenaed for testimony in 2008 when she was 19 years old her account was said to have been ignored after Epstein secured, what the Attorney’s Office called, the ‘deal of the century’.
Now 31-years-old, the woman is one of dozens to have filed a civil lawsuit saying the alleged abuse ‘has forever scarred her and altered her life’. She says she was recruited by the pedophile at the age of 14 and made to give him massages before suffering further sexual abuse.
Epstein, left, had already pleaded guilty to soliciting an underage prostitute in 2008. Prior to his conviction in June 2008, Epstein’s lawyers met with Miami’s top federal prosecutor, Alexander Acosta, right, to negotiate a ‘lenient plea deal’
Epstein, left, and attorney Reid Weingarten, second from right, listen in court in July 2019
West Palm Beach attorney Spencer Kuvin represented three of Epstein’s alleged victims in 2008. He told ABC News Epstein’s ‘entire network from New York to Paris to New Mexico’ could been ‘unraveled’ there and then.
Kuvin added: ‘[The government] shut this thing down and pled this thing out before going through and talking to probably more than half of the women that were involved in this whole thing.
‘Had they conducted a full investigation and taken their time, this would’ve been a whole different story.’
Former federal prosecutor Sunny Hostin called the plea deal ‘unjust’, adding: ‘The deal does not match the significance of the evidence in the case.’
Prior to his conviction in June 2008, Epstein’s lawyers met with Miami’s top federal prosecutor, Alexander Acosta, to negotiate a ‘lenient plea deal’.
Epstein pleaded guilty in exchange for the short prison sentence in a low-security jail, as well as immunity from future prosecution related to his charges.
It was later revealed that Epstein was allowed to leave prison on a regularly basis to work at a nearby office.
In recent months, critics have been outraged by the lenient sentence, dubbed ‘a sweetheart deal’.
Acosta – who negotiated the deal – was forced to resign from his post as Secretary of Labor in the Trump administration over the fallout.
Epstein was released from prison in early 2010 and quickly managed to make his way back into high-powered New York circles.
He was spotted walking in Central Park with Prince Andrew later that same year.
The woman whose allegations formed a crucial part of the NYC charges had already spoken with officials regarding the first investigation. Epstein’s home in Manhattan is pictured
Epstein pleaded guilty in a Florida court to a single charge of soliciting an underage prostitute in 2008 under a ‘sweetheart deal’ that saw him serve just 13 months in prison and required him to register as a sex offender. He was allowed out on day release for a substantial amount of time. Epstein’s home Florida is pictured
Katie Couric, Woody Allen, Chelsea Handler and George Stephanopoulos were invited to a dinner at Epstein’s Manhattan mansion alongside the Prince in 2010.
More than 20 Epstein accusers have filed civil lawsuits against the estate after New York City’s medical examiner ruled his death as a suicide.
His death ended the possibility of a trial that would have involved prominent figures and it sparked widespread anger that he wouldn’t have to answer for the allegations.
Epstein had once counted the rich and powerful, including President Donald Trump, former President Bill Clinton and Prince Andrew, among his associates.