American financier, Jeffrey Epstein, was arrested once again on charges of sexual crimes against minors. The 66-year-old billionaire is a registered sex offender, stemming from his arrest in 2008. Federal officials, including NYPD’s Crimes Against Children Task Force, greeted him at New Jersey Teterboro Airport as soon as his flight from Paris had landed. He will be charged with one count of sex trafficking of minors and one count of conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking of minors. It is alleged that between 2002 and 2005, Epstein would pay underage girls for private massages. During these massages, he would sexually molest or assault the minors. It is also alleged that some of Epstein’s employees would recruit these victims. These incidents occurred at his homes in both New York and Florida.
Epstein was first arrested in 2008 in the state of Florida due to molestation allegations. An investigation uncovered his direct connection to more than 30 victims, all of which were minors at the time. Epstein pled guilty to charges of solicitation of prostitution and the procurement of minors for prostitution. Despite facing life in prison, he only received 13 months in county jail. Epstein’s lawyers reached a non-prosecution agreement with the US Attorney at the time, Alexander Acosta. Acosta is currently the US Secretary of Labor. Acosta granted a reduced sentence and gave Epstein an immunity deal that protected any potential co-conspirators, as well. Epstein was even allowed to take part in the county jail’s ‘work release’ program. He worked in an office six days out of the week. Yet, the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Department forbids sex offenders from participating in the program. This was an obvious violation of their guidelines. Acosta even granted that the details of the non-prosecution agreement remain hidden from the multitude of victims involved in the case.
In February of this year, US District Judge Kenneth A. Marra ruled that the agreement granted by Acosta was unconstitutional. It was, in fact, a direct violation of the victim’s rights because it kept them from speaking with prosecutors about Epstein’s plea deal. Yet, the Department of Justice did not agree with Judge Marra. As of June, they refused to nullify the agreement.
Epstein will go before the judge on Monday. Many feel that if granted bail, he will flee the country. If convicted, Jeffrey Epstein can receive up to 45 years in prison.
