Ghislaine Maxwell was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Tuesday for her crimes related to sex trafficking. As reported by <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-61970358" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BBC News</a>, the 60-year-old former socialite has been found guilty on five of the six charges brought against her in late December. These include sex trafficking of a minor, transporting a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, and three related counts of conspiracy. She was acquitted on the charge of enticing a minor to travel to engage in illegal sex acts, per <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-59824150" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BBC News</a>. Her convictions related to the allegations of abuse against young girls in conjunction with wealthy American financier Jeffrey Epstein Outside of the New York court, one of her accusers said Maxwell should be imprisoned for the rest of her life. <img class=" wp-image-1263138955" src="https://img.vt.co/2021/12/E3BKX8-684x1024.jpg" alt="" width="463" height="693" />[[imagecaption|| Credit: WENN Rights Ltd / Alamy]] As well as the 20 years jailtime, Maxwell was also ordered to pay a fine of $750,000. The sentencing was pronounced by Judge Alison J Nathan, who described d Maxwell's crimes as "heinous and predatory". Judge Nathan added: "Ms Maxwell worked with Epstein to select young victims who were vulnerable and played a pivotal role in facilitating sexual abuse." The judge hopes that Maxwell's "very significant sentence" will send an "unmistakable message" these crimes will not be tolerated. Prior to her sentencing, Maxwell told the court that meeting Epstein was "the biggest regret" of her life, and said that she was sorry to her victims. "My association with Epstein will permanently stain me," she said told the court. <img class="size-large wp-image-1263159803" src="https://img.vt.co/2022/06/2C5G02H-e1656246884458-896x1024.jpg" alt="" width="896" height="1024" />[[imagecaption|| Credit: ZUMA Press Inc / Alamy]] Maxwell reportedly showed little emotion as her sentencing was announced. <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2022/06/28/us/ghislaine-maxwell-sentencing/index.html">CNN</a> reports that prosecutors had been arguing that Maxwell should have served 30 to 55 years in prison. Meanwhile, Maxwell's attorneys were calling for around five years behind bars. Earlier in the day, she had told the court that she hopes her victims find "peace and finality" in her imprisonment. Judge Nathan also allowed a number of Maxwell's victims to read impact statements to the courtroom. Epstein first came under investigation by police back in 2005 after being accused of committing crimes against minors. In 2008, he pleaded guilty to state charges in Florida of soliciting and procuring a minor for prostitution - this plea deal was later ruled to be illegal as a number of his victims weren’t consulted during the sentencing. He was arrested once again in July 2019, and later found unresponsive in his cell on August 10. At the age of 66, Epstein was pronounced dead after being transported to a nearby hospital. His death was ruled an apparent suicide. <h6>Featured image credit: Alamy / WENN Rights Ltd</h6>

Ghislaine Maxwell sentenced to 20 years in prison

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