Ghislaine Maxwell appeals sex trafficking conviction and sentence

New York, New York - British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell has officially appealed against her conviction and sentence for sex trafficking.

A courtroom sketch showed Ghislaine Maxwell addressing the judge during her sentencing last month, when she was dealt 20 years in prison for helping late financier Jeffrey Epstein sexually abuse underage girls.
A courtroom sketch showed Ghislaine Maxwell addressing the judge during her sentencing last month, when she was dealt 20 years in prison for helping late financier Jeffrey Epstein sexually abuse underage girls.  © REUTERS

The 60-year-old was found guilty by a jury of luring young girls to massage rooms for disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein to molest between 1994 and 2004.

She was sentenced to 20 years in prison at the federal court in the Southern District of New York last month.

Despite saying she "empathized" with her victims during her sentencing hearing, court documents show Maxwell has now paid $505 to appeal against both her conviction and sentence.

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The court docket on Thursday showed her appeal has now been sent to the US Court of Appeals.

Jurors heard prosecutors describe her as "dangerous" during her three-week trial last year, and were told details of how she helped entice vulnerable teenagers to Epstein's various properties for him to sexually abuse.

The judge at her sentencing called her "heinous and predatory."

Maxwell’s legal team previously called for a new trial after claiming two of the jurors could have been compromised as possible past victims of sexual abuse. The attempt to bring the case to court again was unsuccessful.

At her sentencing, Maxwell said, "I realize I have been convicted of assisting Jeffrey Epstein to commit these crimes. My association with Epstein will permanently stain me. It is the biggest regret of my life that I ever met him."

Cover photo: REUTERS

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