Credit:  Department of Justice / Jeffrey Epstein pleads not guilty on July 8, 2019 after sex trafficking arrest 

By Gary Raynaldo

NEW YORK  –  Billionaire Jeffrey Epstein entered a not-guilty plea Monday in federal court after being arrested and accused of sex trafficking charges involving dozens of young girls in New York and Florida. Geoffrey S. Berman,  the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that Epstein was arrested Saturday and charged with sex trafficking of minors and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors. The indictment unsealed Monday alleges that, between 2002 through 2005, Epstein sexually exploited and abused dozens of underage girls by enticing them to engage in sex acts with him in exchange for money. Epstein allegedly worked with several employees and associates to ensure that he had a steady supply of minor victims to  abuse, and paid several of those victims themselves to recruit other underage girls to engage in similar acts for money.  Epstein allegedly committed the offenses in locations including New  York, NY, and Palm Beach, FL. Epstein was arraigned in Manhattan federal court Monday afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Henry B. Pitman. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Richard M. Berman.  In 2008, Epstein avoided  major prison time for mostly the same charges in Florida when prosecutors arranged a secret plea deal. One of those prosecutors was Alex Acosta, who is now secretary of labor in the Trump administration. Epstein, 66, is charged with one count of sex trafficking of minors, which carries a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison, and one count of conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking of minors, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. 

“As alleged, Jeffrey Epstein abused underage girls for years, operating a scheme in which girls he victimized would recruit others for Epstein to to exploit and abuse. Epstein exploited girls who were vulnerable to abuse, enticed them with cash payments, and escalated his conduct to include sex acts, often occurring at his residence on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.”

-U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman

Credit: By Gary Raynaldo / Southern District of New York Federal courthouse in Manhattan where Epstein appeared Monday July 8,  2019, and pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking charges. 

Credit: By Gary Raynaldo /   Throng of media wait outside Manhattan Federal court July 8, 2019 as Epstein is appears before U.S. Magistrate Judge Henry B. Pitman. 

The FBI is encouraging anyone who may have been victimized by Epstein, or anyone who  may have information about his alleged criminal behavior to call the FBI.  According to media reports, Epstein was connected with people like Bill Clinton and with Donald Trump in the past.