Case timeline
Major developments connecting the charged conduct and Jeffrey Epstein investigations to Maxwell's federal case, 2021 trial, verdict, sentence, and later review.
1994–2007
The federal charges tried in 2021 concerned Maxwell's alleged conduct with Jeffrey Epstein between 1994 and 2004. The six trial counts addressed conspiracy, enticement, transportation, and sex trafficking.
Palm Beach police investigated allegations concerning Epstein. Evidence from the 2005 search of his Palm Beach residence later appeared in Maxwell's trial, and the Florida investigation formed part of the record considered on appeal.
The U.S. Attorney's Office in South Florida entered a non-prosecution agreement with Epstein. Maxwell later argued that the agreement barred her prosecution in New York; the district court and Second Circuit rejected that argument.
2019–2021
Federal prosecutors in Manhattan charged Epstein with sex trafficking of minors and conspiracy, reopening a federal criminal case around conduct involving underage girls.
Federal prosecutors announced Maxwell's arrest and charged her with conspiracy, enticement, transportation, and perjury offenses arising from her alleged conduct with Epstein.
A superseding indictment added sex-trafficking conspiracy and substantive sex-trafficking charges. Those two counts joined four earlier conspiracy, enticement, and transportation counts at trial.
The court ordered the two perjury counts tried separately from the six offenses that proceeded to the November 2021 jury trial.
November–December 2021
A jury of 12 and six alternates was sworn in Manhattan. The prosecution described its theory of Maxwell's participation with Epstein; the defense argued that the government could not prove Maxwell's knowledge and intent beyond a reasonable doubt.
After ten trial days of testimony and evidence, the government rested. Judge Alison J. Nathan denied the defense motion for judgments of acquittal and set the schedule for the defense case.
Maxwell told the court she would not testify. The defense rested, the government declined rebuttal, and the court closed the evidentiary phase of the trial.
The prosecution and defense delivered closing arguments, the government gave rebuttal, and Judge Nathan instructed the jury before deliberations began.
The jury found Maxwell guilty on Counts One, Three, Four, Five, and Six and not guilty on Count Two. Each juror confirmed the verdict during an individual poll.
2022–2026
The district court sentenced Maxwell to 240 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release.
The Second Circuit affirmed Maxwell's conviction and sentence, rejecting her arguments concerning the non-prosecution agreement, statute of limitations, juror issues, and sentencing.
The Supreme Court denied Maxwell's petition for a writ of certiorari, leaving the Second Circuit's judgment in place.
The district court denied Maxwell's motion under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 challenging her conviction and sentence.