Ghislaine Maxwell: Seven women write to judge ahead of sex trafficker's sentencing
Seven women have written to Ghislaine Maxwell's sentencing judge asking her to consider their pain as she prepares to decide how long the disgraced socialite will serve behind bars.
The accusers' statements were made public on Friday by Manhattan prosecutors, who have asked the judge to sentence Maxwell to 30 to 55 years in prison for her "monstrous" crimes.
The 60-year-old was found guilty of recruiting underage girls to be sexually abused by Jeffrey Epstein in December last year.
She was accused of recruiting and grooming four teenagers for Epstein to molest in massage rooms between 1994 and 2004.
Four women testified at Maxwell's month-long trial, where they described sexual attacks on teenage girls by Epstein and Maxwell at Epstein's mansions and estates in Manhattan, New Mexico, Florida and the Virgin Islands.
One of those women was Annie Farmer.
In her statement, she wrote that Maxwell's lack of remorse and repeated lies forced "a long fight for justice that has felt like a black hole sucking in out precious time, energy and wellbeing".
Calling Maxwell "dangerous and devious", Ms Farmer's sister Maria Farmer said her intersection with the British socialite and sexual assault by Epstein during a trip to Ohio cost her a promising career as an artist and leaves her still feeling unsafe outside.
She added that she believes that Maxwell will harm her "if she ever has a way".
'You deserve to spend the rest of your life in a jail cell'
Another woman, Virginia Giuffre, who won a settlement from Prince Andrew after accusing him in a civil lawsuit of sexual assault more than two decades ago, also filed a statement.
She said Maxwell "opened the door to hell" and deserves to be "trapped" just like her victims.
"Ghislaine, like a wolf in sheep's clothing, you used your femininity to betray us, and you led us all through it," she wrote.
"You could have put an end to the rapes, the molestations, the sickening manipulations that you arranged, witnessed and even took part in.
"You could've called the authorities and reported that you were a part of something awful.... Ghislaine, you deserve to spend the rest of your life in a jail cell. You deserve to be trapped in a cage forever, just like you trapped your victims."
Victim considered jumping into shark-infested waters
Also included in the statements were nine graphic pictures of Sarah Ransome after she was taken to hospital following two suicide attempts.
She blames the attempts on the trauma from spending time as a "sex toy" for Epstein and Maxwell, adding that she was left so distressed that she once considered jumping from a cliff into shark-infested waters off the billionaire's estate.
Ms Ransome said she was stopped from taking the plunge by "Maxwell and company" but that at the time, the "extremely risky escape seemed more appealing than being raped one more time".
In another statement, a former British model known as "Kate" spoke of the "silent screams" inside the minds of girls who were not yet adults.
Defence lawyer Bobbi Sternheim included the victim statements in a submission to the judge on Friday after the defence asked for a sentence of no more than five years.
However, she heavily redacted portions and asked the judge to disregard some entirely because they were not directly a part of the case that resulted in Maxwell's conviction.
Prosecutors said no redactions were required or necessary because any privacy interests belonged to the victims and none asked for their statements to be sealed.
Maxwell is due to be sentenced on 28 June.
