On December 29, British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell was convicted for her involvement in Jeffrey Epstein’s sex abuse ring. 

During the trial, multiple women gave eyewitness accounts of the abuse they experienced, and how Maxwell was involved. Maxwell was reportedly responsible for recruiting young girls to be abused by Epstein and others, and was formally accused of grooming four teenage girls as young as 14. 

These four women, now adults, testified, three of them using pseudonyms to protect their identities and maintain privacy. According to the Associated Press, all of their testimonies on Maxwell’s involvement echoed each other. She reportedly gained their trust through gifts and showing interest in the problems they faced as adolescents. In the end, she always assured them that Epstein would use his power to make their dreams come true. 

Maxwell’s attorneys attempted to create doubt in the jury pool as to the womens’ credibility. They were questioned as to why it took them so long to come forward, and were asked if they were motivated by money, as the women did receive money from a compensation fund for Epstein’s victims. 

“I was scared, I was embarrassed, ashamed. I didn’t want anybody to know any of this about me.” said Jane, one of the victims. 

Maxwell was found guilty on five of six charges, including sex trafficking, and faces up to 65 years in prison. Maxwell, 60, plans to appeal. 

“Ghislaine Maxwell made her own choices. She committed crimes hand in hand with Jeffrey Epstein. She was a grown woman who knew exactly what she was doing,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Alison Moe said.