The court sentenced Gilaine Maxwell to 20 years in prison. She was found guilty of inducing girls to have sex with financier Jeffrey Epstein

A Manhattan federal court in New York sentenced 60-year-old Gilaine Maxwell, a former friend and assistant of financier Jeffrey Epstein, to 20 years in prison, Reuters reports.

In December 2021, a jury found Maxwell guilty on five of six charges, including sex trafficking of minors. The court found it proven that between 1994 and 2004, Maxwell recruited and groomed four girls for sex with Epstein. The two victims were 14 years old at the time.

Gilaine Maxwell, speaking at the hearing via video link, said Epstein was a "manipulative, cunning and controlling man" who fooled those around him. She said she was "sorry" for the pain his victims suffered. Judge Alison Nathan said Maxwell had shown no remorse and had not admitted her guilt.

Maxwell's defense insisted that she be sentenced to five years and four months in prison; the prosecution asked for 30 to 55 years in prison.

• American financier Jeffrey Epstein was accused of human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation. According to investigators, the businessman received sexual services from underage girls and “lent” them to influential people. He faced up to 45 years in prison. The billionaire did not admit guilt. Epstein was detained on July 7, 2019. A month later, on August 10, the businessman committed suicide in a prison cell in New York.
• American Virginia Giuffre claimed that at the age of 17, at Epstein’s request, she had sex with Prince Andrew, the second son of Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain. Amid the ensuing criticism, Prince Andrew lost his royal duties. Giuffre filed a civil lawsuit against the queen's son for sexual abuse, and in February 2022 the parties reached a pre-trial agreement.