Notorious financier Jeffrey Epstein established his own law firm, J Epstein and Co, in the early 1980s.
Managing the assets of clients valued at over $1 billion, Epstein’s firm quickly became a success, leading to substantial wealth that he invested in properties across Florida, New Mexico, and New York. Over the years, Epstein cultivated associations with celebrities, prominent artists, and politicians.
In 2005, allegations surfaced when the parents of a 14-year-old girl reported to the police that Epstein had molested their daughter at his Palm Beach residence. A subsequent search of his home uncovered photos of girls throughout the premises. Despite these revelations, a deal was struck with prosecutors in 2008, enabling Epstein to evade federal charges that could have resulted in a life sentence. Instead, he received an 18-month prison term, during which he enjoyed “work release” to his office for 12 hours a day, six days a week.
The Miami Herald asserted that federal prosecutor Alexander Acosta brokered the plea agreement to conceal the full extent of Epstein’s crimes and halt an FBI investigation into potential additional victims. Although Acosta resigned amid the scandal, he claimed that his actions ensured Epstein served some time in prison.
Epstein, classified as a level three sex offender from 2008, indicating a high risk of reoffending, retained his properties and assets. However, he faced renewed legal troubles in 2019, with charges of sex trafficking, accused of operating an extensive network of underage girls for sexual exploitation.
Maintaining his innocence, Epstein pleaded not guilty while in custody at a Manhattan prison. Tragically, on August 10, 2019, he took his own life, preventing a trial on the sex trafficking charges from proceeding.
