Ghislaine Maxwell sentenced for aiding Epstein in sex trafficking

Ghislaine Maxwell has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for helping sex offender Jeffrey Epstein abuse teenage girls.

The British socialite was convicted in December for recruiting and grooming girls to have sexual encounters with her then boyfriend between 1994 and 2004.

Four women testified during the course of the trial that Maxwell was a central figure in their abuse by Epstein.

Prosecutors called Maxwell’s conduct “shockingly predatory” and had hoped for a 30-year sentence.

Nine News US Correspondent, Alison Piotrowski, said Judge Alison Nathan really “imposed one of the toughest sentences imaginable”.

“She actually went above and beyond sentencing guidelines,” she told Stephen Quartermain and Elise Elliott, filling in for Ross and Russel.

One of Maxwell’s lawyers, Bobbi Sternheim, says her client will appeal.

Press PLAY below to hear more about how the trial unfolded

Image: Sylvain Gaboury/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images