Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Epstein Accused of Paying Off Suspected Co-Conspirators

Reuters

   WASHINGTON - Jeffrey Epstein, the financier charged with sexually
   abusing young girls in a case that led to the resignation of the U.S.
   labor secretary, was accused Friday of paying off possible
   co-conspirators to "influence" them, U.S. media reported.

   New York prosecutors said they had obtained financial records showing
   Epstein wired $350,000 to possible co-conspirators in his misdeeds,
   just days after reports broke of a secret plea deal he negotiated a
   decade ago, news reports said.

   "This course of action, and in particular its timing, suggests the
   defendant was attempting to further influence co-conspirators who might
   provide information against him in light of the recently re-emerging
   evaluations," prosecutors said in a filing arguing that Epstein should
   remain behind bars until trial.

   Prosecutors said the financier made two payments, one for $100,000 and
   another for $250,000, to a pair of suspected co-conspirators, who were
   not named.

   Charged with two counts

   Epstein, 66, was charged Monday in New York with one count of sex
   trafficking of minors and one count of conspiracy to commit sex
   trafficking of minors. He faces up to 45 years in prison if convicted.

   Prosecutors sought to demonstrate he had a history of trying to
   obstruct inquiries into his actions, in order to keep him in jail
   pending trial.

   According to prosecutors, Epstein sexually exploited dozens of underage
   teenage girls at his homes in Manhattan and Palm Beach, Florida,
   between 2002 and 2005. Some were as young as 14.

.