NEW YORK _ Ghislaine Maxwell, the British socialite accused of plying Jeffrey Epstein with underage sex trafficking victims, has been arrested in New Hampshire, a law enforcement source told the New York Daily News Thursday.
The 58-year-old faces four charges relating to enticement of minors to travel and engage in sex acts between 1994 and 1997. She is also accused of lying under oath about her involvement in Epstein's scheme. Her arrest in the small town of Bradford, N.H., comes just shy of one year after Epstein's arrest on July 6, 2019.
"Maxwell, the defendant, enticed and groomed multiple minor girls to engage in sex acts with Jeffrey Epstein, through a variety of means and methods," prosecutors wrote in an 18-page indictment.
Her alleged tactics included befriending the girls, normalizing the sexual abuse by undressing in front of them and initiating raunchy conversations and being present for some of Epstein's "massages" that routinely devolved into sexual abuse. Maxwell also sometimes participated in the abuse, prosecutors wrote.
Federal prosecutors in Manhattan vowed to continue an investigation into Epstein's circle of enablers after the sex offender hanged himself in a jail cell last year while awaiting trial for sex trafficking.
Maxwell was once Epstein's girlfriend and close confidante. He also paid her to manage his properties, prosecutors wrote. Maxwell allegedly helped groom and abuse Epstein victims at his properties in the Upper East Side, New Mexico and Palm Beach, Florida. Victims also endured abuse at Maxwell's home in London, according to the indictment.
Prosecutors also slapped Maxwell with one count of perjury in connection with a civil lawsuit an Epstein accuser filed against her.
Maxwell allegedly lied when she said she did not know whether Epstein possessed sex toys used in "sexual activities."
Maxwell's claim that "I wasn't aware that he was having sexual activities with anyone when I was with him other than myself" was also a lie, prosecutors said.
Another alleged lie: "I have not given anyone a massage."
Epstein's accusers have long said that Maxwell served as madam and chief enabler of Epstein's international sex trafficking scheme.
Maxwell has denied wrongdoing but fought to keep details of the allegations against her secret.
"Today, my fellow Epstein survivors and I are able to take a breath of relief, as Maxwell's arrest means some justice for survivors can exist," said Jennifer Araoz, who has sued Epstein's $630 million estate and Maxwell for sexual abuse she allegedly endured.
"For years, I feared Epstein and his ring. Maxwell was the center of that sex trafficking ring. Now that the ring has been taken down, I know that I can't be hurt anymore. Day after day, I have waited for the news that Maxwell would be arrested and held accountable for her actions. Her arrest is a step in that direction, and it truly means that the justice system didn't forget about us," Araoz said.
Maxwell must first appear in New Hampshire federal court before being transferred to Manhattan.
"This is a great day for justice. Our clients are very pleased and very grateful to the prosecutors that this important step has been taken towards bringing to justice Jeffrey Epstein's co-conspirators," said attorney David Boies, who represents some Epstein victims. "Jeffrey Epstein did not act alone, and could not have engaged in his sex trafficking system without the help and support of others. Ghislaine Maxwell's indictment for her perjury in our civil case against her should answer once and for all who is telling the truth. "
