2007 draft indictment accused Jeffrey Epstein of crimes against more than a dozen girls

A draft federal indictment prepared in 2007 accused Jeffrey Epstein of committing sex crimes against more than a dozen teenage girls over six years, the document, released Friday by the Justice Department, said. Epstein ultimately pleaded to a much lesser state charge, the report noted.

The 32-count, 56-page draft indictment laid out charges against Epstein and two employees for sex trafficking and enticement of minors but was never filed. Federal prosecutors shelved the document in 2008 after agreeing to let Epstein cut a deal with state prosecutors for solicitation of a minor for prostitution.

The draft described a “conspiracy to procure females under the age of 18” to go to Epstein’s Palm Beach house so he could “engage in lewd conduct with those minor females” in exchange for money, and said some victims were asked to recruit other minor females. Eleven of the victims attended the same school in Palm Beach County, the document said.

The indictment recounted a pattern dating to 2001: Epstein would call a girl, arrange for her to come to his house, lead her upstairs—often with two girls at a time—and pay them several hundred dollars afterward. One victim identified as Jane Doe #2 was first victimized in 2001 at age 14 and again at 15 and 16 and was asked to bring younger girls, the draft said.

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