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NEWS DECEMBER 7, 2020 ¦ 15

Could Jeffrey Epstein’s Alleged
Co-Conspirators Be Prosecuted?

By Raychel Lean

Courtney Wild, left, and Michelle Licata, center, alleged victims of Jeffrey Epstein, exit federal court in New York,

U.S., on Monday, July 8, 2019. Epstein used his wealth and power to sexually abuse dozens of young girls for

years at one of the biggest mansions in Manhattan, paying them hundreds of dollars in cash for each encounter

Tand hundreds more if they brought in more victims, U.S. prosecutors said. Photo: Louis Lanzano/Bloomberg.
he entire U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh But victims weren’t informed beforehand.
Circuit heard an appeal Thursday morning that Wild’s appeal centers on the Crime Victims’ Rights
could result in the prosecution of sex offender Act of 2004, which gives victims the reasonable right
Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged co-conspirators. to confer with prosecutors and be treated fairly. The
The court is poised to rule on a 12-year-old law- Eleventh Circuit must decide whether victims have
suit from Courtney Wild, who was sexually abused any rights before an indictment is filed.
by Epstein from the age of 14, and who seeks to walk Wild’s attorney Paul Cassell argued the plea deal
back a now-infamous nonprosecution agreement should be scrapped, while government counsel Jill
that then-South Florida U.S. Attorney Alex Acosta Steinberg insisted nothing was legally amiss, al-
reached with the Palm Beach financier. though prosecutors should have communicated
The deal allowed Epstein to dodge federal charges better.
by pleading guilty to two state prostitution charges, Epstein died in jail awaiting a sex trafficking trial
and granted full federal immunity to four named in New York. And if Wild wins, prosecutors would
conspirators and all other conspirators linked to still have discretion over whether to indict anyone.
about 30 crimes in the Southern District of Florida.
¦ Continued on PAGE 16

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