Who Is Jeffrey Epstein? Background, Case Timeline & Key Facts

Who Was Jeffrey Epstein?

Jeffrey Edward Epstein (January 20, 1953 -- August 10, 2019) was an American financier who was charged with sex trafficking of minors by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York (SDNY) in July 2019, according to the DOJ press release. He had previously pleaded guilty to state charges in Florida in 2008 under a controversial plea agreement.

Epstein died in federal custody on August 10, 2019. The New York City medical examiner ruled the death a suicide by hanging, according to reporting by the New York Times.

Early Background

According to biographical reporting by the Associated Press, the New York Times, and the BBC:

• Epstein was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1953
• He briefly attended Cooper Union and New York University but did not complete a degree, according to reporting by the New York Times
• He taught mathematics and physics at the Dalton School in Manhattan in the mid-1970s
• He entered the financial industry, working at Bear Stearns before starting his own firm, J. Epstein & Co.

Financial Career

Epstein described himself as a financial advisor who managed money exclusively for billionaires, according to contemporaneous media profiles. His primary known client was Les Wexner, founder of L Brands (parent company of Victoria's Secret and Bath & Body Works), according to the New York Times.

The true source and full extent of Epstein's wealth remains one of the major unresolved questions of the case. Financial records reviewed during various legal proceedings have not fully explained his reported net worth, according to reporting by the Associated Press.

The Criminal Case

The Palm Beach Investigation (2005-2006)

The criminal investigation into Epstein began in 2005, when the Palm Beach Police Department received a complaint from the parent of a 14-year-old girl, according to the Miami Herald's "Perversion of Justice" investigation. The police investigation identified multiple alleged victims.

The 2007 Plea Deal

Despite the Palm Beach police recommending charges, then-U.S. Attorney Alexander Acosta's office negotiated a Non-Prosecution Agreement (NPA) that allowed Epstein to plead guilty to two state charges of solicitation of prostitution, according to court records. See our DOJ Epstein Files page for details on this controversial agreement.

Key terms of the plea deal, according to court filings:

• Epstein pleaded guilty to state rather than federal charges
• He received an 18-month county jail sentence with work-release privileges
• Unnamed co-conspirators were granted immunity
• A federal judge later ruled the NPA violated the Crime Victims' Rights Act

The 2019 Federal Indictment

On July 6, 2019, Epstein was arrested at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey and charged by the SDNY with sex trafficking of minors and conspiracy, according to the DOJ press release. The indictment (Case No. 19-cr-00490) alleged that Epstein had trafficked dozens of minor girls at his residences in New York and Palm Beach between at least 2002 and 2005.

Death in Custody

Epstein was found dead in his cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) in Manhattan on August 10, 2019, according to the Bureau of Prisons. The New York City medical examiner ruled the death a suicide by hanging.

The circumstances of his death drew intense scrutiny, as reported by multiple outlets:

• Epstein had reportedly been taken off suicide watch despite a previous apparent attempt
• Two guards assigned to monitor him were later charged with falsifying prison records, according to DOJ records
• Security cameras near his cell reportedly malfunctioned
• The DOJ's Inspector General investigated the failures at the MCC

The Maxwell Trial

Following Epstein's death, federal prosecutors pursued charges against Ghislaine Maxwell, described as Epstein's key co-conspirator. According to DOJ press releases:

• Maxwell was arrested in July 2020
• She was convicted by a federal jury in December 2021 on charges including sex trafficking conspiracy
• She was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison in June 2022

What We Know

Based on court records, DOJ press releases, and verified reporting:

• Epstein was a financier whose full wealth sources remain unexplained
• He was convicted on state charges in 2008 under a plea deal later found to have violated victims' rights
• He was federally indicted in 2019 on sex trafficking charges involving dozens of identified minor victims
• He died in federal custody in circumstances that remain the subject of public scrutiny
• His associate Ghislaine Maxwell was convicted and sentenced to 20 years
• Extensive documents from civil and criminal proceedings have been released, with more expected

What We Don't Know

Despite extensive legal proceedings and media coverage, significant questions remain unanswered:

• The full source of Epstein's wealth and the nature of his financial operations
• The complete scope of his criminal activity and the full number of victims
• Whether additional individuals will face prosecution for involvement in his criminal enterprise
• The full explanation for the security failures at the MCC that preceded his death
• The extent to which institutions (financial, academic, political) enabled or ignored his conduct
• The complete contents of investigative files that remain sealed or classified

Key Connections

Epstein's case connects to numerous individuals and institutions. For documented details on specific connections, see:

• Trump and Epstein — Documented relationship and court record references
• Prince Andrew and Epstein — Civil lawsuit and settlement
• Epstein Island — His U.S. Virgin Islands properties
• The Epstein List — What names in documents actually mean
• The Epstein Files — Complete guide to released documents

Primary Sources

1. DOJ Press Release: Epstein Charged, July 2019 -- justice.gov
2. Federal indictment, U.S. v. Epstein, SDNY -- justice.gov
3. Miami Herald, "Perversion of Justice" -- miamiherald.com
4. New York Times, Epstein death reporting -- nytimes.com
5. DOJ Press Release: Maxwell Sentenced -- justice.gov
6. Associated Press, Epstein biographical reporting -- apnews.com
7. BBC News, Epstein key questions -- bbc.com
8. Bureau of Prisons records -- bop.gov

---

Explore the full case timeline, browse all released documents in the document library, or read the latest news and analysis.