Timeline of Epstein trafficking underage girls

1. Origins: Palm Beach complaint and the 2005 investigation

The modern legal record around Epstein’s trafficking begins with a March 2005 complaint from the parents of a 14‑year‑old in Palm Beach that prompted a police investigation into years of alleged sexual abuse at his Florida home, where investigators found photographs and multiple accusers emerged describing payment for massages and grooming of minors ^{[1] [8] [9]}.

2. The 2008 Florida plea deal and its long shadow

Epstein avoided federal prosecution in 2008 under a controversial non‑prosecution agreement reached by prosecutors in Florida, a deal that resulted in a state conviction for procuring prostitution from a minor and later became a focal point of criticism and renewed scrutiny when journalists and victims pressed for further accountability ^{[2] [8]}.

3. Alleged pattern of abuse, recruiters, and evidence cited in later indictments

Federal prosecutors later described a scheme in which Epstein used recruiters—sometimes victims themselves—to supply “dozens” of underage girls for sexual encounters at his homes, and searches of his properties produced extensive sexually suggestive photographs and records that investigators said included images of minors ^{[3] [10]}.

4. The 2019 arrest, indictment and immediate aftermath

Epstein was arrested in July 2019 on Manhattan federal charges alleging sex trafficking and conspiracy to traffic minors, with the indictment alleging that between 2002 and 2005 he sexually exploited and abused dozens of underage girls in New York and Palm Beach by enticing them with money for sex acts ^{[3] [10]}.

5. Death in custody and the unresolved criminal trial

Epstein died in his Manhattan jail cell on August 10, 2019 while awaiting trial, a fact that ended the criminal prosecution but intensified public demands for release of documents and accountability for any co‑conspirators—a push that has produced continued litigation, document releases, and reporting ^{[8] [11] [5]}.

6. Prosecution of Ghislaine Maxwell and later judicial developments

Ghislaine Maxwell was charged in July 2020 with recruiting and grooming underage girls for Epstein and was convicted in December 2021 on multiple charges including sex trafficking and transportation of a minor for illegal sexual activity; her conviction and later sentencing represented the most significant criminal accountability tied to Epstein’s network after his death ^{[4] [8]}.

7. Ongoing revelations, documents and questions about third‑party trafficking

Documents released by the Department of Justice and through media reporting in subsequent years—including analyses by NPR and disclosures discussed by The Guardian—have suggested broader allegations that Epstein may have trafficked girls to other men and implicated associates such as Jean‑Luc Brunel, though many such allegations remain under investigation or in civil litigation rather than resolved criminal charges ^{[6] [7]}.

8. What the record reliably establishes — and its limits

Court filings and the SDNY indictment establish that Epstein exploited and paid underage girls in New York and Florida, with alleged misconduct concentrated in the early 2000s and victims recruited by intermediaries; beyond those core charges, reporting and newly released files have introduced additional allegations and leads but have not uniformly produced criminal convictions of all implicated parties, and some assertions remain the subject of ongoing review or civil claims ^{[3] [2] [7]}.