HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_013416.jpg

Local News: West Palm Beach, Palm Beach County, Martin & St. Lucie Counties | The Palm Beach Post 4/6/11 1:38 PM | . eee NEXT GENERATION PENNZOIL® : CLEANS OUT UP TO 40% OF SLUDGE IN THE 1ST OIL CHANGE* “Based on a severe sludge clean-up test using SAE 54-30. Subscribe Now Renew Local News Greater Palm Beaches and Treasure Coast Palm Beach sex offender's secret plea deal: Possible co-conspirators not charged, presses victims to settle civil suits By SUSAN SPENCER-WENDEL Palm Beach Post Staff Writer Friday, September 18, 2009 WEST PALM BEACH — Billionaire financier sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's secret non-prosecution agreement he struck with federal prosecutors was unsealed Friday, offering the first public look at the deal Epstein's high-powered legal counsel brokered on his behalf. According the agreement, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Attorney's Office investigated Epstein for various federal crimes, including prostitution, some punishable by a minimum of 10 years up to life in prison But federal prosecutors backed down and agreed to recall grand jury subpoeanas, if Epstein pleaded guilty to prostitution-related felonies in state court, which he ultimately did. He received an 18-month jail sentence, of which he served 13. A former federal prosecutor of 15 years, Mark Johnson of Stuart, said the disparity in the potential sentences was unusual. The United States Attorney's Office also agreed not to charge any of Epstein's possible co-conspirators - Sarah Kellen, Adriana Ross, Lesley Groff and Nadia Marcinkova. The agreement was negotiated in part by New York heavyweight criminal defense attorney Gerald Lefcourt. On its first draft in September 2007, it required that Epstein pay an attorney - tapped by the U.S. Attorney's Office and approved by Epstein - to represent some of the victims in civil suits they had filed against Epstein. That attorney is prominent Miami lawyer Bob Josefsberg. Former prosecutor Johnson said he has never seen a provision like that before. But an addendum to the agreement signed the following month struck Epstein's duty to pay Josefsberg if he and the victims did not accept a settlement and instead pursued litigation. The agreement, signed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Villafana, does not expressly state whether any victims were contacted or consulted before the deal was made. Attorney Brad Edwards of Fort Lauderdale, who represents three of the young women, believes that none of the between 30 and 40 woman identified as victims in the federal investigation were told of the deal. Edwards said his clients were still receiving letters in the mail months afterwards saying the U.S. Attorney's Office assuring them Epstein would be prosecuted. "Never consulting the victims is probably the most outrageous aspect of it..." Edwards said. "It taught them that someone with money can buy his way out of anything. It's outrageous and embarrassing for United States Attorney's Office and the State Attorneys Office.” Epstein now faces many civil lawsuits filed by the women, who are represented by a variety attorneys. In many, the facts alleged are the same: that Epstein had a predilection for teenage girls, identified poor, vulnerable ones and lured them to his home via other young women. The teens describe ascending a staircase lined with nude photographs of young girls and to the spa room where Epstein would appear in a small towel. Former Circuit Judge Bill Berger, who represents one of the victims, and The Palm Beach Post sought the unsealing of the agreement. Berger refers to it as a "sweetheart deal.” "Why was it so important for the government to make this deal?" Berger asked rhetorically. "We have not yet had honest explanation by any public official as to why it was made .. and why the victim's were sold down the river.” Former federal prosecutor Ryon McCabe described the agreement as "very unorthodox." Such agreements, he said, are usually reserved for corporations, not individuals. http://www.palmbeachpost.com/ pbcwest/content/local_news/epaper/2009/09/18/0918epstein.html ® Site O Web Web Search by YAHOO! Obama Launches Mortgage Relief Plan Ifyou owe less than $729,000 on your _ mortgage, you probably qualify forthe _ President's Making Home Affordable Program. With rates lower than they've ever been, there has never been a better time to refinance. If you are a homeowner and you haven't looked into refinancing recently, you may be surprised at how much you can save. Select Your Age: : Calculate New House Payment COLUMNISTS AND BLOGGERS FRANK CERABINO qj Read Frank's latest columns and follow him on Twitter. Read more HOT CELEBRITY NEWS Get the latest on South Florida celebrities, billionaires, politicos, more. Page2Live GEORGE BENNETT Read Post politics columnist George Bennett's latest articles. Read more MOST POPULAR HEADLINES COMMENTS Fatal shooting in Delray Beach draws crowd of 100 onlookers Lake Worth mayor says The Cottage complaints use ‘gay card' against city manager West Palm Beach mayor: Firefighter layoffs likely Narcy Novack charged in 2009 Fort Lauderdale killing of her mother-in-law Boynton Police warn of new twist on ATM identity fraud |__| FOLLOW THE POST ON TWITTER -_ f txt | SIGN UP FOR MOBILE TEXT ALERTS a The Palm Beach Post on Facebook Like 16,985 people like The Palm Beach Post. Page 1 of 3 HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_013416