Mystery of Ghislaine’s millions
On trail of riches of paedo’s pal as she swaps Prada for suicide-proof paper clothes in jail
She’d slithered away, continuing a life of privilege while victims live with the trauma BILL SWEENEY FBI’S ASSISTANT DIRECTOR IN CHARGE ON GHISLAINE
WELCOMED into her new home with a humiliating cavity search, Ghislaine Maxwell was handed a barely there mattress, pillow and blanket.
For four days following her arrest on suspicion of child sex crimes, the British socialite had no sleep till arriving in Brooklyn’s notorious Metropolitan Detention Centre, warders said.
Gone were her Louboutin shoes and Prada dresses, replaced by suicide-proof paper clothes and prison-issue slippers.
The grim jail is where she is set to be held until appearing in court on Tuesday over her alleged role in paedophile Jeffrey Epstein’s sick world of depravity.
The 58-year-old had lived the millionaire lifestyle she had been born into as the youngest daughter of corrupt media mogul Robert Maxwell.
But her world, as well as the front door to her £860,000 New Hampshire hideaway, came crashing down when the FBI managed to apprehend her after a year-long hunt.
Following her arrest, the bureau’s assistant director in charge, Bill Sweeney, described Ghislaine as “one of the villains” among Epstein’s circle.
He said: “We’ve been discreetly keeping tabs on Maxwell’s whereabouts.
“We learned she’d slithered away to a gorgeous property in New Hampshire, continuing to live a life of privilege while her victims live with the trauma inflicted upon them years ago.”
Prosecutors found links to 15 bank accounts for her, with a balance of more than £16million. Several were held in foreign countries.
Ghislaine, they claim, moved large amounts of cash last year, including £240,000 in the same month her ex-boyfriend Epstein was indicted on sex trafficking charges.
Speculation remains rife over how she acquired so much money, given her lack of work or known paid roles, with many believing the financier paid to keep her close.
Even after their relationship ended she helped manage his homes, facilitate his relationships and recruit masseuses.
If found guilty, it would see one of the most dramatic falls from grace.
Even before her involvement with Epstein, Maxwell was well known following the death of her father.
When the Press baron fell off his yacht near the Canary Islands in November 1991, leaving a £460million hole in the pension funds of his companies, including the Daily Record’s parent group, speculation swirled.
Questions remain whether it was suicide or murder but as his body was pulled from the Atlantic, his daughter, who he named his boat the Lady Ghislaine after, was waiting dockside.
Overnight, the Czech immigrant, who had escaped the Nazis and even served as a member of parliament, left his family legacy and name in ruins.
As the favourite of his nine children, Ghislaine – pronounced ghee-lane – refused to believe he took his own life. She was left with only a £100,000-a-year trust fund.
Brought up in Headington Hill Hall east of Oxford, said by her father to be “the best council house in the country” after renting it for £2400 a year from the council, she had a private education before going to Oxford University. She moved to London in the mid-80s.
During her 20s, she was named director of her dad’s Oxford United football club and founded the Kit Kat Club for Women, which aimed to support working women.
She bought a £2million mews property in South Kensington where during the 90s US prosecutors say she abused one of three girls she is accused of grooming.
Her indictment says: “Maxwell groomed and befriended Minor Victim
3 in London between approximately 1994 and 1995.
“Maxwell introduced Minor Victim 3 to Epstein, and during those interactions, Maxwell encouraged Minor Victim 3 to massage Epstein, knowing Epstein would engage in sex acts with Minor Victim 3. During those massages, Epstein sexually abused Minor Victim 3.”
She moved to New York in January 1991 before going on to sell the Kensington property and buy another London mews in which the Duke of York was pictured with Epstein “sex slave” Virginia Giuffre.
It was in the house the now 36-year-old claims she was forced to sleep with Andrew when she was a teenager, a claim which he and his legal team vehemently deny.
After her father bought the New York Daily News, she settled on Manhattan’s Upper East Side as his envoy, while working in property.
It led to her meeting socially awkward but highly intelligent Epstein. The friendship developed into romance. With Epstein, she was able to resurrect the lifestyle lost after her father’s death.
She flew on his jets, treated his mansions in New York, New Mexico, Florida and the Caribbean as her own, and landed a Manhattan townhouse.
Ghislaine legitimised Epstein by appearing as his age-appropriate arm candy while she was allegedly nothing more than a “madam” procuring young girls for him to abuse.
Her social circle encompassed Prince Andrew, wealthy Americans and the Clinton family. It included
Donald Trump, who shared a friendship with her father dating to the 80s. Anyone who was Ghislaine’s friend became Epstein’s. But suspicions began that she was also providing him with girls. One source described her as the “jet-set equivalent of grass, gas or ass,” comparing how hitchhikers could repay drivers for a lift.
Documents released after her arrest show that between 2007 and 2011, Epstein transferred almost £16million into her accounts.
The money was often returned suggesting some sort of scheme to keep the cash undisclosed.
Following numerous allegations against her and Epstein’s suicide last August, she flitted between New England, Colorado, Wyoming and then her New Hampshire estate, called “Tuckedaway”.
Prosecutors have accused her of recruiting girls as young as 14 for Epstein from 1994 to 1997. She faces up to 35 years in prison if convicted.
Maxwell yesterday denied the charges and said she deserves bail.
A filing at the US District Court in Manhattan said she “vigorously denies the charges... and is entitled to the presumption of innocence”.
As she awaits her fate, and as alleged victims line up to sue for her £20million fortune, in place of her palatial homes is a 10ft by 12ft cell she shares with another woman.
“You go from living a life like Maxwell to all of a sudden being strip-searched and having people look into your body cavities,” said former warden Cameron Lindsay.
“That is a crushing experience.”
She encouraged Minor Victim 3 to massage Epstein, knowing he would engage in sex acts
MAXWELL INDICTMENT SOME OF THE CHARGES SHE FACES AFTER HER ARREST