Accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein reportedly found injured in jail cell
It is unclear whether the injuries are related to a suicide attempt, an attack by another inmate or a staged effort to obtain a transfer.
By Nate Nickolai | Variety
Multimillionaire businessman Jeffrey Epstein was found injured in his jail cell with marks on his neck, NBC News reported Wednesday night.
It is unclear whether the injuries are related to a suicide attempt, an attack by another inmate or a staged effort to obtain a transfer. However, according to sources who spoke to NBC News, Epstein is now on suicide watch. Variety has reached out to the Metropolitan Correction Center and Epstein’s lawyer for comment.
Epstein is currently being held in Manhattan’s Metropolitan Correctional Center while he awaits trial for conspiracy and sex trafficking. He stands accused of sexually abusing underage girls as young as 14 years old and collecting child pornography. Epstein has pled not guilty to the charges; however, if convicted, he faces up to 45 years in jail.
Previously Epstein was denied bail despite an offer to put up a $100 million bond and to undergo a high-tech monitoring system to ensure he didn’t leave the country. Prosecution argued that Epstein still had the means to escape, citing an expired Austrian passport with a pseudonym found by agents in a safe.
Before his arrest on July 6, Epstein was known for partying and traveling with a number of Hollywood stars and world leaders including President Donald Trump, former President Bill Clinton, Kevin Spacey, Chris Tucker, George Stephanopoulos, Chelsea Handler and Mick Jagger. His net worth is estimated at more than $500 million.
Epstein was also convicted in 2008 of soliciting an underage girl for prostitution, and entered a controversial plea deal in which he served roughly a year in custody. Although Epstein was required to register as a sex offender, hewas able to serve out much of his time in work release.
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