A comprehensive compilation of federal (and select state) criminal statutes that could apply to conduct associated with Jeffrey Epstein, his co-conspirators, and correspondents.
A. Core Trafficking Statutes (18 U.S.C. Chapter 77)
| Statute | Description | Link |
|---|
| 18 U.S.C. § 1591 | Sex trafficking of children or by force, fraud, or coercion. The primary statute under which Epstein was indicted in 2019. Makes it a federal crime to recruit, entice, harbor, transport, provide, obtain, or maintain a minor for commercial sex acts. No proof of force/fraud/coercion needed when victim is a minor. Penalty: 15 years to life (victim under 14 or force used); 10 years to life (victim 14–17). | law.cornell.edu |
| 18 U.S.C. § 1591(d) | Obstruction of enforcement of § 1591. Up to 20 years imprisonment. | law.cornell.edu |
| 18 U.S.C. § 1592 | Unlawful conduct with respect to documents in furtherance of trafficking. | law.cornell.edu |
| 18 U.S.C. § 1593 | Mandatory restitution for trafficking victims. | law.cornell.edu |
| 18 U.S.C. § 1594 | General provisions for Chapter 77 — includes attempt and conspiracy to violate § 1591. | law.cornell.edu |
| 18 U.S.C. § 1595 | Civil remedy for trafficking victims (allows private suits against traffickers and those who knowingly benefited). | law.cornell.edu |
B. Mann Act — Transportation for Illegal Sexual Activity (18 U.S.C. Chapter 117)
| Statute | Description | Link |
|---|
| 18 U.S.C. § 2421 | Transportation generally — criminalizes knowingly transporting any individual in interstate or foreign commerce with intent that they engage in prostitution or criminal sexual activity. Up to 10 years. | law.cornell.edu |
| 18 U.S.C. § 2421A | Promotion or facilitation of prostitution and reckless disregard of sex trafficking. | law.cornell.edu |
| 18 U.S.C. § 2422(a) | Coercion and enticement — persuading, inducing, or enticing any individual to travel in interstate commerce for prostitution or unlawful sexual activity. Up to 20 years. | law.cornell.edu |
| 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b) | Using interstate communications to coerce or entice a minor to engage in prostitution or unlawful sexual activity. 10 years to life. | law.cornell.edu |
| 18 U.S.C. § 2423(a) | Transportation of minors — knowingly transporting a minor in interstate or foreign commerce for prostitution or unlawful sexual purposes. 10 years to life. | law.cornell.edu |
| 18 U.S.C. § 2423(b) | Travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor. Up to 30 years. | law.cornell.edu |
| 18 U.S.C. § 2423(c) | Engaging in illicit sexual conduct in foreign places (applies to U.S. citizens and permanent residents). Up to 30 years. | law.cornell.edu |
| 18 U.S.C. § 2423(d) | Arranging, inducing, or facilitating the travel described above for commercial advantage. Up to 30 years. | law.cornell.edu |
| 18 U.S.C. § 2425 | Use of interstate facilities to transmit information about a minor for criminal sexual purposes. | law.cornell.edu |
II. Sexual Abuse Offenses (18 U.S.C. Chapter 109A)#
These apply within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States (which includes the U.S. Virgin Islands — where Epstein's island was located — as well as aircraft in flight).
| Statute | Description | Link |
|---|
| 18 U.S.C. § 2241 | Aggravated sexual abuse — sexual acts by force, threat, or rendering unconscious/drugging. Any term of years or life. | law.cornell.edu |
| 18 U.S.C. § 2241(c) | Aggravated sexual abuse of a child under 12, or under 16 if offender is 4+ years older. Mandatory 30 years to life. | law.cornell.edu |
| 18 U.S.C. § 2242 | Sexual abuse — sexual acts through threats or when victim is incapable of appraising conduct. Any term of years or life. | law.cornell.edu |
| 18 U.S.C. § 2243 | Sexual abuse of a minor or ward — sexual act with a person aged 12–15 by a person at least 4 years older, or with a ward. Up to 15 years (minor) / up to 1 year (ward). | law.cornell.edu |
| 18 U.S.C. § 2244 | Abusive sexual contact — sexual contact (touching) under circumstances that would violate §§ 2241–2243 if a sexual act. Penalties vary by underlying offense. | law.cornell.edu |
| 18 U.S.C. § 2245 | Sexual abuse offenses resulting in death. Death penalty or any term of years to life. | law.cornell.edu |
III. Child Sexual Exploitation and Child Pornography (18 U.S.C. Chapter 110)#
| Statute | Description | Link |
|---|
| 18 U.S.C. § 2251 | Sexual exploitation of children — using, persuading, inducing, enticing, or coercing a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for producing visual depictions. 15–30 years (first offense). | law.cornell.edu |
| 18 U.S.C. § 2251A | Selling or buying of children — transferring custody/control of a minor for sexual exploitation. 30 years to life. | law.cornell.edu |
| 18 U.S.C. § 2252 | Certain activities relating to material involving the sexual exploitation of minors (transporting, receiving, distributing, possessing CSAM). 5–20 years (distribution/receipt); up to 10 years (possession). | law.cornell.edu |
| 18 U.S.C. § 2252A | Certain activities relating to material constituting or containing child pornography. Similar penalties to § 2252. | law.cornell.edu |
| 18 U.S.C. § 2260 | Production of sexually explicit depictions of a minor for importation into the United States. | law.cornell.edu |
IV. Conspiracy and Enterprise Crimes#
| Statute | Description | Link |
|---|
| 18 U.S.C. § 371 | General conspiracy — agreement of two or more persons to commit any federal offense or to defraud the United States. Up to 5 years (or penalty of underlying offense if greater). | law.cornell.edu |
| 18 U.S.C. § 1962(c) | RICO — conducting the affairs of an enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity. Up to 20 years (or life if predicate carries life). Plus forfeiture. | law.cornell.edu |
| 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) | RICO conspiracy — conspiring to violate § 1962. Same penalties. No overt act required. | law.cornell.edu |
| 18 U.S.C. § 1961 | RICO definitions — defines "racketeering activity" to include sex trafficking (§ 1591), witness tampering (§ 1512), money laundering (§§ 1956–1957), mail/wire fraud (§§ 1341, 1343), bribery (§ 201), and many others. | law.cornell.edu |
| 18 U.S.C. § 2 | Principals — aiding and abetting. Anyone who aids, abets, commands, induces, or procures the commission of an offense is punishable as a principal. | law.cornell.edu |
| 18 U.S.C. § 3 | Accessory after the fact — knowingly assisting an offender to avoid apprehension or punishment. Up to half the penalty of the underlying offense (max 15 years if underlying offense carries life/death). | law.cornell.edu |
V. Obstruction, Witness Tampering, and Perjury#
| Statute | Description | Link |
|---|
| 18 U.S.C. § 1503 | Obstruction of justice — influencing, obstructing, or impeding the due administration of justice in pending federal judicial proceedings. Up to 10 years. | law.cornell.edu |
| 18 U.S.C. § 1505 | Obstruction of proceedings before departments, agencies, and committees — covers congressional and administrative proceedings. Up to 5 years (8 years if terrorism-related). | law.cornell.edu |
| 18 U.S.C. § 1510 | Obstruction of criminal investigations — bribery or other corrupt means to obstruct an investigation. Up to 5 years. | law.cornell.edu |
| 18 U.S.C. § 1512(a) | Witness tampering by violence — killing or attempting to kill a witness, victim, or informant. Death penalty or up to life (murder); up to 30 years (attempt). | law.cornell.edu |
| 18 U.S.C. § 1512(b) | Witness tampering by intimidation, threats, persuasion, or deception — corruptly persuading or intimidating a person to withhold testimony, alter/destroy evidence, or evade legal process. Up to 20 years (altering/destroying); up to 10 years (other). | law.cornell.edu |
| 18 U.S.C. § 1512(c) | Corruptly altering, destroying, or concealing a record or document with intent to impair its integrity for use in an official proceeding. Up to 20 years. | law.cornell.edu |
| 18 U.S.C. § 1512(d) | Witness harassment — intentionally harassing another person to hinder, delay, or prevent communication of information to law enforcement. Up to 3 years. | law.cornell.edu |
| 18 U.S.C. § 1513 | Retaliating against a witness, victim, or informant. Up to 10 years (non-violent); up to 30 years (bodily injury). | law.cornell.edu |
| 18 U.S.C. § 1519 | Destruction, alteration, or falsification of records in federal investigations. Up to 20 years. | law.cornell.edu |
| 18 U.S.C. § 1621 | Perjury generally — willfully making a materially false statement under oath in a federal proceeding. Up to 5 years. | law.cornell.edu |
| 18 U.S.C. § 1622 | Subornation of perjury — procuring another to commit perjury. Up to 5 years. | law.cornell.edu |
| 18 U.S.C. § 1623 | False declarations before a grand jury or court. Up to 5 years. | law.cornell.edu |
| 18 U.S.C. § 1001 | False statements — materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statements to any branch of the federal government. Up to 5 years (8 years if terrorism-related). | law.cornell.edu |
VI. Misprision and Concealment#
| Statute | Description | Link |
|---|
| 18 U.S.C. § 4 | Misprision of felony — having knowledge of a federal felony, failing to report it, AND taking affirmative steps to conceal it. Up to 3 years. | law.cornell.edu |
VII. Financial Crimes#
| Statute | Description | Link |
|---|
| 18 U.S.C. § 1956 | Money laundering — conducting financial transactions involving proceeds of "specified unlawful activity" (which includes sex trafficking) to promote further offenses or to conceal/disguise the proceeds. Up to 20 years. | law.cornell.edu |
| 18 U.S.C. § 1957 | Engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity (transactions over $10,000). Up to 10 years. | law.cornell.edu |
| 18 U.S.C. § 1341 | Mail fraud — use of the mails in furtherance of a scheme to defraud. Up to 20 years. | law.cornell.edu |
| 18 U.S.C. § 1343 | Wire fraud — use of wire communications in furtherance of a scheme to defraud. Up to 20 years. | law.cornell.edu |
| 31 U.S.C. § 5324 | Structuring financial transactions — structuring deposits or withdrawals to evade the $10,000 currency transaction reporting requirement. Up to 5 years (10 years if related to other criminal activity). | law.cornell.edu |
| 31 U.S.C. § 5322 | Penalties for violations of the Bank Secrecy Act — failure to file Currency Transaction Reports. | law.cornell.edu |
| 26 U.S.C. § 7201 | Tax evasion — willfully attempting to evade or defeat any tax imposed by the Internal Revenue Code. Up to 5 years plus fine up to $250,000. | law.cornell.edu |
| 26 U.S.C. § 7206 | Fraud and false statements on tax returns. Up to 3 years. | law.cornell.edu |
VIII. Bribery and Corruption#
| Statute | Description | Link |
|---|
| 18 U.S.C. § 201 | Bribery of public officials and witnesses — giving, offering, or promising anything of value to a public official to influence official acts. Up to 15 years. | law.cornell.edu |
| 18 U.S.C. § 666 | Theft or bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds. Up to 10 years. | law.cornell.edu |
| 18 U.S.C. § 241 | Conspiracy against rights — two or more persons conspiring to injure, threaten, or intimidate any person in the exercise of constitutional or federal rights. Up to 10 years (life if death results). | law.cornell.edu |
| 18 U.S.C. § 242 | Deprivation of rights under color of law — willfully depriving any person of rights under the Constitution or laws while acting under color of law. Up to 1 year (life or death penalty if death results). | law.cornell.edu |
IX. Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA)#
| Statute | Description | Link |
|---|
| 22 U.S.C. § 7101 et seq. | Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 — comprehensive federal framework to combat trafficking in persons, ensure punishment of traffickers, and protect victims. Establishes the crime definitions and interagency coordination framework. Originally Pub. L. 106–386. | law.cornell.edu |
| 18 U.S.C. § 1589 | Forced labor — knowingly providing or obtaining labor or services through force, threats, physical restraint, or abuse of law. Up to 20 years (life if death, kidnapping, or aggravated sexual abuse involved). | law.cornell.edu |
| 18 U.S.C. § 1590 | Trafficking with respect to peonage, slavery, involuntary servitude, or forced labor. Up to 20 years (life in aggravated cases). | law.cornell.edu |
X. Victims' Rights Statutes (Relevant to the 2008 Plea Deal)#
| Statute | Description | Link |
|---|
| 18 U.S.C. § 3771 | Crime Victims' Rights Act (CVRA) — grants crime victims the right to be reasonably heard, to confer with the prosecution, and to be treated with fairness. A federal judge ruled in 2019 that the 2008 plea deal violated this statute. | law.cornell.edu |
XI. Select State Law Offenses#
Because much of Epstein's conduct occurred in specific states, the following state statutes are also potentially applicable:
Florida
- Fla. Stat. § 794.011 — Sexual battery (rape)
- Fla. Stat. § 796.03 — Procuring a person under 18 for prostitution
- Fla. Stat. § 796.035 — Selling or buying of minors into prostitution
- Fla. Stat. § 787.06 — Human trafficking
- Fla. Stat. § 800.04 — Lewd or lascivious offenses committed upon or in the presence of persons less than 16 years of age
New York
- N.Y. Penal Law § 130.25–130.96 — Sexual offenses (rape, criminal sexual act, sexual abuse, sexual misconduct)
- N.Y. Penal Law § 230.34 — Sex trafficking
- N.Y. Penal Law § 263.00 et seq. — Sexual exploitation of a child (CSAM)
New Mexico
- N.M. Stat. Ann. § 30-9-11 — Criminal sexual penetration
- N.M. Stat. Ann. § 30-52-1 — Human trafficking
U.S. Virgin Islands
- V.I. Code Ann. tit. 14 § 1700a et seq. — Human trafficking
- V.I. Code Ann. tit. 14 §§ 1700–1709 — Sexual offenses (rape, unlawful sexual contact, child abuse)
XII. Repeat Offender Enhancements#
| Statute | Description | Link |
|---|
| 18 U.S.C. § 2426 | Repeat offenders — prior conviction under Chapter 117 (Mann Act) or Chapter 109A (Sexual Abuse) or Chapter 110 (Sexual Exploitation) or § 1591 (Sex Trafficking) doubles the maximum penalty. | law.cornell.edu |
| 18 U.S.C. § 3559(e) | Mandatory life imprisonment for repeated sex offenses against children — upon second qualifying federal or state sex offense against a child. | law.cornell.edu |
XIII. Forfeiture Provisions#
| Statute | Description | Link |
|---|
| 18 U.S.C. § 1963 | Criminal forfeiture — RICO. All interests, property, and proceeds. | law.cornell.edu |
| 18 U.S.C. § 981 | Civil forfeiture — property involved in or traceable to money laundering and other specified offenses. | law.cornell.edu |
| 18 U.S.C. § 982 | Criminal forfeiture — property involved in money laundering. | law.cornell.edu |
| 18 U.S.C. § 2428 | Forfeiture related to Chapter 117 (Mann Act) offenses. | law.cornell.edu |
Note: This document is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Statutes are cited as codified in the United States Code; some provisions have been amended over time and applicability depends on the date of the conduct in question. State law citations are abbreviated and should be verified against current statutory text. All links point to Cornell Law Institute's Legal Information Institute (LII) or official government sources.
Compiled: February 11, 2026
