Ghislaine Maxwell Found Guilty in Epstein Sex-Abuse Case

British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell was found guilty Wednesday on five of six criminal counts in her sex-trafficking case, capping federal prosecutors’ push to bring the longtime confidante of disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein to justice.

After five days of deliberations, a federal jury in New York convicted Ms. Maxwell on Wednesday for what prosecutors said was her role in helping Epstein sexually abuse underage teens.

On the most serious count, sex trafficking of minors, the jury found Ms. Maxwell guilty. That count carries a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison. A sentencing date hasn’t been scheduled yet.

Ms. Maxwell, wearing a dark turtleneck, showed little emotion when the verdict was read.

The verdict followed a yearslong effort to bring closure to scores of accusers of Epstein, who died while in jail on sex-trafficking charges. Epstein’s presence loomed over Ms. Maxwell’s three-week trial, during which federal prosecutors said she recruited and groomed teens for sex acts with him between 1994 and 2004, often under the pretext of procuring massages.