Ghislaine Maxwell sentenced to 20 years in prison
NEW YORK -- Ghislaine Maxwell will spend the next 20 years in prison for sexually abusing and trafficking young girls for and with her longtime confidant, Jeffrey Epstein.
CBS2's Jessica Moore has more on Tuesday's gut-wrenching testimony from inside the courtroom and what Maxwell said to her victims.
Maxwell's victims showed up to witness their abuser learn her fate.
"I was raped repeatedly. I was raped three times a day, a constant stream of girls being raped over and over again. I've been in hell for the last 27 years," Sarah Ransome said.
Inside the courtroom, there were more devastating stories as victims told Judge Allison Nathan that Maxwell was, "indifferent to the suffering of other human beings."
Another said she led them "straight into the mouth of hell."
Six months ago, Maxwell was convicted on five federal charges connected to a decade-long conspiracy to groom and procure girls as young as 14 for her and her boss, Epstein, to sexually abuse.
On Tuesday, Maxwell spoke for the first time, blaming Epstein for what happened.
"My greatest regret in life is that I ever met Jeffrey Epstein," Maxwell said.
She told the victims, "I'm sorry for the pain you've experienced."
"Her statement felt like a very hollow apology to me. She did not take responsibility for her crimes and she was once again trying to benefit herself and not at all about the harm that she had caused," victim Annie Farmer said.
Judge Nathan called Maxwell's behavior "heinous and predatory," and said her lack of remorse helped determine her sentence, which was even greater than the recommendation handed down by the sentencing guidelines board.
Maxwell will be 80 when she gets out of prison. Her attorneys have already promised to appeal.
Meanwhile, her victims said 20 years incarcerated isn't nearly long enough.
