Non-prosecution · 13 months Epstein 2008 — The "Sweetheart Deal"

In 2008, despite a federal investigation involving more than 30 underage girls that could have brought a life sentence, Jeffrey Epstein received what became known as the "sweetheart deal." A federal non-prosecution agreement negotiated by then-Miami US Attorney Alexander Acosta let Epstein plead guilty to two state prostitution-related charges; he served 13 months of an 18-month sentence with work release allowing him out up to 12 hours a day, six days a week. The agreement also granted immunity to unnamed co-conspirators and was kept from his victims. In February 2019 a federal judge ruled prosecutors had violated the Crime Victims' Rights Act by concealing the deal from victims. A DOJ Office of Professional Responsibility review later found Acosta exercised "poor judgment" but did not find misconduct. Adjudicated facts: the guilty plea, the sentence, and the rights violation are all on the record.