An 18-year-old model claims Jeffrey Epstein repeatedly abused her in 2009 while he was serving a prison sentence.
Roza Gilles told CNN how the sex offender allegedly abused her and other women multiple times and how he developed a system to avoid getting caught.
Arriving in the United States from Uzbekistan to pursue his modeling career, Gilles was allegedly approached by a modeling agent linked to Epstein.
Jeffrey Epstein allegedly offered Roza Gilles a weekend job as a receptionist in his office to supplement his income.
When she reportedly showed up for her first day of work on the 14th floor of a downtown Palm Beach office building in the summer of 2009, a woman was massaging Jeffrey Epstein’s feet.
“I froze”
The latter would have invited Gilles to sit next to her. As Epstein held out his foot to Gilles, she reportedly noticed a black plastic bracelet around her ankle, which had a small box with a flashing light attached to it.
When she asked what it was, Gilles says Epstein and the woman reportedly laughed. Epstein then allegedly ordered Gilles to take off his blouse.
“I froze,” said Gilles. “And the woman came over and started unbuttoning my blouse. She took it off, then she took off my bra, before going out. »
It was on this day that Epstein allegedly sexually assaulted Gilles for the first time – marking the start of several years of rape and abuse.
It was only much later that she realized that the device Epstein was wearing was an electronic bracelet and that he was serving a prison sentence for soliciting the services of a minor for prostitution.
Two women who spoke to CNN on condition of anonymity said they were also victims of abuse by Epstein at the Florida Science Foundation.
A routine
This non-profit association was created in November 2007, shortly before Epstein pleaded guilty, and purported to provide grants and financial support to scientific and research organizations.
According to these women, Epstein established a sort of routine for the days he spent at the Florida Science Foundation. He started his mornings with coffee and a muffin and then took a nap on a futon in the conference room.
Both at his West Palm Beach home and at the office, survivors say Epstein sometimes sexually assaulted them while a uniformed officer was nearby, allegedly to monitor the newly registered sex offender.
One day, Roza Gilles allegedly saw a police officer joking with Jeffrey Epstein in the kitchen.
“After seeing this sheriff, I understood that no matter what we did, this man would never be arrested,” Ms. Gilles said.
Testimony from Gilles and other survivors, who say they were victims of abuse at the hands of Epstein while he served his 13-month sentence, raises serious questions about the controversial 2008 plea deal between Epstein and former U.S. federal prosecutor Alex Acosta.
