By Missy Diaz |  Sun-Sentinel.com
11:38 AM EDT, June 30, 2008

WEST PALM BEACH - Mega-rich Palm Beach- New York-Virgin Islands-money manager Jeffrey Epstein traded his navy sport coat for a jail uniform today after pleading guilty to hiring underage Palm Beach County girls for erotic massages and sex.

Epstein will be designated a sex offender, a moniker that will require that he register annually with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and any other jurisdiction that so requires.

Epstein, 55, will spend 18 months in the Palm Beach County Jail, followed by a year of house arrest.

Judge Deborah Pucillo, who grilled Epstein and his attorneys throughout the hearing, read off a litany of other conditions of Epstein’s house arrest, including a 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew, an hourly daily activity log and a stern warning that he not possess, watch or view any “obscene, pornographic or sexually stimulating material relative to your deviant behavior.”

The judge admonished Epstein not to have any contact — direct or indirect — with his victims, something Pucillo clarified explicitly, explaining that includes things like Facebook, MySpace, e-mail and text messages.

“That means no messages through carrier pigeons, no messages through third paries … is that clear?” she asked.

Epstein, a billionaire who lives in a five bedroom, 7 ½ bath, 13,000-square-fot mansion on El BrilloWay in Palm Beach, told the judge he’s an investment banker. He manages money for the super wealthy and counts among his friends former President Bill Clinton.

According to police reports, in 2004 and 2005, Epstein used a then 20-year-old girl to find 14- to 16-year-old girls from her school to “work” for him. In return, according to police, Epstein paid her $200 for each girl she found.

Epstein’s assistant kept the recruiter apprised of when Epstein would be in Palm Beach and the recruiter would take the girls to the mansion.

Once there, Epstein’s assistant escorted the girl to a bedroom furnished with a massage table and oils.

Epstein would enter in only a towel and would touch himself during some sessions and try fondling the girls with sex toys in others, according to police.

Source: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/sfl-630epstein,0,5038364.story