DOJ-OGR-00023030.pdf

I. The Defense Rejects the Federal Plea Agreement, Returns to the NPA "State-Only" Resolution, and Begins Opposing the Sexual Offender Registration Requirement .................... 78 J. The USAO Agrees Not to Criminally Charge "Potential Co-Conspirators" ....... 79 K. The USAO Rejects Defense Efforts to Eliminate the Sexual Offender Registration Requirement ............................................... 81 L. The Defense Adds a Confidentiality Clause ............................... 83 VII. SEPTEMBER 24, 2007: ACOSTA MAKES FINAL EDITS, AND THE NPA IS SIGNED ................................................................ 84 VIII. POST-NPA NEGOTIATIONS ....................................................... 87 A. September - October 2007: Sloman's Concerns about Selection of an Attorney Representative Lead to a Proposed NPA Addendum ....................... 87 B. October 12, 2007: Acosta and Defense Attorney Lefkowitz Meet for Breakfast ................................................................ 89 C. Acosta Agrees to the Defense Request to Postpone Epstein's Guilty Plea; the Parties Continue to Negotiate Issues concerning the Attorney Representation and Finally Reach Agreement on the NPA Addendum ............... 91 D. Epstein Further Delays His Guilty Plea ...................................... 94 E. Epstein Seeks Departmental Review of the NPA's § 2255 Provision Relating to Monetary Damages for the Victims ............................... 94 F. Despite Affirming the NPA, Defense Counsel Intensify Their Challenges to It and Accuse Villafaña of Improper Conduct ............................... 98 1. December 7 and 11, 2007: Starr and Lefkowitz Send to Acosta Letters and "Ethics Opinions" Complaining about the Federal Investigation and Villafaña ............................................................... 98 2. As a Result of the Starr and Lefkowitz Submissions, the New USAO Criminal Chief Begins a Full Review of the Evidence, and Acosta Agrees to Meet Again with Defense Counsel ....................................... 99 3. The Defense Notifies Acosta That It May Pursue a Department Review of the USAO's Actions .................................................... 99 4. Acosta Attempts to Revise the NPA § 2255 Language concerning Monetary Damages, but the Defense Does Not Accept It ............................. 100 5. January 7, 2008: Acosta and Sloman Meet with Sanchez, Who Makes Additional Allegations of USAO Misconduct ............................ 101 6. Acosta Asks CEOS to Review the Evidence ................................. 102 IX. FEBRUARY - JUNE 2008: THE DEPARTMENT'S REVIEW ........................... 103 A. February - May 15, 2008: Review by CEOS and the Criminal Division ........ 104 xvi DOJ-OGR-00023030