Updated Jan 3, 2022 - Politics & Policy

Judge drops charges against Epstein guards accused of falsifying records

TuAnh Dam

The Metropolitan Correctional Center, where Jeffrey Epstein was held after his arrest. Photo by Atilgan Ozdil/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

A federal judge on Monday dropped charges against two prison guards who said they falsified records on the night Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide, AP reports.

The big picture: The two guards —Tova Noel and Michael Thomas — fulfilled an agreement to cooperate with the Justice Department in exchange for avoiding jail time, prosecutors noted in a court document.

Catch up quick: District Judge Analisa Torres ordered the charges dismissed after federal prosecutors moved on Friday to drop the charges.

"Under the agreements, prosecution was deferred for a period of six months during the term of Noel's and Thomas's good behavior, completion of community service, and satisfactory compliance with the terms of the agreement," prosecutors wrote.

Flashback: Noel and Thomas were accused of sleeping on the job and browsing the internet instead of making their required rounds.

Epstein's cell was 15 feet from the guards when he was found dead by suicide in August of 2019.

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Judge drops charges against Epstein guards accused of falsifying records

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