Judge drops charges against Epstein guards accused of falsifying records
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.