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Exclusive: Roza Gilles was an 18-year-old model when Jeffrey Epstein first abused her — while he was serving jail time
Summary by The El Paso Editorial Desk · Based on reporting by CNN Newsource , KVIA ABC-7
· July 20, 2026
· 12 min read
By MJ Lee, Nicky Robertson, CNN (CNN) — The first day Roza Gilles showed up for her new job at a high-rise office building in downtown Palm Beach in the summer of 2009, a woman was massaging Jeffrey Epstein’s feet. Gilles, 18 at the time, had recently come to the US to pursue her career as a mode...
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Summary created by The El Paso Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed Original reporting CNN Newsource, KVIA ABC-7 Original story Read at the source Source published Jul 20, 2026 Indexed here Jul 21, 2026 AI assistance Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text Prepublication human review No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples
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Key takeaway Gilles, 18 at the time, had recently come to the US to pursue her career as a model after being approached backstage in her home country of Uzbekistan by a modeling agent with ties to Epstein.
Why this matters in The El Paso
The disturbing details of Roza Gilles' abuse by Jeffrey Epstein serve as a stark reminder of the dark underbelly of exploitation that can exist in the shadows of the modeling industry, an industry that has a presence in El Paso. While Epstein's actions were not directly connected to El Paso, the fact that he was able to continue abusing young women, including foreign models like Gilles, while serving his sentence raises questions about the effectiveness of justice systems in holding perpetrators accountable. In El Paso, where human trafficking and exploitation are ongoing concerns, Gilles' story highlights the need for continued vigilance and support for survivors of abuse. The El Paso community must remain committed to creating a safe and just environment for all, particularly for vulnerable populations like young women and immigrants who may be targeted by exploiters.
About this story
Original reporting by KVIA ABC-7 . The El Paso surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KVIA ABC-7 . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: July 20, 2026 ·
Source: KVIA ABC-7 ·
Reading time: 12 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? By MJ Lee, Nicky Robertson, CNN (CNN) — The first day Roza Gilles showed up for her new job at a high-rise office building in downtown Palm Beach in the summer of 2009, a woman was massaging Jeffrey Epstein’s feet. Gilles, 18 at the time, had recently come to the US to pursue her career as a mode...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 20, 2026 by KVIA ABC-7 and curated for The El Paso readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by CNN Newsource at KVIA ABC-7. To learn more about how The El Paso selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The El Paso, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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