Marina Lacerda, a key witness in the 2019 federal case against Jeffrey Epstein, is speaking out publicly for the first time. Lacerda, identified as "Minor-Victim 1" in Epstein's indictment, provided crucial evidence that led to charges of sex trafficking minors against the convicted sex offender. In an interview with ABC News, she called on lawmakers to release records related to Epstein to aid his victims in their healing process.

Lacerda, 37, emphasized the need for transparency regarding Epstein's actions. "I would like for them to give all the victims transparency, right, to what happened and release these files. It's also not only for the victims, but for the American people," she stated. Epstein, a wealthy financier, died by suicide in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial.

Federal investigators first contacted Lacerda in 2008. However, Epstein had secured a controversial non-prosecution agreement with federal prosecutors, preventing her from testifying before a grand jury about her allegations of childhood sexual abuse. More than a decade later, investigators returned to Lacerda, using her experiences to build a case that ultimately charged Epstein with sex trafficking minors in New York.

Lacerda recounted meeting Epstein at the age of 14 in 2002. She was recruited to provide a massage at his New York home, which led to years of sexual abuse. "His house was a revolving door. There was always girls," she said. "If he was in New York, he had his week prepped to see as many girls as possible. I would say he was seeing about five to maybe eight women, maybe even more, maybe up to ten women a day."

After immigrating from Brazil, Lacerda lived in Queens with her mother and sister. A friend introduced her to Epstein, presenting it as a way to earn money for her family. "I wasn't expecting what led on to that day because I think with Jeffrey Epstein, it starts somewhere, but then it ends. Either you having sex with them whether you like it or not," she explained.

Over the next three years, Lacerda became part of a network of young girls recruited by Epstein. She described being forced to have sex with him two to three times a week. "He forced me to have sex with him. Basically. I really had no choice," she said. Although Epstein paid her thousands of dollars, Lacerda believed that her association with him would provide opportunities as an immigrant.

She recalled seeing photos of celebrities and politicians in Epstein's home and noted that he conducted calls with high-profile individuals. "I thought that if I just played along that I wouldn't be this immigrant from Brazil, you know, and that I would have something to look forward," she said.

However, as Lacerda grew older, Epstein's interest in her waned. "It came to a point when I was, I'd say, 16 and a half or 17. He didn't want me anymore. He was just like, you're too old," she said. Years later, when FBI agents came to her home to ask about Epstein, she contacted him, and he provided her with a lawyer. Lacerda's opportunity to testify before the grand jury in 2008 was cut short when Epstein secured his non-prosecution agreement.