US Virgin Islands Unseals Ex-JPMorgan Exec Emails With Jeffrey Epstein, Bolstering Bank’s Role In Sex Trafficking Scheme
According to recently unsealed parts of a federal complaint by the US Virgin Islands (USVI) territory, more than 20 of Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking victims were paid through JPMorgan & Chase accounts, as the megabank’s former senior executives secretly acknowledged abuse claims surrounding the late predator as early as 2006.
“These women were trafficked and abused during different intervals between at least 2003 and July 2019, when Epstein was arrested and jailed, and these women received payments, typically multiple payments, between 2003 and 2013 in excess of $1 million collectively,” the complaint said. “Epstein also withdrew more than $775,000 in cash over that time frame from JP Morgan accounts, especially significant as Epstein was known to pay for ‘massages,’ or sexual encounters, in cash.”
When the USVI government submitted its complaint charging JP Morgan Bank of “complicity” in Epstein’s activities, those and other charges were previously redacted.
Denise George, the USVI attorney general, was removed from her job by Governor Albert Bryan days after filing a lawsuit accusing JPMorgan Chase of “pulling the levers” of Jeffrey Epstein’s sex-trafficking ring.
“Snow White”
In addition, former JPMorgan executive Jes Staley was revealed to have discussed ‘Disney princesses’ with Epstein, referring to young women and girls the late human trafficker was procuring. The newly disclosed conversations support the territory’s claim that JPMorgan, Staley’s employer at the time, is complicit in Epstein’s sexual assault.
“That was fun,” Staley allegedly wrote. “Say hi to Snow White.”
“[W]hat character would you like next?” Epstein allegedly responded.
“Beauty and the Beast,” the former JPMorgan exec allegedly answered.
In another email included in the claim, Staley seems to have written Epstein from the latter’s villa on Little St. James in November 2009. Epstein was in home confinement in Palm Beach, Florida, at the time, after being released on accusations of enticing a minor for prostitution, but he was allowed to fly to New York to meet with his lawyers.
“Presently, I’m in the hot tub with a glass of white wine,” he wrote. “This is an amazing place. Next time, we’re here together. I owe you much. And I deeply appreciate our friendship. I have few so profound.”
Staley received his desired reunion, according to an email sent in December 2009: “I realize the danger in sending this email. But it was great to be able, today, to give you, in New York City, a long, heartfelt, hug.”
Epstein allegedly emailed Staley a photograph of a young woman in December, the image of whom is removed from the lawsuit.
The fresh allegations follow an amended complaint filed by Epstein victims in a separate case against JPMorgan alleging Staley “personally observed” his former client’s misbehavior.
While he has not been named as a defendant in any complaint, Staley has repeatedly denied knowing of Epstein’s sexual assault.
Staley, who left JPMorgan in 2013 to become CEO of Barclays Plc two years later, was known to have exchanged up to 1,200 emails with Epstein over the years, but the contents of those conversations were not previously released. Following a UK Financial Conduct Authority investigation concerning his contacts with Epstein, Staley stepped down as CEO of Barclays in 2021.
“Are you still comfortable with this client who is now a registered sex offender?”
According to the less-redacted lawsuit, JPMorgan also knew not only about Epstein, but also about his fellow accused predator, French modeling scout Jean Luc Brunel, head of the MC2 Modeling Company.
“Financial information also reflects payments drawn from JP Morgan accounts of nearly $1.5 million to known recruiters, including to the MC2 modeling agency, and another $150,000 to a private investigative firm,” the lawsuit said.
As early as 2006, JPMorgan’s Global Corporate Security Division flagged “[s]everal newspaper articles… that detail the indictment of Jeffrey Epstein in Florida on felony charges of soliciting underage prostitutes.”
JPMorgan’s risk management division examined new claims against Epstein in an internal email four years later: “See below new allegations of an investigation related to child trafficking – are you still comfortable with this client who is now a registered sex offender.”
According to USVI, Epstein was a customer of the bank between 1998 and 2013 and held approximately 55 accounts totaling hundreds of millions of dollars.
Last November, two unnamed Epstein victims filed separate civil lawsuits against JPMorgan and Deutsche Bank AG, alleging that the banks enabled and financially benefitted from Epstein’s alleged sex trafficking operation.
The lawsuits, which seek class-action status and unspecified financial damages, were filed under a new law in New York, which allows sexual abuse survivors to go after their alleged abusers even after the statute of limitations has expired.
Information for this briefing was found via the Bloomberg, Law & Crime, and the sources and companies mentioned. The author has no securities or affiliations related to this organization. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security. The author holds no licenses.
