The United States Virgin Islands — specifically the island of Little Saint James — was not merely a property location for Jeffrey Epstein. It was the operational hub for much of his trafficking activity, and local authorities eventually pursued claims against his estate.
The USVI as trafficking location:
Multiple victims described being brought to Little Saint James island for abuse. The island’s remote location, private access (requiring boats or aircraft to reach), and complete control by Epstein made it an ideal location for an operation impossible to approach undetected.
Ghislaine Maxwell’s trafficking conviction included conduct on the island. Virginia Giuffre and other victims described the island specifically in their accounts.
USVI Attorney General lawsuit:
In 2020, then-USVI Attorney General Denise George filed a lawsuit against Epstein’s estate in USVI court. The suit alleged:
- Sexual abuse and trafficking of minors and adults on USVI territory
- Use of USVI-chartered entities (including Southern Trust Company) to facilitate and finance the operation
- Fraud against the Economic Development Commission — Epstein claimed job creation benefits for entities allegedly engaged in criminal activity, not legitimate business
Southern Trust Company:
Epstein established Southern Trust Company as a USVI entity. He claimed it was a data analytics and modeling business employing local people and qualifying for EDC tax incentives. The USVI AG’s suit alleged this was fraudulent — that Southern Trust was a shell company used to move money related to his criminal operation.
The settlement:
Following litigation, Epstein’s estate settled the USVI AG claims for approximately $105 million — one of the largest settlements in the estate’s proceedings. This settlement represented both compensation and acknowledgment of the scope of USVI-jurisdiction crimes.
Consequences for Denise George:
USVI AG Denise George, who pursued the case aggressively, was fired by USVI Governor Albert Bryan Jr. shortly after the lawsuit was publicly filed — an action widely criticized as political retaliation, though the governor cited other reasons.