The USVI Lawsuit
In January 2020, USVI Attorney General Denise George filed a civil lawsuit against the Epstein estate and several Epstein corporate entities. The lawsuit alleged that Epstein used his USVI properties for sex trafficking and that the corporate entities used to manage the properties were instrumentalities of trafficking.
Legal Theory
The USVI lawsuit used a novel legal theory: holding that corporate entities through which Epstein operated his island properties could be held liable for trafficking. This theorized that the properties and their legal structures were not merely passive assets but active tools.
What the Lawsuit Alleged
The complaint alleged that Epstein brought dozens of women and girls to his USVI properties for trafficking purposes, that the corporate entities employed or retained persons who facilitated trafficking, and that the USVI government was owed remedies.
AG George’s Subsequent Removal
Following the filing, USVI Governor Albert Bryan Jr. fired Attorney General George. The circumstances of the firing shortly after a major lawsuit against a powerful estate drew controversy. George disputed characterizations of why she was dismissed.
The Settlement
The lawsuit eventually settled in 2024 for approximately million paid to the USVI government.