JPMorgan claims former First Woman of U.S. Virgin Islands helped Jeffrey Epstein visitors ladies

The previous First Woman of the U.S. Virgin Islands has been accused by JPMorgan financial institution of helping Jeffrey Epstein visitors younger ladies and ladies to the territory.

The financial institution has long faced questions about their relationship with Epstein: he banked with them until 2013, regardless of being convicted of ‘solicitation of prostitution with a minor’ in 2008, and sentenced to jail.

The U.S. Virgin Islands, which is managing Epstein’s property, accused JPMorgan of turning a blind eye to his actions and enabling him: the financial institution on Monday reached a tentative settlement along with his victims, paying as much as $290 million as a part of a category motion lawsuit settlement. 

JPMorgan has stated it regrets its relationship with Epstein however is just not liable for his crimes. 

On Thursday, The Wall Street Journal printed paperwork – filed late on Wednesday – by which the financial institution hit again, accusing the previous First Woman of the territory of aiding Epstein.

Cecile de Jongh was First Woman of the USVI from 2007-15. She labored for Jeffrey Epstein from at the least 2000, incomes $100,000 a yr

Epstein owned this island within the USVI, Little St. James. He purchased it in 1998 for $7 million, and acquired its bigger neighbor, Nice St. James, 18 years later. In Could, each have been offered to financier Stephen Deckoff for $60 million: he intends to show them right into a resort

Jeffrey Epstein is seen in December 2010 with Prince Andrew in Central Park, shortly after Epstein was launched from jail 

Cecile de Jongh labored for Epstein from at the least 2000, managing his USVI workplace. She was paid $100,000 a yr, plus $50,000 for her kids’s college charges.

Her husband, John de Jongh, was governor of the USVI from 2007-15.

In line with extra paperwork obtained final month by The Virgin Islands Consortium, JPMorgan’s attorneys accuse her of being Epstein’s ‘main conduit for spreading cash and affect all through the USVI.’ 

She is accused of guiding Epstein on ‘the way to purchase management of the USVI political class.’ 

The brand new submitting claims that the Virgin Islands ‘protected Epstein, fostering the proper circumstances for Epstein’s felony conduct to proceed undetected.’

The financial institution states: ‘Quite than cease him, they helped him.’

De Jongh was allegedly on the coronary heart of Epstein’s efforts to ingratiate himself in USVI energy circles.

In December 2015, she wrote to him, based on the court docket filings: ‘You will need to me that you realize that I take this job, my administration of your workforce and our implementation of your requests very significantly and that they be accomplished in probably the most confidential of how.’

Cecile de Jongh is pictured together with her husband John, who was the governor of the territory from 2007-15

Epstein’s victims have been enrolled on the College of the Virgin Islands (pictured), with assist from de Jongh

Epstein’s island featured a wierd blue and white temple-style construction

De Jongh helped get visas for a number of alleged victims of Epstein, JPMorgan stated in court docket filings. 

She linked one lady to a neighborhood immigration lawyer, and labored to get others pupil visas by arranging particular courses for them on the College of the Virgin Islands, the financial institution stated.

The victims have been enrolled in an English as a second language, or ESL, course on the college.

‘They’re structuring the category across the women. Please let me know in order that they know what to do or to not do,’ de Jongh wrote to Epstein in June 2013, based on the court docket filings.

The $8,868 value of the course can be lined, de Jongh advised college workers. 

Two college students would want a selected kind of pupil visa, she advised college employees. 

That very same yr, Epstein donated $20,000 to the college by way of considered one of his firms, JPMorgan stated in its submitting.

In 2014, De Jongh solicited political donations from Epstein and his workers for the congressional marketing campaign of Stacey Plaskett, who was elected as a U.S. consultant.

Plaskett advised the Journal that she has since donated his marketing campaign contributions to charities for ladies and youngsters. 

‘Jeffrey Epstein’s conduct was despicable,’ stated Plaskett. 

‘As I’ve said prior to now, contributions made by Jeffrey Epstein to my marketing campaign have been donated to ladies and children-focused non-profits within the Virgin Islands.’ 

De Jongh has not commented on JPMorgan’s allegations.

A spokeswoman for the territory’s legal professional basic stated on Thursday that the financial institution was making an attempt to shift blame away from itself. 

‘JPMorgan Chase has cherry-picked and mischaracterized Epstein’s interactions with U.S. Virgin Islands officers and residents in an try and distract and shift blame away from its position in facilitating Jeffrey Epstein’s heinous crimes,’ the spokeswoman stated.

The lawsuit settled by the financial institution on Monday was filed on behalf of 1 lady, however rewards anybody who was victimized by Epstein, who killed himself in jail in 2019. 

The variety of victims who might stand to realize from the settlement may attain 100 although it is unclear if there’s a restrict on the quantity who can come ahead, or whether or not every is restricted in how a lot they will obtain. 

The financial institution introduced the settlement on Monday with out disclosing how a lot the it had agreed to pay to Jeffrey Epstein’s victims

‘The events imagine this settlement is in the perfect pursuits of all events, particularly the survivors who have been the victims of Epstein’s horrible abuse,’ stated the financial institution in an announcement launched on Monday morning. 

David Boies, an legal professional performing on behalf of Epstein victims, stated: ‘The historic recoveries from the banks who supplied monetary companies to Jeffrey Epstein, converse for themselves. 

‘It has taken a very long time, too lengthy, however right now is a good day for Jeffrey Epstein survivors, and an awesome day for justice.’ 

Sigrid McCawley, one other of the victims’ attorneys, stated: ‘The settlements which have been reached are each life-changing and historic for the survivors. 

‘Cash, which for much too lengthy flowed with impunity between Jeffrey Epstein’s international intercourse trafficking enterprise and Wall Road’s main banks, is decisively getting used for good.

‘The settlements sign that monetary establishments have an essential position to play in recognizing and shutting down intercourse trafficking’. 

Brad Edwards, an legal professional representing the Jane Doe who launched the case, stated: ‘The data and assist the US Virgin Islands and its authorized workforce supplied to the survivors was enormously worthwhile, and we acknowledge the significance of the federal government’s continued litigation in opposition to JPMorgan Chase to stop future crimes.’ 

Epstein is proven with former non-public banking chief, Jef Staley (far left), Larry Summers, Invoice Gates (second proper)  and Boris Nikolic (far proper)

A spokesman for the US Virgin Islands authorities, which continues to be suing the financial institution over related violations, stated: ‘We’re gratified to listen to concerning the settlement that may present victims of Jeffrey Epstein some compensation for JPMorgan Chase’s position in facilitating Epstein’s crimes in opposition to them. 

‘The US Virgin Islands will proceed to proceed with its enforcement motion to make sure full accountability for JPMorgan’s violations of regulation and forestall the financial institution from helping and making the most of human trafficking sooner or later. 

‘The US Virgin Islands is dedicated to defending ladies and ladies who may in any other case grow to be victims going ahead.’

Epstein was a shopper on the financial institution between 1998 and 2013 – seven years after he was arrested and convicted of utilizing underage prostitutes in Palm Seaside, Florida. 

Financial institution workers have been involved about Epstein’s massive money withdrawals, a few of which have been used to pay underage ladies in alternate for intercourse, however he was allowed to stay a shopper for years. 

In line with depositions that have been a part of the lawsuit, he would commonly withdraw between $40,000 and $80,000 a month. 

The withdrawals rang alarm bells amongst compliance officers, however he defined them away by claiming they have been for gasoline and touchdown charges for his non-public aircraft.

‘The events imagine this settlement is in the perfect pursuits of all events, particularly the survivors who have been the victims of Epstein’s horrible abuse,’ an announcement launched by JP Morgan on Monday stated

The financial institution continues to be entangled in a separate lawsuit filed by the federal government of the US Virgin Islands, the place Epstein saved a house and is alleged to have abused dozens of women. 

Final yr, the identical attorneys efficiently sued Deutsch Financial institution – which took Epstein on as a shopper after JP Morgan finally reduce ties with him in 2013 – over the identical allegations. 

Deutsch Financial institution settled for a tentative sum of $75million and was fined $100million by New York regulators. 

Epstein died in custody whereas awaiting a intercourse trafficking trial. In his absence, the one particular person to have confronted felony prosecution over his crimes is Ghislaine Maxwell. 

She is presently serving a 20 yr jail sentence after being convicted of facilitating the abuse.