Emails reveal convicted sex offender developed close relationships with CBP officers near his private island.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Newly released Justice Department records indicate that convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein developed unusually close relationships with U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers stationed in St. Thomas, the port of entry closest to his private island, Little St. James.
According to a report by The New York Times, emails and internal records show that Epstein cultivated ties with several CBP officers between at least 2008 and 2016. During that period, authorities in the U.S. Virgin Islands have said Epstein was sexually abusing girls and young women on his island.
The records indicate Epstein offered various favors to certain officers, including food, helicopter rides, financial guidance, and paid musical engagements. In some instances, he allegedly attempted to provide gifts to CBP personnel in St. Thomas, including Thanksgiving turkeys and offers to purchase new office computers. Supervisors reportedly blocked those efforts, citing federal ethics rules.
In return, some officers are alleged to have provided assistance to Epstein during travel, including expedited inspections and help resolving issues at mainland airports. Emails cited in the report describe friendly exchanges between Epstein and certain officers even after his 2008 conviction in Florida for soliciting prostitution from a minor, which required him to register as a sex offender.
One officer, identified as Carol Montgomery, reportedly sought financial advice from Epstein and later requested a $200,000 loan after transferring to a mainland assignment. In another email exchange, an officer welcomed Epstein home following his 2009 release from jail.
After Epstein’s 2019 arrest on federal sex-trafficking charges in New York, the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General opened an investigation into whether CBP officers in St. Thomas allowed Epstein or his guests to bypass required scrutiny. The investigation reportedly examined at least four officers, including a supervisor.
Public records reviewed by the Times show that no charges were filed against the officers. The final disposition of the internal investigation has not been publicly detailed.
Epstein died in a Manhattan jail in August 2019 while awaiting trial. His death was ruled a suicide.
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