Little St. James Island

Overview#

Little St. James Island is a 70-75 acre private island in the U.S. Virgin Islands that served as Jeffrey Epstein's primary base of operations for his international sex trafficking enterprise from 1998 until his death in 2019. Epstein purchased the island in 1998 through L.S.J., LLC for an undisclosed sum, later transferring ownership to Nautilus, Inc., a Virgin Islands corporation, in 2011 for a nominal consideration of ten dollars. The property, located off the coast of St. Thomas and accessible only by helicopter or boat, provided Epstein with the geographic isolation necessary to traffic underage girls and young women with minimal risk of detection by law enforcement. FBI search warrant operations conducted on August 12, 2019—two days after Epstein's death—documented multiple structures across the island including a distinctive blue-and-white striped temple, multiple guest houses, a pool complex, gym facilities, and extensive staff quarters.

The island's role in Epstein's criminal enterprise is extensively documented in civil complaints filed by victims, flight logs showing repeated trips carrying Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, and identified victims including Virginia Roberts Giuffre, and the 2020 civil enforcement action filed by the Government of the United States Virgin Islands alleging that the island served as the "hub" of a sex trafficking operation that continued for over two decades.

Property Acquisition and Ownership Structure#

Jeffrey Epstein acquired Little St. James Island on April 27, 1998, through a Delaware limited liability company, L.S.J., LLC, according to warranty deed records filed with the Virgin Islands Recorder of Deeds. The acquisition price has not been publicly disclosed in available documents. On December 30, 2011, ownership transferred from L.S.J., LLC to Nautilus, Inc., a Virgin Islands corporation incorporated on November 22, 2011, through a quitclaim deed listing the consideration as "TEN DOLLARS ($10.00) and other good and valuable consideration."

Nautilus, Inc. was structured with Epstein serving as president and director, while Darren K. Indyke and Richard D. Kahn—Epstein's longtime attorneys and eventual estate executors—served as secretary and treasurer respectively. Corporate filings described Nautilus's purpose as "holding property for personal use." According to Virgin Islands Recorder of Deeds records, the property consists of Parcel Number 109803010100, comprising 3.1 million square feet of land valued at $3.2 million, with buildings and improvements valued at $4 million. Epstein's estate subsequently valued his holdings in Nautilus, Inc., which held title to Little St. James, at $63.9 million.

In 2016, Epstein expanded his Virgin Islands holdings by purchasing the neighboring Great St. James Island through Great St. Jim, LLC, a Virgin Islands limited liability company organized on October 26, 2015. The Government of the Virgin Islands' 2020 complaint alleges that Epstein acquired Great St. James—the island with closest proximity to Little St. James—"to further shield his conduct on Little St. James from view, prevent his detection by law enforcement or the public, and allow him to continue and conceal his criminal enterprise."

Physical Description and Structures#

The Temple

The most distinctive structure on Little St. James is a blue-and-white striped building with a golden dome, commonly referred to as "the temple." FBI search documentation from August 12, 2019 identifies the structure in Zone D of the island, noting in photographic logs that FBI agents conducted entry and search operations of the temple with assistance from FBI New York SWAT. The structure appears in aerial reconnaissance imagery compiled during the investigation, with FBI agents noting that a "Dome not seen on video footage" suggested either removal or concealment of architectural elements.

Architectural planning documents found in the archive include a comprehensive master concept plan prepared by RADYCA for both Little St. James and Great St. James, which designated 41 specific locations and features across Little St. James including a "Castle Point," "Funhouse Point," "Yoga Beach," and "Contemplation Point."

Residential and Guest Facilities

The RADYCA master plan documents multiple residential structures including:

• A "Secondary Pavilion" (Location 21)
• "French Garden/Guest Houses" (Location 23)
• "Conference Room" (Location 24)
• "Semi Private Office" and "Semi Private Pool Area" designated "To Remain" (Locations 25-26)
• "Caretaker's Unit" (Location 37)
• "Main Kitchen/Laundry" facility (Location 36)

FBI search logs from August 12, 2019 document the Bureau's systematic search of Zones C and D, which comprised "the southern portion of Little St. James Island" and included a "pool house, gazebo, pipe junction shed, temple, construction yard, blue beach house, gym, utility bunker, pergola and storage area, grotto, [and] Sundial." The administrative worksheet notes that "Building C1 no longer exists as shown on map," indicating alterations to island structures between planning phases and the 2019 search.

Aviation and Maritime Infrastructure

Little St. James featured multiple transportation access points including designated helicopter landing sites and dock facilities. The master plan identifies a "Service Landing Site (Guests)" (Location 40), "Possible Service Dock" (Location 38), and notes that a "Green Wall/Sound Barrier" (Location 41) was planned to shield service areas from view.

Email correspondence from January 2012 between pilot Larry Visoski and Epstein demonstrates the routine use of helicopter transport: "Jeffrey, Do you want me to bring helicopter to LSJ today? Or come via boat. Wasn't sure if you wanted to circled island in heli. Dave and I land at 2pm today in St thomas." Epstein's response would determine whether Visoski used the Bell 430 helicopter (N331JE) or the Sikorsky S-76C (N722JE)—nicknamed "Air Ghislaine 2"—both registered to Epstein's Virgin Islands aviation entities.

Construction and Modifications

Throughout Epstein's ownership, Little St. James underwent continuous construction and modification. Email correspondence from January 2011 references ongoing "construction projects" with Gary Kerney sending Epstein attachments titled "Construction status 1 21 10.docx" and construction schedules. A June 2009 email from Brice Gordon references extensive video documentation of island conditions, noting: "EIN is on the island today, and has shown me a large number of video taken at various places around the island. There are many things that need attention. it appears Lance did not do the things i had asked and had in fact confirmed things to me that never really happened."

The RADYCA master concept plan proposed elaborate future development including a "Grand Pavilion," "Cinema Room," "Salt Water Pool/Grotto," "Master Retreat," "Ladies' Residence," "Ladies' Private Room," "Ladies' Gym," and "Spa Retreat" for the adjacent Great St. James property, suggesting Epstein intended significant expansion of his Virgin Islands operation.

Documented Visitors#

Virginia Roberts Giuffre

Flight logs filed in Giuffre v. Maxwell document Virginia Roberts (later Giuffre) traveling to St. Thomas—the gateway to Little St. James—on at least nine occasions between December 2000 and October 2003:

• December 17, 2000: Teterboro to St. Thomas with "Virginia Roberts, Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein, Alberto Pinto (AP)"
• January 27, 2001: Teterboro to St. Thomas with multiple passengers
• January 30, 2001: Palm Beach to St. Thomas
• April 11, 2001: Teterboro to St. Thomas
• April 16, 2001: Return flight from St. Thomas to Teterboro

Giuffre's civil complaints describe systematic sexual abuse that occurred across Epstein's properties, including Little St. James, beginning when she was 15 years old in 1998.

Ghislaine Maxwell

Ghislaine Maxwell traveled to Little St. James on multiple documented occasions between December 2000 and April 2001 with Virginia Roberts present. Maxwell's role as Epstein's closest associate extended to operations on Little St. James, where she facilitated the grooming and abuse of victims according to her December 2021 federal conviction. (See Ghislaine Maxwell for full details of her visits and conviction.)

Jean-Luc Brunel

Jean-Luc Brunel, the French modeling agent who founded MC2 Model Management with Epstein's financing, was documented on Little St. James by victim testimony according to FBI investigative summaries. (See Jean-Luc Brunel for details.)

Bill Clinton

Former President Bill Clinton appears on flight logs from May 2002 and 2003 aboard Epstein's Boeing 727, though the available flight manifests do not specifically identify Little St. James as a destination for Clinton's documented trips, which primarily show international destinations including Brussels, Oslo, Stockholm, Brunei, Hong Kong, and China.

Additional Identified Passengers to St. Thomas

Flight logs and COURT_giuffre-115cv07433_21-3.pdf document numerous flights to St. Thomas (TIST) carrying various passengers including:

• "Emmy Taylor"
• "Sarah Kellen" (SK)
• "Cindy Lopez"
• "Jean Luc" (Brunel)
• "Nadia" (likely Nadia Marcinkova)
• "Alberto Pinto"
• "Bob Meister"
• "Gary" (possibly pilot or staff)

Staff and Operations#

Island Management Personnel

Little St. James required a permanent staff to maintain operations. The RADYCA master plan designates a "Caretaker's Unit" (Location 37) and extensive "Service Areas" (Location 39), indicating dedicated on-site personnel. Email correspondence references multiple individuals involved in island maintenance including "Lance," "Brice Gordon," and "EIN."

Aviation Personnel

Larry Visoski served as Epstein's chief pilot and coordinated all aircraft operations to Little St. James. Visoski flew to St. Thomas regularly from Florida and New York, and his January 2012 email demonstrates direct coordination with Epstein on island transport. Notably, travel from the mainland U.S. to the Virgin Islands did not require customs processing, facilitating reduced scrutiny of passenger manifests. (See Flight Logs and Travel Evidence for comprehensive details on Visoski's operations and customs procedures.)

Administrative Coordination

Sarah Kellen, who managed Epstein's scheduling and travel, coordinated visits to Little St. James and was named as an unindicted co-conspirator in Epstein's 2008 non-prosecution agreement. (See Sarah Kellen for comprehensive details on her role in the trafficking network.)

Criminal Activity Documented on the Island#

Systematic Sex Trafficking Operations

The Government of the Virgin Islands' February 2020 civil enforcement action provides comprehensive documentation of criminal activity on Little St. James, alleging Epstein and his associates trafficked, raped, sexually assaulted and held captive underage girls and young women at the island property, exploiting its geographic isolation to avoid detection and prevent victims from escaping. (See archive document /drive/doj-5dc73717443ef4b2.pdf for the full complaint.)

Victim Testimony

Civil complaints filed by victims describe systematic abuse occurring across Epstein's properties, including Little St. James. A May 2009 complaint details Epstein's pattern of exploiting economically disadvantaged underage girls—some as young as 12—who were transported by his employees to properties including the island. (See Victims and Recruitment Patterns for full documentation of the trafficking scheme.)

Geographic Isolation as Facilitating Factor

The Virgin Islands lawsuit emphasizes that Little St. James "became an instrumentality" of Epstein's crimes specifically because of its geographic characteristics. The complaint states that the "private, secluded island" location enabled Epstein and his associates to "avoid detection of their illegal activity from Virgin Islands and federal law enforcement and prevent these young women and underage girls from leaving freely and escaping the abuse."

This geographic isolation was enhanced by Epstein's 2016 acquisition of neighboring Great St. James Island, which the complaint alleges was purchased "to further shield his conduct on Little St. James from view, prevent his detection by law enforcement or the public, and allow him to continue and conceal his criminal enterprise."

FBI Investigation and Search Warrant Execution#

August 12, 2019 Search Operation

Following Epstein's arrest on July 6, 2019, and death on August 10, 2019, the FBI executed a comprehensive search warrant on Little St. James Island on August 12, 2019. FBI Operations Order documents prepared on August 7, 2019, designate the operation as "Epstein, Jeffrey; Child Sex Trafficking" under case file number 31E-NY-3027571.

The operations plan states: "On August 10, 2019, a search warrant for Epstein's private island, Little Saint James located off the coast of St Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands is expected to be sworn out. The warrant will be executed on August 12, 2019." The operation was classified with a "Caution Statement" marking Epstein as "ARMED & DANGEROUS ESCAPE RISK."

Search Team Composition and Zones

The FBI deployed approximately 50 personnel for the search, including:

• FBI/NYPD joint agents
• FBI Evidence Response Team (ERT)
• FBI Rapid Deployment Team (RDT)
• FBI SWAT teams
• Computer forensics specialists (ITS)
• Tactical Helicopter Unit (THRU) team with paramedics

The operations order divided the island into four zones (Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta) and specified: "The group will divide into four teams and conduct a security sweep of the entire island, making entry into any and all structures. Team 1 will sweep ALPHA - Zone 1, Team 2 will sweep BRAVO - Zone 2, Team 3 will sweep CHARLIE- Zone 3, and Team 4 will sweep DELTA - Zone 4."

Evidence Collection

FBI photographic logs from August 12, 2019, document systematic photography and evidence collection across multiple structures:

Pool House (Zone C/D):

• Photos 1-67: Exterior, server racks, kitchenette, main room, bathroom, desk areas, utility closet
• Documentation of computer equipment serial numbers
• Photography of "contents of brush bag" and clothing in bathroom closet

Gazebo (Zone D):

• Photos 66-80: Overall structure, interior, utility closet, path to beach, beach gazebo

Temple (Zone D):

• Photos 86-109: Exterior and interior documentation
• FBI NY SWAT assisted with entry and search operations

Construction Yard (Zone D):

• Photos 110-119: Vehicles and equipment documentation

Gym (Zone D):

• Photos 120-153: Extensive documentation of gym facility

The administrative worksheet notes that search operations began at "Approximately 10:55 AM" under "Clear, sunny" weather conditions with "Sunny, ample lighting" providing visibility. The FBI maintained detailed sign-in logs documenting personnel, agencies, and times of entry and exit.

Aerial Reconnaissance

FBI aerial reconnaissance imagery compiled during the investigation identified multiple structures marked as "Potential two-story structure" and noted architectural elements including a "Dome not seen on video footage," suggesting modifications or removal of structures between planning phases and the search date.

Property Forfeiture and Estate Administration#

Estate Valuation

Following Epstein's death on August 10, 2019, his executors Darren K. Indyke and Richard D. Kahn filed a Petition for Probate on August 15, 2019, with the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands. The petition valued Epstein's Virgin Islands properties, including Little St. James and Great St. James, collectively at $86 million. The overall estate reported assets in the Virgin Islands totaling $577,672,654.00.

Epstein had amended and restated his will only two days before his death, transferring all property to The 1953 Trust, a move that complicated civil litigation by victims and government enforcement actions. The estate filing listed Nautilus, Inc.—which holds title to Little St. James—with holdings valued at $63.9 million, and Poplar, Inc.—listed as holding title to Great St. James—as separate corporate entities within the estate structure.

Virgin Islands Civil Enforcement Action

On February 20, 2020, the Government of the United States Virgin Islands filed a comprehensive civil enforcement action against the Estate of Jeffrey Epstein, Darren K. Indyke, Richard D. Kahn, The 1953 Trust, and multiple Epstein-controlled entities including Nautilus, Inc., Great St. Jim, LLC, Poplar, Inc., Plan D, LLC, Hyperion Air, LLC, and Southern Trust Company, Inc.

The complaint seeks damages for violations of Virgin Islands law and requests that Little St. James and Great St. James be declared "instrumentalities" of Epstein's crimes, subject to forfeiture. The complaint alleges that "Nautilus, Inc. participated in carrying out, facilitating and concealing Epstein's crimes, hence Little St. James became an instrumentality of those crimes" and similarly that "Great St. Jim, LLC participated in carrying out, concealing, facilitating and continuing Epstein's crimes, and Great St. James became an instrumentality of those crimes."

Ghislaine Maxwell's Claims Against the Estate

In July 2020, Ghislaine Maxwell filed suit in Virgin Islands Superior Court seeking reimbursement from Epstein's estate for legal fees, claiming she was owed indemnification under agreements with Epstein. Maxwell's litigation against the estate demonstrates the complex web of financial relationships that operated through Virgin Islands corporate entities, though her December 2021 conviction on federal sex trafficking charges significantly undermined any claims to contractual protections.

See Also#

• Ghislaine Maxwell - Epstein's primary accomplice who traveled to Little St. James on multiple documented occasions
• Jean-Luc Brunel - French modeling agent documented on the island by FBI investigators
• Sarah Kellen - Epstein's scheduler who coordinated travel to the island
• Flight Logs and Travel Evidence - Comprehensive documentation of travel to St. Thomas
• Palm Beach Estate - Epstein's Florida property that served as the mainland hub of his trafficking operation
• Manhattan Townhouse - Epstein's New York residence where victims were trafficked from to other properties
• Zorro Ranch - Epstein's New Mexico property
• 2007 Non-Prosecution Agreement - Federal agreement that granted immunity to co-conspirators including those who facilitated island operations
• Epstein's Co-Conspirators - Network of individuals who enabled operations across all properties