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@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ DEA agent [[Celerino Castillo]] discovered Contra cocaine trafficking at [[Ilopa
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### Castillo Investigation and Ilopango
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Celerino Castillo discovered Contra cocaine trafficking at Ilopango Air Force Base in El Salvador and was subsequently forced to retire.[^2] Castillo began firing off reports to DEA headquarters in January 1986 about suspicious activities of Contra pilots, listing their names, destinations, tail numbers, and criminal records. He received no replies and no offers of assistance. When Ambassador Edwin Corr requested an internal DEA review, the DEA informed him that Castillo's information was "totally inaccurate" and ordered him to close the investigation. The DEA later claimed under FOIA that it had no reports from Castillo about drug trafficking at Ilopango - a claim the Justice Department Inspector General exposed as false, having located and quoted from the reports.[^6]
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Celerino Castillo discovered Contra cocaine trafficking at Ilopango Air Force Base in El Salvador and was subsequently forced to retire.[^2] Castillo began firing off reports to DEA headquarters in January 1986 about suspicious activities of Contra pilots, listing their names, destinations, tail numbers, and criminal records. He received no replies and no offers of assistance. When Ambassador Edwin Corr requested an internal DEA review, the DEA informed him that Castillo's information was "totally inaccurate" and ordered him to close the investigation. The DEA later claimed under FOIA that it had no reports from Castillo about drug trafficking at Ilopango - a claim the [[Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General|Justice Department Inspector General]] exposed as false, having located and quoted from the reports.[^6]
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### Costa Rica: Kelso Investigation
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@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
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---
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category: "U.S. Government"
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tags:
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- Organization
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- DepartmentOfJustice
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- InspectorGeneral
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- FederalBureauOfPrisons
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- JeffreyEpstein
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- MetropolitanCorrectionalCenter
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- Oversight
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alias:
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- DOJ Office of Inspector General
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- DOJ Office of the Inspector General
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- DOJ OIG
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- Justice Department's Inspector General
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- Justice Department Inspector General
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summary: "Internal watchdog of the Justice Department whose June 2023 report on Jeffrey Epstein's custody found jail staff failures but no evidence contradicting the FBI's finding of no criminality in his death."
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location: "Washington, D.C."
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created: 2026-09-25
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updated: 2026-09-25
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relations:
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- type: investigated
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with: "[[Federal Bureau of Prisons]]"
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role: "custody, care and supervision of Jeffrey Epstein, Report 23-085"
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start: 2019-08
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end: 2023-06
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fn: 1
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- type: head_of
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with: "[[Michael Horowitz]]"
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reverse: true
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role: "inspector general"
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fn: 2
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- type: head_of
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with: "[[Don R. Berthiaume]]"
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reverse: true
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role: "acting inspector general"
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fn: 3
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---
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The Office of the Inspector General of the [[Department of Justice]] is the department's statutory internal auditor and investigator. It is a separate office from the department's [[Office of Professional Responsibility]], which reviewed the prosecutors' handling of [[Jeffrey Epstein]]'s 2007 [[Epstein non-prosecution agreement|non-prosecution agreement]]. With the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]], the inspector general investigated the [[Federal Bureau of Prisons]]' custody of Epstein at the [[Metropolitan Correctional Center, New York|Metropolitan Correctional Center]] in New York, where he died on August 10, 2019, and issued Report 23-085 in June 2023 under Inspector General [[Michael Horowitz]]. In January 2026 the ranking Democrats of the House Judiciary and Oversight committees asked the office, then led by Acting Inspector General Don R. Berthiaume, to investigate staff misconduct at [[Federal Prison Camp Bryan]], where [[Ghislaine Maxwell]] was held.[^1][^2][^3]
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### Report 23-085
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The investigation was conducted jointly with the FBI, which examined whether a crime caused Epstein's death while the inspector general examined the conduct of bureau personnel; the office interviewed 54 witnesses. The report withheld most staff names, identifying employees by role, except the two officers who were criminally charged, [[Tova Noel]] and [[Michael Thomas]].[^1]
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It recorded that on July 23, 2019 staff found Epstein "lying on the floor with a piece of orange cloth around his neck," that he first said his cellmate "tried to kill him" and later said he did not remember how he was injured, and that after leaving psychological observation he "asked two different MCC New York staff members if he can be housed with the same cellmate." On July 30 a staff psychologist emailed more than 70 bureau employees that Epstein "needs to be housed with an appropriate cellmate." His cellmate was transferred out on the morning of August 9 and no replacement was assigned.[^1]
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The jail's camera system had been under an upgrade since contracts were awarded in September 2018. Disk failures on July 29 and 30, 2019 left the second of its two recording systems, which covered about half of the cameras including those in the Special Housing Unit, unable to record; staff learned of it on August 8 and had not completed repairs by Epstein's death. One camera still recording covered the common area and the stairs to Epstein's tier, but not his cell door.[^1]
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On the evening of August 9, "contrary to BOP policy but with the permission of a Unit Manager," Epstein placed an unmonitored call, purportedly to his mother, who had died in 2004. The recipient, identified as Individual 1, declined to be interviewed; through a lawyer Individual 1 told the [[U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York]] that the call lasted about 20 minutes and that Individual 1 was in [[Belarus]] at the time. A staff member told the office that one of Epstein's attorneys had earlier asked him "how Epstein could get an unmonitored call." Staff did not conduct the required counts and rounds from about 10:40 p.m. until 6:30 a.m., when Noel and Thomas found him. Noel and Thomas were indicted on November 19, 2019 for falsifying records; they entered deferred prosecution agreements on May 25, 2021 and the charges were dismissed on December 13, 2021. The U.S. Attorney's Office declined to prosecute other employees who the office found had also created false documentation.[^1]
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The report made eight recommendations to the bureau, on cellmate assignments after suicide watch, monitoring of high-risk inmates, telephone authorization, accounting for inmates, cell searches, staffing and cameras, and stated: "Since at least 2015, the OIG has repeatedly found the need for BOP to address staffing shortages." It stated that the office "did not uncover evidence contradicting the FBI's determination regarding the absence of criminality," and that three inmates with a view of Epstein's cell door said no one entered or left it after he was returned to it on August 9.[^1]
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### Horowitz's Statement and the Warden's Response
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In a recorded message released with the report, Horowitz said that "MCC New York staff failed to ensure Epstein was assigned a cellmate as instructed by MCC New York's Psychology Department following an incident on July 23rd where Epstein was found unresponsive in his cell with a cloth wrapped around his neck," that staff "failed to undertake required measures" including "inmate counts and rounds, and searches of cells," that a search would have found "excess prison blankets, linens, and clothing," and that the camera system was not "fully functional." He said the office "did not uncover evidence contradicting the FBI's determination that there was no criminality in connection with how Epstein died," and that the failures "deprived Epstein's numerous victims of the opportunity to seek justice through the criminal justice system."[^2]
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The retired warden of the jail, whose name is redacted in the released copy, answered the April 5, 2023 draft in a memorandum to Horowitz disputing its finding that he "used poor judgement in not selecting a backup cellmate for Jeffrey Epstein while he was housed in the Special Housing Unit." He wrote that the unit's population was "constantly being moved to other units, being transferred, or released," that staff had "vetted several inmates as potential cellmates" and identified "only one," and that "there were no potential backup inmates to be housed with Mr. Epstein during the period he was housed in the SHU."[^4]
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The unsigned Justice Department and FBI memorandum of July 7, 2025, which stated that the government's review of its Epstein holdings "revealed no incriminating 'client list,'" cited the office's June 2023 conclusions as consistent with the FBI's finding that Epstein "committed suicide in his cell."[^5]
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### FPC Bryan
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On January 23, 2026 Representatives [[Jamie Raskin]] and [[Robert Garcia]] wrote to Attorney General [[Pam Bondi]] and Acting Inspector General Berthiaume, citing "over a dozen whistleblowers" at Federal Prison Camp Bryan who alleged that Maxwell had been permitted "to use a laptop, unsupervised," that the warden "fired those who made protected disclosures to Congress," and that inmates had suffered "widespread sexual abuse and misconduct." They asked the inspector general to "initiate an investigation into the reported staff misconduct."[^3]
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### Footnotes
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[^1]: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General, "Investigation and Review of the Federal Bureau of Prisons' Custody, Care, and Supervision of Jeffrey Epstein at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York, New York," Report 23-085, June 2023, pp. i to iv, 1 to 6, 14 to 20, 58 to 60, 94 to 115. https://oig.justice.gov/sites/default/files/reports/23-085.pdf
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[^2]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA02847763, Prior DOJ Disclosures, transcript, "A Message from the Inspector General," June 2023. https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/Prior%20DOJ%20Disclosures/Memos.%20%26%20Correspondence/EFTA02847763.pdf
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[^3]: House Judiciary Committee Democrats, "Ranking Members Raskin, Garcia Demand Answers for Rampant Sexual Abuse and Misconduct Uncovered at FPC Bryan; Announce Congressional Oversight Visit," press release, January 23, 2026. https://democrats-judiciary.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/ranking-members-raskin-garcia-demand-answers-for-rampant-sexual-abuse-and-misconduct-uncovered-at-fpc-bryan-announce-congressional-oversight-visit
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[^4]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA00064564, DataSet 9, memorandum for Michael E. Horowitz, Inspector General, from the retired Warden of MCC New York (name redacted), response to the draft report of April 5, 2023. https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA00064564.pdf
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[^5]: U.S. Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation, unsigned memorandum on the review of investigative holdings relating to Jeffrey Epstein, July 7, 2025. https://www.justice.gov/opa/media/1407001/dl?inline
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@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ In January 2015 the authority's director of compliance requested an assessment o
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In its January 2020 civil action against the Epstein estate, the territory alleged that Southern Trust fraudulently induced the commission to grant its benefits. The November 2022 settlement returned "more than $80 million in economic development tax benefits that Epstein and his co-defendants fraudulently obtained." In the territory's 2022 suit against JPMorgan, the bank's consultant [[Carlyn Irwin]] found that "the EDC did not investigate or question" Epstein's claims, including "computer generated solutions for medical problems"; that the territory, expecting 1.30 dollars in economic benefit for each dollar of tax benefit, received a return of pennies on the dollar; and that "giving Mr. Epstein $300 million in benefits made no economic sense." Irwin also found that Epstein "funneled a $15,000 donation from Southern Trust to Ms. Plaskett and a $10,000 donation to the Mapp-Potter Inaugural committee." Plaskett acknowledged in a May 2023 deposition receiving about 30,000 dollars in campaign contributions from Epstein and his employees.[^3][^5][^7]
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The Virgin Islands Department of Justice answered JPMorgan's account of the program through its spokesperson Venetia Velazquez, who said that "the USVI identified and addressed deficiencies in Southern Trust's and Financial Trust's compliance with the federal tax incentive program." As of June 2023 the territory had not amended its law to bar registered sex offenders from obtaining incentive certificates. Companies affiliated with the investor [[Stephen Deckoff]], who bought Little St. James and [[Great St. James]] from the Epstein estate in 2023, have held commission benefits since 2012.[^2][^5][^8]
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The [[Virgin Islands Department of Justice]] answered JPMorgan's account of the program through its spokesperson Venetia Velazquez, who said that "the USVI identified and addressed deficiencies in Southern Trust's and Financial Trust's compliance with the federal tax incentive program." As of June 2023 the territory had not amended its law to bar registered sex offenders from obtaining incentive certificates. Companies affiliated with the investor [[Stephen Deckoff]], who bought Little St. James and [[Great St. James]] from the Epstein estate in 2023, have held commission benefits since 2012.[^2][^5][^8]
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### Footnotes
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---
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category: "U.S. Government"
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tags:
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- Organization
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- VirginIslands
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- Legislature
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- JeffreyEpstein
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- SexOffenderRegistration
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- GovernmentCapture
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- PublicCorruption
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alias:
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- Virgin Islands Legislature
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- V.I. Legislature
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- USVI Legislature
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- Legislature of the U.S. Virgin Islands
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- 29th Legislature of the Virgin Islands
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- Senate of the Virgin Islands
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summary: "Unicameral legislature of the U.S. Virgin Islands, whose 2012 sex-offender travel law Epstein's circle sought to shape through senators Carlton Dowe and Celestino White, and several of whose former members dealt with Epstein."
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location: "Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands"
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relations:
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- type: member_of
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with: "[[Wayne James]]"
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reverse: true
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start: 2009-01
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role: "senator, 28th Legislature"
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fn: 11
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created: 2026-09-25
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updated: 2026-09-25
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---
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The Legislature of the Virgin Islands is the unicameral legislative body of the [[U.S. Virgin Islands]], whose members are called senators and which sits in numbered Legislatures. Under the [[Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands|Revised Organic Act]] it confirms the heads of executive departments, including the Attorney General, and the members of boards such as that of the [[Virgin Islands Port Authority]], which the Seventh Legislature created in 1968. In 2012 the 29th Legislature passed the sex-offender monitoring law whose 21-day travel notice the Attorney General waived for [[Jeffrey Epstein]] weeks later at the request of his lawyers; [[Cecile de Jongh]], the office manager of his companies, had told him she would "need to work through Dowe and White," the senators [[Carlton Dowe]] and [[Celestino White]], to change it. Senators and former senators who dealt with Epstein include Dowe, White and [[Kenneth Mapp]].[^1][^2][^3][^4]
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### Composition
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The Revised Organic Act of 1954 vests legislative power in the Legislature. The act fixed the number of senators at fifteen from 1966 until 2000, when Congress left the number to territorial law. It provides that the governor appoints the heads of the executive departments "with the advice and consent of the legislature," and that the head of the department of law "shall be known as the attorney general of the Virgin Islands." The Seventh Legislature passed Act 2375 on December 24, 1968, establishing the Port Authority; board members of the authority are limited to two terms unless the Legislature finds that a nominee has rendered "exceptional service."[^1][^2][^5]
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### The 2011 and 2012 Sex-Offender Legislation
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The second amended complaint in [[Doe 1 v. Government of the United States Virgin Islands]] quotes emails of May 15, 2011 in which Cecile de Jongh, wife of Governor [[John de Jongh]], and Epstein discussed revisions to pending sex-offender monitoring legislation: "to waive the notice requirement all together will not be acceptable to the federal DOJ program managers...remember they must review and determine if we are in compliance....this is the suggested language, will it work for you?" The complaint describes the exchange as Cecile de Jongh "working on revisions to legislation for sex offender monitoring to avoid 'violating' Epstein's 'Privacy. Restrict my business and livelihood,'" with a deadline because the "AG needs to submit by June 1."[^4]
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On May 15, 2012 the Legislative Secretary of the 29th Legislature, Senator [[Samuel Sanes]], wrote to Senator Lisle R. Richards, chairman of the Committee on Public Safety, Homeland Security and Justice, asking him to consider Bill No. 29-0239, "amending chapter 86 of title 14 of the Virgin Islands Code, to expand the laws of the Territory regarding the monitoring and tracking of sex offenders within this jurisdiction." The letter is among Epstein's files released by the [[Department of Justice|Justice Department]]. The Rules and Judiciary Committee heard the bill on June 21, 2012, and it was enacted as Act No. 7372, with a 21-day advance notice requirement for travel that the Attorney General could reduce. Epstein's lawyer [[Maria Tankenson Hodge]] later wrote to Attorney General [[Vincent Frazer]] that "both you and Senator Russell stated during the hearing on the Act before the Rules and Judiciary Committee on June 21, 2012, that the travel notification requirements of this Act were specifically not intended to be penal in nature."[^3][^6]
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On July 1, 2012, according to the Doe complaint, Cecile de Jongh wrote to Epstein: "Will need to work through Dowe and White" to change the legislation. "In the meantime, we will work with Vincent to give the discretion for status quo for you - thats the least he can do." Frazer reduced Epstein's notice period to 24 hours on August 14, 2012. The complaint alleged that "Epstein was thus allowed to circumvent the recently passed legislation with assistance of Senator Carlton Dowe, Senator Celestino White, and Attorney General Vincent Frazer," and listed against both senators "Changed sex trafficking law in accord with Epstein's lawyer's recommendations." It also alleged that Governor Mapp asked Epstein to help develop a way for [[Economic Development Commission]] beneficiaries to repatriate their income, "and one of Epstein's lawyers drafted proposed legislation for the Governor," and listed "Drafted EDC legislation" in the entry for White. As of June 2023 the territory had not amended its law to bar registered sex offenders from receiving the commission's tax-incentive certificates. The claims against every defendant but Delegate [[Stacey Plaskett]] were dismissed in March 2025 for lack of personal jurisdiction in New York, without a ruling on the allegations.[^3][^4][^7][^8]
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### Senators and Epstein
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White, a former police chief who left the Legislature in 2013, signed a contractor's and confidentiality agreement with Epstein for 10,000 dollars in August 2013, and in February 2015 Cecile de Jongh suggested putting him on "some sort of monthly retainer...that is what will get you his loyalty and access." Dowe, a senator in 2004 and until 2013, became executive director of the Port Authority in January 2013 and returned to the post in 2019 after Cecile de Jongh asked Epstein whether he would support his bid. Mapp, who served three terms as a senator from [[St. Croix]], became governor in 2015 and sought a 275 million dollar loan and campaign money from Epstein. The Doe complaint's chart described Plaskett as Epstein's "friend" against "prior Senator Sean Malone 'who came after Epstein.'" In October 2014 Epstein agreed to give 15,000 dollars to the St. Croix District Democratic Party.[^4][^8][^9]
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[[David Bornn]], a partner from 2017 in [[Kellerhals Ferguson Kroblin]], the firm of Epstein's territorial counsel [[Erika Kellerhals]], and later chief legal counsel to Governor [[Albert Bryan]], is described in his 2026 law firm profile as maintaining "access to key local players within the Virgin Islands Government and the Virgin Islands Legislature."[^10]
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### The Fireburn Embezzlement
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[[Wayne James]], elected from St. Croix to the 28th Legislature in 2008, obtained the Legislature's approval shortly after taking office to research the 1878 Fireburn, the post-slavery labor uprising on St. Croix under Danish rule, and from April 2009 submitted requests for funds to copy and translate Fireburn documents at the Danish National Archives. After the Internal Revenue Bureau began garnishing his legislative salary over a 197,000 dollar tax levy, he submitted fake invoices, causing the Legislature to pay him more than 90,000 dollars, of which he kept about 70,000 dollars, including 20,000 dollars for his re-election campaign. He received more than 1,600 pages of documents and never delivered them to the Legislature. A federal jury convicted him of wire fraud and theft of federal program funds on August 16, 2018.[^11]
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### 2026
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After the Justice Department's release of [[Epstein Files|Epstein files]] in January 2026, Governor Bryan said on March 2, 2026 that he would "absolutely" support a legislative inquiry, adding, "even if I had told DPNR to grant his permit, it's perfectly within the right and power of the governor of the Virgin Islands... So what would the investigation be about?" On March 18, 2026 the Legislature confirmed White, the board chairman Willard John and Leona Smith to further terms on the Port Authority board under the "exceptional service" exception, by votes of 11 to 3, with Senators [[Kenneth Gittens]], Franklin Johnson and Clifford Joseph Sr. opposed. Two days later a federal bank fraud indictment against Dowe was unsealed.[^5][^12]
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### Footnotes
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[^1]: 48 U.S.C. section 1571, "Legislature," United States Code, 2023 edition, with amendment notes for Pub. L. 89-548 (1966) and Pub. L. 106-364 (2000). https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2023-title48/html/USCODE-2023-title48-chap12-subchapIII-sec1571.htm
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[^2]: 48 U.S.C. section 1597, "Reorganization of government," United States Code, 2023 edition; Virgin Islands Port Authority, "Our History," accessed September 25, 2026. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2023-title48/html/USCODE-2023-title48-chap12-subchapIV-sec1597.htm ; https://www.viport.com/our-history
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[^3]: Government of the United States Virgin Islands v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., No. 1:22-cv-10904-JSR (S.D.N.Y.), Exhibit 83, ECF No. 194-24 (filed June 20, 2023), pp. 36 to 47 (Hodge letters of July 16 and July 30, 2012; Frazer letters of July 25 and August 14, 2012). https://web.archive.org/web/20260117011719/https://www.justice.gov/multimedia/Court%20Records/Government%20of%20the%20United%20States%20Virgin%20Islands%20v.%20JPMorgan%20Chase%20Bank,%20N.A.,%20No.%20122-cv-10904%20(S.D.N.Y.%202022)/194-24.pdf
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[^4]: Doe 1 v. Government of the United States Virgin Islands, No. 1:23-cv-10301-AS (S.D.N.Y.), Second Amended Complaint, ECF No. 112 (May 24, 2024), paragraphs 4 to 6 and charts (Exhibits B, E, F, G and J), pp. 2 to 8, and paragraphs 135 and 161. https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.610915/gov.uscourts.nysd.610915.112.0.pdf
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[^5]: Eader, Tom. "VIPA ED Carlton Dowe indicted on bank fraud, tells board of retirement same day as court appearance." *WTJX,* March 20, 2026. https://newsfeed.wtjx.org/2026-03-20/vipa-ed-carlton-dowe-indicted-on-bank-fraud-tells-board-of-retirement-same-day-as-court-appearance
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[^6]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA01119862, DataSet 9, letter on 29th Legislature of the Virgin Islands letterhead from Senator Samuel Sanes to Senator Lisle R. Richards, May 15, 2012. https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA01119862.pdf
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[^7]: Carlson, Suzanne. "Court filings show V.I. First Lady's loyalty to Epstein." *Virgin Islands Daily News,* June 21, 2023. https://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/news/court-filings-show-v-i-first-ladys-loyalty-to-epstein/article_c2dca0a7-a243-5365-88c0-389c576ad022.html
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[^8]: Doe 1 v. Government of the United States Virgin Islands, No. 1:23-cv-10301-AS (S.D.N.Y.), Opinion and Order, ECF No. 202 (March 21, 2025), pp. 1 to 2, 10. https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.610915/gov.uscourts.nysd.610915.202.0.pdf
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[^9]: Carlson, Suzanne. "Files reveal Epstein's efforts to influence V.I. officials; emails with Mapp." *Virgin Islands Daily News,* February 2, 2026. https://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/news/files-reveal-epstein-s-efforts-to-influence-v-i-officials-emails-with-mapp/article_2dd4fe69-4daf-4dc2-b3b8-37a929002bb6.html ; Virgin Islands Port Authority, "Our History." https://www.viport.com/our-history ; U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Public Affairs, press release 04-560, August 13, 2004. https://www.justice.gov/archive/opa/pr/2004/August/04_crm_560.htm
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[^10]: Winston & Strawn LLP (Winston Taylor LLP), "David A. Bornn," attorney profile, accessed September 25, 2026. https://www.winston.com/en/professionals/bornn-david-a
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[^11]: U.S. Attorney's Office, District of the Virgin Islands, "Former Senator Wayne James Found Guilty on Wire Fraud and Embezzlement of Government Funds," August 16, 2018, captured May 25, 2026. https://web.archive.org/web/20260525040514/https://www.justice.gov/usao-vi/pr/former-senator-wayne-james-found-guilty-wire-fraud-and-embezzlement-government-funds
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[^12]: "Bryan 'Absolutely' Supports an Epstein Inquiry, Denies Wrongdoing." *St. Thomas Source,* March 2, 2026. https://web.archive.org/web/20260809212846/https://stthomassource.com/content/2026/03/02/bryan-absolutely-supports-an-epstein-inquiry-denies-wrongdoing/
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@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ The State Department under Secretary of State [[Henry Kissinger]] received over
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### Dark Alliance Investigation
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The State Department granted [[Danilo Blandon|Danilo Blandón]] political asylum in 1984 despite the [[DEA]] having identified him as a major cocaine trafficker since 1983. It is State Department policy to check with the DEA before approving asylum applications. When the Justice Department's Inspector General examined Blandón's immigration records, he found them "in disarray." The same occurred with Blandón's wife [[Chepita Blandon|Chepita]], granted asylum in 1985 despite being reported as a "member of a cocaine distribution organization."[^8]
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The State Department granted [[Danilo Blandon|Danilo Blandón]] political asylum in 1984 despite the [[DEA]] having identified him as a major cocaine trafficker since 1983. It is State Department policy to check with the DEA before approving asylum applications. When the [[Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General|Justice Department's Inspector General]] examined Blandón's immigration records, he found them "in disarray." The same occurred with Blandón's wife [[Chepita Blandon|Chepita]], granted asylum in 1985 despite being reported as a "member of a cocaine distribution organization."[^8]
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The State Department's Office of Public Diplomacy for [[Latin America]] was described by a 1992 House committee report as "a domestic, covert operation designed to lobby the Congress, manipulate the media and influence domestic public opinion" regarding the Contra war. The State Department issued a White Paper on Contra drug allegations that belittled every claim except those involving the [[Sandinistas]], studiously avoiding any mention of [[Norwin Meneses]].[^9]
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@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
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---
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category: "U.S. Government"
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tags:
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- Organization
|
||||
- VirginIslands
|
||||
- AttorneyGeneral
|
||||
- JeffreyEpstein
|
||||
- SexOffenderRegistration
|
||||
- GhislaineMaxwell
|
||||
- GovernmentCapture
|
||||
alias:
|
||||
- VIDOJ
|
||||
- V.I. Department of Justice
|
||||
- U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Justice
|
||||
- Virgin Islands Attorney General
|
||||
- Attorney General of the Virgin Islands
|
||||
summary: "Law department of the U.S. Virgin Islands, headed by a governor-appointed attorney general, which kept Jeffrey Epstein's sex-offender registration, waived his travel notice, then sued his estate and subpoenaed Ghislaine Maxwell."
|
||||
location: "34-38 Kronprindsens Gade, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands"
|
||||
relations:
|
||||
- type: head_of
|
||||
with: "[[Denise George]]"
|
||||
reverse: true
|
||||
start: 2019-05
|
||||
end: 2022-12-31
|
||||
role: "Attorney General"
|
||||
fn: 9
|
||||
- type: investigated
|
||||
with: "[[Ghislaine Maxwell]]"
|
||||
start: 2020-03-19
|
||||
role: "CICO subpoena duces tecum"
|
||||
fn: 10
|
||||
- type: head_of
|
||||
with: "[[Gordon Rhea]]"
|
||||
reverse: true
|
||||
start: 2024
|
||||
role: "Attorney General"
|
||||
fn: 9
|
||||
created: 2026-09-25
|
||||
updated: 2026-09-25
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
The Virgin Islands Department of Justice is the law department of the [[Government of the United States Virgin Islands]], headed by the Attorney General of the Virgin Islands and housed at 34-38 Kronprindsens Gade, in the GERS Building on [[St. Thomas]]. Under the [[Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands|Revised Organic Act]] the Attorney General is appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the [[Legislature of the Virgin Islands|Legislature]] and serves while that governor remains in office "unless sooner removed by the Governor." The department kept the territorial sex-offender registry on which [[Jeffrey Epstein]] was listed, reduced his required notice of travel to 24 hours in 2012, revoked the reduction in 2019, and after his death sued his estate, sought to intervene in [[Ghislaine Maxwell|Ghislaine Maxwell's]] indemnification suit against it, and sued [[JPMorgan Chase]]. Governor [[Albert Bryan]] removed the Attorney General who brought the estate and bank cases days after the bank suit was filed.[^1][^2][^3][^4]
|
||||
|
||||
### Structure
|
||||
|
||||
The Revised Organic Act of 1954 directed the governor to consolidate the territorial government into no more than nine executive departments. As amended in 1959, it provides that "the head of the department of law shall be known as the attorney general of the Virgin Islands," and that the heads of the executive departments "shall be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the legislature. Each shall hold office during the continuance in office of the Governor by whom he is appointed and until his successor is appointed and qualified, unless sooner removed by the Governor." Governor Bryan said in March 2026 that the act gave the governor supervision of every department: "I could just tell them do it, you don't do it, you're fired."[^1][^5]
|
||||
|
||||
### Epstein's Registration and Travel Notices
|
||||
|
||||
The territory's Sexual Offender Registration and Community Protection Act, 14 V.I.C. section 1721 et seq., requires registered offenders to register where they reside and to appear periodically in person to verify their information. In 2009 Epstein's lawyers wrote to Attorney General [[Vincent Frazer]], describing Epstein as "a full-time resident of the Virgin Islands, who maintains his home at [[Little St. James]]," to seek the transfer of his [[Florida]] supervision to the territory. He renewed his registration each year, and the department also visited or attempted to visit Little St. James for additional address checks. The 2023 trafficking suit against the territory alleged that he had been classified as a Tier 1 offender when he should have been Tier 2.[^2][^6][^7]
|
||||
|
||||
In 2012 the Legislature passed Act No. 7372, which required 21 days' notice of travel and allowed the Attorney General to reduce it. After meeting Epstein's lawyers [[Maria Tankenson Hodge]] and [[Darren Indyke]], Frazer granted a waiver on July 25, 2012, and on August 14, 2012 allowed Epstein to notify the department "twenty four (24) hours prior to his departure." [[Cecile de Jongh]], the wife of Governor [[John de Jongh]] and office manager of Epstein's companies, had written to Epstein on July 1, 2012, according to a later complaint: "we will work with Vincent to give the discretion for status quo for you - thats the least he can do." At his last verification, in July 2018, Epstein refused to let department investigators, assisted by the [[United States Marshals Service|U.S. Marshals]], past the dock of Little St. James, calling it his "front door," and arranged to meet them at his office on St. Thomas. A March 19, 2019 travel notice stated that he would fly to France for ten days; law enforcement later found that he had also gone to Vienna and Monaco.[^2][^7][^8]
|
||||
|
||||
Acting Attorney General [[Carol Thomas-Jacobs]] revoked the 24-hour arrangement on March 14, 2019. On April 30, 2019 the firm of Epstein's territorial counsel, [[Erika Kellerhals]], asked the incoming Attorney General, [[Denise George]], to reinstate it; on June 2, 2019 George answered that she had not been presented with the documentation required for a waiver, "nor does the VIDOJ have any record of such documentation ever having been submitted to the VIDOJ." In an October 2, 2023 interview with the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]], George said that Bryan had told her in her first weeks that Epstein wanted a waiver and had texted her, "you need to make a decision on the Epstein matter," and that she "believed that Frazer was pressured by then Governor John De Jongh" to grant the original waiver.[^7][^9]
|
||||
|
||||
### The Estate Case and the Maxwell Subpoena
|
||||
|
||||
After Epstein's death, George filed the territory's suit against his estate on January 15, 2020 in the [[Superior Court of the Virgin Islands]] under the territory's [[Criminally Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act]], later adding the co-executors Indyke and [[Richard Kahn]]. She told the FBI that Bryan's first response was "He's dead go for it," that his tone later changed to "End it quickly," and that he told her to settle for 80 million dollars with [[Henry Smock]], who had assisted Epstein's 1998 purchase of Little St. James, as mediator. When the department's outside counsel, [[Motley Rice]], began interviewing estate employees, she received a call from Bryan's chief legal counsel, [[David Bornn]], a former partner of Kellerhals, relaying that Kellerhals wanted to know what George was investigating. Bryan also sent the Port Authority director, [[Carlton Dowe]], to press her to settle. The case settled on December 1, 2022 for 105 million dollars in cash, the return of more than 80 million dollars in tax benefits, and half the proceeds of the sale of Little St. James.[^3][^9]
|
||||
|
||||
In 2020 Maxwell sued the estate, its executors and NES, LLC in the Superior Court, No. ST-20-CV-155, seeking indemnification and advancement of her legal expenses "incurred by reason of her prior employment relationship with decedent Jeffrey E. Epstein." The department moved to intervene, arguing that her claims threatened to dissipate estate assets before any forfeiture or disgorgement judgment in its own case. The motion also disclosed that the department was investigating Maxwell herself under section 612 of the act, had issued a "CICO Subpoena Duces Tecum" to her dated March 19, 2020 in "an ongoing investigation...of the rape, abuse, exploitation and trafficking of young women and underage girls by Jeffrey E. Epstein and his associates," and that "Maxwell resisted and evaded service of the subpoena during the three and a half months after its issuance." The federal indictment against Maxwell in the [[U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York|Southern District of New York]] was unsealed on July 2, 2020, the day of her arrest.[^10][^11]
|
||||
|
||||
### The JPMorgan Suit and George's Removal
|
||||
|
||||
George sued JPMorgan Chase in the U.S. District Court for the [[U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York|Southern District of New York]] on December 27, 2022, and Bryan removed her on December 31, 2022. Thomas-Jacobs became acting Attorney General on January 1, 2023 and in 2023 signed the territory's 62.5 million dollar settlement with [[Leon Black]] over his payments to Epstein. In 2024 Bryan appointed [[Gordon Rhea]], who had represented Kahn in the estate litigation and said he would recuse himself from Epstein matters. After her removal George received a cease-and-desist letter over her press interviews and later became a federal prosecutor in the [[United States Attorney for the District of the Virgin Islands|U.S. Attorney's Office for the Virgin Islands]].[^4][^9][^12]
|
||||
|
||||
### Footnotes
|
||||
|
||||
[^1]: 48 U.S.C. section 1597, "Reorganization of government," United States Code, 2023 edition (Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands, July 22, 1954, ch. 558, section 16, as amended by Pub. L. 86-289, 1959). https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2023-title48/html/USCODE-2023-title48-chap12-subchapIV-sec1597.htm
|
||||
[^2]: Government of the United States Virgin Islands v. Estate of Jeffrey E. Epstein, No. ST-20-CV-14 (V.I. Super. Ct.), Second Amended Complaint, paragraphs 130 to 134, filed as Exhibit 1 to Government of the United States Virgin Islands v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., No. 1:22-cv-10904-JSR (S.D.N.Y.), ECF No. 1-1 (December 27, 2022), ECF pp. 28 to 29. https://web.archive.org/web/20260117011558/https://www.justice.gov/multimedia/Court%20Records/Government%20of%20the%20United%20States%20Virgin%20Islands%20v.%20JPMorgan%20Chase%20Bank,%20N.A.,%20No.%20122-cv-10904%20(S.D.N.Y.%202022)/001-01.pdf
|
||||
[^3]: "U.S. Virgin Islands Attorney General Settles Sex Trafficking Case Against Estate of Jeffrey Epstein and Co-Defendants for Over $105 Million." *Government of the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Justice,* December 1, 2022. https://usvidoj.com/u-s-virgin-islands-attorney-general-settles-sex-trafficking-case-against-estate-of-jeffrey-epstein-and-co-defendants-for-over-105-million/
|
||||
[^4]: "Virgin Islands prosecutor fired after accusing JPMorgan of aiding Epstein's sex trafficking ring." *The Washington Times,* January 3, 2023. https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2023/jan/3/virgin-islands-prosecutor-fired-after-accusing-jpm/
|
||||
[^5]: Carlson, Suzanne. "Bryan unapologetic for texts with Epstein, doubles down on denial of wrongdoing." *Virgin Islands Daily News,* March 3, 2026. https://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/news/bryan-unapologetic-for-texts-with-epstein-doubles-down-on-denial-of-wrongdoing/article_8bab46a1-6075-4c7c-abec-6efb19622e62.html
|
||||
[^6]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA00727487, DataSet 9, letter from counsel for Jeffrey Epstein to Attorney General Vincent F. Frazer requesting transfer of Epstein's supervision, 2009. https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA00727487.pdf ; Doe 1 v. Government of the United States Virgin Islands, No. 1:23-cv-10301-AS (S.D.N.Y.), Second Amended Complaint, ECF No. 112 (May 24, 2024), chart, p. 6. https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.610915/gov.uscourts.nysd.610915.112.0.pdf
|
||||
[^7]: Government of the United States Virgin Islands v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., No. 1:22-cv-10904-JSR (S.D.N.Y.), Exhibit 83, ECF No. 194-24 (filed June 20, 2023), pp. 2 to 7, 36 to 47, 56 to 58; the building address at p. 2. https://web.archive.org/web/20260117011719/https://www.justice.gov/multimedia/Court%20Records/Government%20of%20the%20United%20States%20Virgin%20Islands%20v.%20JPMorgan%20Chase%20Bank,%20N.A.,%20No.%20122-cv-10904%20(S.D.N.Y.%202022)/194-24.pdf
|
||||
[^8]: Doe 1 v. Government of the United States Virgin Islands, No. 1:23-cv-10301-AS (S.D.N.Y.), Second Amended Complaint, ECF No. 112 (May 24, 2024), paragraph 4 and chart (Exhibit F), pp. 3 to 4. https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.610915/gov.uscourts.nysd.610915.112.0.pdf
|
||||
[^9]: Carlson, Suzanne. "Docs confirm Bryan pressed for special treatment of sex offender." *Virgin Islands Daily News,* February 2, 2026 (FBI notes of an October 2, 2023 interview with Denise George, released January 30, 2026; Rhea's appointment and recusal). https://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/news/docs-confirm-bryan-pressed-for-special-treatment-of-sex-offender/article_5e9483c9-38d2-406c-8bb0-e5757ce287f2.html
|
||||
[^10]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA02822177, Court Records, Maxwell v. Estate of Jeffrey Epstein, No. ST-20-CV-155 (V.I. Super. Ct. 2020), Government of the United States Virgin Islands' Motion to Intervene, 2020. https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/Court%20Records/Maxwell%20v.%20Estate%20of%20Jeffrey%20Epstein%2C%20No.%20ST-20-CV-155%20(V.I.%20Super.%20Ct.%202020)/EFTA02822177.pdf
|
||||
[^11]: United States v. Maxwell, No. 1:20-cr-00330 (S.D.N.Y.), Indictment (filed under seal June 29, 2020, unsealed July 2, 2020), docket. https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/17318376/united-states-v-maxwell/
|
||||
[^12]: "Financier and MoMA Trustee Leon Black Agrees to Pay $62.5 Million to Settle Jeffrey Epstein-Related Claims in the Virgin Islands." *Artnet News,* 2023. https://news.artnet.com/art-world/leon-black-62-million-settlement-with-virgin-islands-epstein-claims-2341599 ; "DOJ Epstein File Dump Revives Former USVI AG's Claim She Felt Threatened After Suing Epstein's Estate." *Los Angeles Magazine,* 2025. https://lamag.com/crimeinla/doj-epstein-file-dump-revives-former-usvi-ags-claim-she-felt-threatened-after-suing-epsteins-estate/
|
||||
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,76 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
category: "U.S. Government"
|
||||
tags:
|
||||
- Organization
|
||||
- VirginIslands
|
||||
- VirginIslandsPortAuthority
|
||||
- Airports
|
||||
- JeffreyEpstein
|
||||
- GovernmentCapture
|
||||
- CarltonDowe
|
||||
alias:
|
||||
- VIPA
|
||||
- V.I. Port Authority
|
||||
- VI Port Authority
|
||||
- USVI Port Authority
|
||||
- Virgin Islands Port Authority (VIPA)
|
||||
summary: "Territorial authority owning the U.S. Virgin Islands' public airports and seaports, which leased Jeffrey Epstein's aviation company a St. Thomas hangar and whose director and board member both dealt with Epstein."
|
||||
start: 1969-02-11
|
||||
location: "8074 Lindbergh Bay, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands"
|
||||
relations:
|
||||
- type: head_of
|
||||
with: "[[Ava Penn]]"
|
||||
reverse: true
|
||||
start: 2026-04
|
||||
role: "interim, then executive director"
|
||||
fn: 1
|
||||
created: 2026-09-25
|
||||
updated: 2026-09-25
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
The Virgin Islands Port Authority is the public authority that owns and manages the airports and public seaports of the [[U.S. Virgin Islands]], including [[Cyril E. King Airport]] on [[St. Thomas]] and [[Henry E. Rohlsen Airport]] on [[St. Croix]]. It was created by the Seventh [[Legislature of the Virgin Islands]] in December 1968 and dates its establishment to February 11, 1969. [[Jeffrey Epstein|Jeffrey Epstein's]] aviation company held a hangar facility lease from the authority at the St. Thomas airport, and the office manager of his territorial companies, [[Cecile de Jongh]], asked him in December 2018 whether he would support the return of [[Carlton Dowe]] as its executive director. Dowe returned in 2019 and retired in April 2026 after a federal bank fraud indictment against him was unsealed. The former senator [[Celestino White]], who had signed a paid agreement with Epstein in 2013, has sat on its governing board since 2020.[^1][^2][^3][^4]
|
||||
|
||||
### Establishment and Directors
|
||||
|
||||
After the transfer of the Danish West Indies in 1917 the [[United States Navy]] ran the ports, building a submarine base on St. Thomas and commissioning Bourne Field at Lindbergh Bay on September 1, 1935; it became a Marine Corps Air Station in December 1941. The [[United States Department of the Interior|Department of the Interior]] and then the Virgin Islands Corporation, a federal corporation chaired by the Secretary of the Interior that also grew sugarcane and ran hotels and a golf course on St. Croix, managed the ports and former military properties before the Virgin Islands Airport and Industrial Development Agency took them over in 1966 under Alton Adams Jr. On December 24, 1968 the Legislature passed Act 2375, establishing the Port Authority and charging it "with the ownership and management of the territory's public air and seaports"; Act 2405 set February 11, 1969 as its date of establishment. Adams remained executive director until 1971, followed by Jack M. Monsanto (1971 to 1975), John E. Harding (1975 to 1991), Gordon A. Finch (1991 to 2002), Darlan Brin (2003 to 2008), Kenneth Hobson (2008 to February 2012) and the interim director Don C. Mills. The board selected Dowe, a former senator, on January 16, 2013; he served until December 2016, and David W. Mapp Sr. held the post from 2017 to 2019. Dowe returned on July 8, 2019 and retired in April 2026. Ava Penn was named interim executive director and was selected as executive director in September 2026.[^1]
|
||||
|
||||
The authority's administrative office is at Lindbergh Bay on St. Thomas, and its St. Croix office is in the Rohlsen terminal at Estate Manning Bay. Its board members are limited by territorial law to two terms, unless the Legislature finds that a nominee has rendered "exceptional service." The St. Thomas airport, first known as Harry S. Truman Airport, was renamed in 1984 for [[Cyril E. King]], the territory's second elected governor. The former Attorney General [[Vincent Frazer]], who had waived Epstein's 21-day travel notice in 2012, was later the authority's senior counsel, and was publicly reprimanded by the [[Supreme Court of the Virgin Islands]] in October 2022 over his handling of an escrow deposit in a private matter.[^1][^5][^6][^7]
|
||||
|
||||
### Epstein and the Airport
|
||||
|
||||
The [[Economic Development Commission]] held its November 15, 2012 public hearing on the tax-incentive application of Epstein's [[Southern Trust Company]] in the Port Authority conference room on St. Thomas, with [[Albert Bryan]], then its chairman, presiding. On April 8, 2014 the special assistant to the executive director wrote to Cecile de Jongh, who forwarded the message to Epstein: "Executive Director Dowe has requested that I schedule Mr. Epstein's appointment. Director Dowe is available to meet with Mr. Epstein on Thursday, April 10, 2014 at 12:30 p.m., at the Virgin Islands Port Authority in the office of the executive director."[^8][^9]
|
||||
|
||||
On August 18, 2017 Epstein's company [[Thomas World Air]], of the Royal Palms Professional Building on St. Thomas, wrote to Chief Edred J. Wilkes Jr. of the authority's Police Division at Cyril E. King Airport as "Lessee under that certain Hangar Facility Lease Agreement with the Virgin Islands Port Authority," requesting aviation identification badge "Escort Privileges" for an assistant to his chief pilot, [[Larry Visoski]], so that the assistant could "escort contractors on the ramp side to perform repairs" in Visoski's absence. On January 15, 2019 Visoski reported that Governor Bryan's deputy chief of staff, [[Kevin Rodriquez]], had arrived by chartered Cessna in front of Epstein's hangar and introduced himself.[^10][^11]
|
||||
|
||||
The 2023 trafficking suit against the territory, [[Doe 1 v. Government of the United States Virgin Islands]], alleged that the government gave Epstein an "Unrestricted entry port for sex offender traveling with young women and girls," "Never searched airplane nor residence," and "Given Customs and Border Protection officers Security seals and VIPA badges for VIP access through airport," and listed among the benefits received "Turkeys for thanksgiving to all airport and customs personnel." It alleged that "Epstein traveled openly through USVI airports accompanied by young sex trafficked women and girls." The authority was not named as a defendant. On March 21, 2025 Judge [[Arun Subramanian]] dismissed the claims against the territory and the individual officials for lack of personal jurisdiction in New York.[^4][^12]
|
||||
|
||||
### Dowe's Return
|
||||
|
||||
On December 24, 2018, after Bryan's election, Cecile de Jongh wrote to Epstein, as quoted in the Doe complaint: "John wanted to know whether you would support Carlton Dowe's bid to go back to the VIPA [VI Port Authority]. . . He would be a good person for us at VIPA." Her husband, [[John de Jongh]], had been governor from 2007 to 2015. The complaint listed the benefit to Dowe as "Epstein supported bid for USVI Port Authority job"; the court later noted that the plaintiffs did not allege that Dowe received any payments from Epstein. Dowe returned to the post on July 8, 2019, the day Epstein appeared in federal court in Manhattan on sex-trafficking charges following his arrest on July 6.[^1][^4][^12][^13]
|
||||
|
||||
According to notes of an October 2, 2023 [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] interview with the former Attorney General [[Denise George]], Bryan sent Dowe, as director of the Port Authority, to press her to settle the territory's suit against Epstein's estate; Dowe told her he "does things for Bryan too but has a line he won't cross." A 2022 complaint to the FBI, released in January 2026, alleged that Dowe was "paid off" by Epstein over construction of a hangar at Cyril E. King Airport. *The Virgin Islands Consortium* reported that the hangar in question belonged to a private aviation company built under a public-private partnership with the authority, not to Epstein, and that "Epstein previously sought approval to construct a hangar at the airport, but that proposal was rejected by Dowe and VIPA."[^3][^14]
|
||||
|
||||
### The Board and the 2026 Indictment
|
||||
|
||||
Governor Bryan nominated White to the board in 2020, and the Rules and Judiciary Committee forwarded his nomination on February 6, 2020. After the release of [[Department of Justice|Justice Department]] files in January 2026 showing that White had offered to work on Epstein's behalf, including on the purchase of the government-owned Dog Island, Bryan renominated him, asking reporters, "Is lobbying illegal in the Virgin Islands." At the committee hearing of February 26, 2026 White, the board chairman Willard John and Leona Smith, each at the two-term limit, were advanced under the "exceptional service" provision; on March 18 the Legislature confirmed all three by votes of 11 to 3.[^5][^6][^15][^16]
|
||||
|
||||
On March 20, 2026 an indictment returned on March 12 in the [[U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico]] was unsealed charging Dowe with four counts of bank fraud, four counts of making a false statement on a loan application and one count of aggravated identity theft, over loan applications to [[Banco Popular de Puerto Rico]] between 2021 and 2023. The same day he gave John notice of his retirement effective April 10, and John told [[WTJX]] he had not known of it. The attorney Joseph DiRuzzo III appeared as his counsel.[^6]
|
||||
|
||||
### Footnotes
|
||||
|
||||
[^1]: Virgin Islands Port Authority, "Our History," including the list of executive directors and office addresses, accessed September 25, 2026. https://www.viport.com/our-history
|
||||
[^2]: Doe 1 v. Government of the United States Virgin Islands, No. 1:23-cv-10301-AS (S.D.N.Y.), Second Amended Complaint, ECF No. 112 (May 24, 2024), paragraph 4 and chart (Exhibit G), pp. 2 to 4. https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.610915/gov.uscourts.nysd.610915.112.0.pdf
|
||||
[^3]: Carlson, Suzanne. "Docs confirm Bryan pressed for special treatment of sex offender." *Virgin Islands Daily News,* February 2, 2026 (FBI notes of an October 2, 2023 interview with Denise George). https://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/news/docs-confirm-bryan-pressed-for-special-treatment-of-sex-offender/article_5e9483c9-38d2-406c-8bb0-e5757ce287f2.html
|
||||
[^4]: Doe 1 v. Government of the United States Virgin Islands, No. 1:23-cv-10301-AS (S.D.N.Y.), Second Amended Complaint, ECF No. 112 (May 24, 2024), paragraphs 4 to 6 and charts, pp. 2 to 8, and paragraphs 166 to 169. https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.610915/gov.uscourts.nysd.610915.112.0.pdf
|
||||
[^5]: Charlemagne, Nelcia. "After Two-Term Limit, VIPA Board Nominees Advance on 'Exceptional Service' Vote." *The Virgin Islands Consortium,* February 27, 2026. https://viconsortium.com/vi-senate/virgin-islands-after-two-term-limit--vipa-board-nominees-advance-on--exceptional-service--vote
|
||||
[^6]: Eader, Tom. "VIPA ED Carlton Dowe indicted on bank fraud, tells board of retirement same day as court appearance." *WTJX,* March 20, 2026; United States v. Dowe, No. 3:26-cr-00084 (D.P.R.), docket. https://newsfeed.wtjx.org/2026-03-20/vipa-ed-carlton-dowe-indicted-on-bank-fraud-tells-board-of-retirement-same-day-as-court-appearance ; https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72610038/united-states-v-dowe/
|
||||
[^7]: "V.I. Supreme Court Reprimands Former Attorney General for Issuing Good Faith Deposit for Potential Sale of Business to Client While a Dispute Was Ongoing." *The Virgin Islands Consortium,* October 31, 2022. https://viconsortium.com/vi-government/virgin-islands-v-i-supreme-court-reprimands-former-attorney-general-for-issuing-good-faith-deposit-for-potential-sale-of-business-to-client-while-a-dispute-was-ongoing ; Government of the United States Virgin Islands v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., No. 1:22-cv-10904-JSR (S.D.N.Y.), Exhibit 83, ECF No. 194-24 (filed June 20, 2023), pp. 36 to 47 (Frazer letters of July 25 and August 14, 2012). https://web.archive.org/web/20260117011719/https://www.justice.gov/multimedia/Court%20Records/Government%20of%20the%20United%20States%20Virgin%20Islands%20v.%20JPMorgan%20Chase%20Bank,%20N.A.,%20No.%20122-cv-10904%20(S.D.N.Y.%202022)/194-24.pdf
|
||||
[^8]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA02812344, Court Records, Government of the United States Virgin Islands v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., No. 1:22-cv-10904 (S.D.N.Y.), Exhibit 290, ECF No. 245-15 (filed July 25, 2023): Economic Development Commission, Public Hearing transcript, November 15, 2012, pp. 1-2. https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/Court%20Records/Government%20of%20the%20United%20States%20Virgin%20Islands%20v.%20JPMorgan%20Chase%20Bank%2C%20N.A.%2C%20No.%20122-cv-10904%20(S.D.N.Y.%202022)/EFTA02812344.pdf
|
||||
[^9]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA01929537, DataSet 10, email chain from the special assistant to the executive director of the Virgin Islands Port Authority to Cecile de Jongh, forwarded to Jeffrey Epstein, April 8, 2014. https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2010/EFTA01929537.pdf
|
||||
[^10]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA00799380, DataSet 9, letter from Thomas World Air, LLC to Chief Edred J. Wilkes Jr., Virgin Islands Port Authority Police Division, Cyril E. King Airport, August 18, 2017. https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA00799380.pdf
|
||||
[^11]: Carlson, Suzanne. "Files reveal Epstein's efforts to influence V.I. officials; emails with Mapp." *Virgin Islands Daily News,* February 2, 2026 (Visoski email of January 15, 2019). https://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/news/files-reveal-epstein-s-efforts-to-influence-v-i-officials-emails-with-mapp/article_2dd4fe69-4daf-4dc2-b3b8-37a929002bb6.html
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[^12]: Doe 1 v. Government of the United States Virgin Islands, No. 1:23-cv-10301-AS (S.D.N.Y.), Opinion and Order, ECF No. 202 (March 21, 2025), pp. 1 to 2, 10. https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.610915/gov.uscourts.nysd.610915.202.0.pdf
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[^13]: "Jeffrey Epstein operated a vast sex-trafficking network of underage girls who recruited other victims, prosecutors say." *CNN,* July 8, 2019. https://edition.cnn.com/2019/07/08/us/jeffrey-epstein-monday-court-appearance
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[^14]: Gilbert, Ernice. "Former Gov. Kenneth Mapp Visited Epstein's Island, Sought $50,000 for Final Election Push, DOJ Records Show." *The Virgin Islands Consortium,* January 31, 2026. https://viconsortium.com/vi-federal/virgin-islands-former-gov--kenneth-mapp-visited-epstein-s-island--sought--50-000-for--final-push---doj-records-show
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[^15]: Lee, Bethaney. "Former Senator Celestino White Approved for Port Authority Board." *St. Thomas Source,* February 6, 2020, captured February 7, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200207131359/https://stthomassource.com/content/2020/02/06/former-senator-celestino-white-approved-for-port-authority-board/
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[^16]: Carlson, Suzanne. "Bryan unapologetic for texts with Epstein, doubles down on denial of wrongdoing." *Virgin Islands Daily News,* March 3, 2026. https://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/news/bryan-unapologetic-for-texts-with-epstein-doubles-down-on-denial-of-wrongdoing/article_8bab46a1-6075-4c7c-abec-6efb19622e62.html
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