Little Saint James: Epstein's Private Island and the FBI Search

Key Findings

• Little Saint James is an approximately 75-acre private island located about four miles off the southeast coast of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
• On August 12, 2019, FBI agents executed a search warrant on the island, seizing 27 electronic devices from multiple structures
• Bank records show the island-associated entity "FT Real Estate Inc." maintained a commercial checking account at FirstBank Virgin Islands with activity into at least 2012
• Deutsche Bank KYC records identify "Little Saint James Saint Thomas 00802 Virgin Islands, U.S." as Epstein's address

Background

The island known as Little Saint James — referred to in FBI documents as "the Virgin Islands Residence" — was the most publicly recognized of Jeffrey Epstein's properties. Located in the waters off St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands, the approximately 75-acre island was developed with multiple structures including a main residence, pool house, beach house, maintenance office, sheds, and multiple cabanas.

Epstein maintained a complex of corporate entities associated with the Virgin Islands, including the Jeffrey Epstein VI Foundation, J. Epstein & Co., and entities using the address 6100 Red Hook Quarter B-3, St. Thomas, for tax and business registration purposes. Deutsche Bank Know Your Customer (KYC) records document the island explicitly as one of Epstein's addresses.

Deutsche Bank KYC Documentation

Deutsche Bank's Private Wealth Management KYC records, dated from 2018 and designated "CONFIDENTIAL — PURSUANT TO FED. R. CRIM. P. 6(e)," document Epstein's relationship with the bank and explicitly reference Little Saint James. The records state Epstein's address as:

"Little Saint James Saint Thomas 00802 Virgin Islands, U.S."

The same KYC document records that Epstein's employer address was listed as "6100 Red Hook Quarter B3 St Thomas Virgin Islands, U.S. 00802" — the address associated with his Virgin Islands corporate entities including the Financial Trust Company and J. Epstein & Co.

The Deutsche Bank records indicate Epstein reached out to the bank's relationship manager in March 2017 to open new accounts, with an expected account volume of $3,406,312.24 within 90 days of opening. The KYC filing identifies accounts including those associated with Zorro Management, LLC — the entity linked to his New Mexico property — demonstrating how his Virgin Islands and mainland entities were managed together.

FirstBank Commercial Checking Records

Commercial bank account records for "FT Real Estate Inc." at FirstBank Virgin Islands document financial activity associated with the island property. The records show a commercial checking account (account code 205-COMMERCIAL CHECKING) at the 6100 Red Hook Quarter branch in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands.

Account statements from early 2012 reflect a beginning balance of $6,888.64 that carried across multiple statement periods. In May 2012, the records show disbursements totaling $1,640.00 — checks for $1,595.00 and $45.00 — reducing the balance to $5,248.64. The statements are designated "CONFIDENTIAL" and bear SDNY production identifiers, indicating they were produced pursuant to the federal investigation.

The entity name "FT Real Estate Inc." — with "FT" potentially referencing the Financial Trust Company — reflects the layered corporate structure through which Epstein's properties were held and managed.

The August 12, 2019 Search

An FBI search warrant affidavit submitted by Task Force Officer Paul Byrne of the FBI's New York Division provides the most detailed official account of the island's layout and what was found during the August 2019 search.

The affidavit, filed in support of a warrant to search 27 electronic devices seized from the island, describes the property:

"The Virgin Islands Residence consists of multiple structures, including a main residence as well as several other smaller structures on the island, including a pool house, sheds, a beach house, an office, and multiple cabanas. However, as detailed below, JEFFREY EPSTEIN, who was a Target Subject of this Investigation until his death in August 2019, is the only known occupant of the Virgin Islands Residence."

The search warrant was authorized by United States Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller of the District of the Virgin Islands on August 11, 2019 — one day before the search was executed. This was the same day that Epstein was found unresponsive in his cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York. He was pronounced dead on August 10, 2019.

27 Devices Seized

The search on August 12, 2019 recovered an extensive array of electronic devices from across the island's multiple structures. According to the FBI affidavit, devices were recovered from:

• The main residence (Devices 1–5 and a Mac labeled "JE big laptop" bearing serial number W89111772QT)
• The pool house (Device 6)
• Multiple cabanas (Devices 7, 10, 11, 19, and 27)
• Two sheds (Devices 8–9 and server racks with Devices 14–18, 26)
• The beach house (Devices 12–13)
• The maintenance office (Devices 20–25)

The investigation sought evidence of violations of 18 USC 1591 (Sex Trafficking of Minors) and 18 USC 371 (Sex Trafficking Conspiracy).

Witness Account at the Island

The affidavit references a witness identified as "Individual-1" who reported being sexually abused at the Virgin Islands residence while a minor:

"Individual-1 recalled that one or more of these instances of sexual abuse occurred on the Virgin Islands Residence. Individual-1 further reported that, when she was approximately 17, [redacted] asked to photograph her, and did in fact photograph Individual-1 at the Virgin Islands Residence."

The affidavit also notes that photographs found on discs seized from the New York residence depicted "young and partially nude girls photographed at the Virgin Islands Residence, which suggests that EPSTEIN brought those girls to the Virgin Islands Residence."

The Island After Epstein's Death

Epstein died at MCC New York on August 10, 2019 — the day before the Virgin Islands search warrant was signed. Despite his death, law enforcement proceeded with the island search the following day, treating it as an active crime scene and evidence repository.

The island subsequently became the subject of civil litigation and asset proceedings. The structures on the island — which had become widely recognizable from news coverage — were reportedly demolished in the years following Epstein's death as part of estate proceedings.

What's Still Missing

• The full inventory and content analysis of the 27 electronic devices seized
• Complete records of all financial transactions through the island-associated entities
• The identity of all individuals who visited the island and their role in the alleged offenses
• The outcomes of forensic analysis of the seized devices

Source Documents