EFTA01249742.pdf

-1 of 6 - Omelet Reconr: FD•302(Rtv.5•%-10) FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION Date of entry 04/26/2021 ), Agricultural Specialist, United States (U.S.) Customs and Border Protection (CBP), date of birth telephone number home address was interviewed on April 7, 2021. Present for the interview were FBI Special Agent (SA) FBI SA and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) Special Agent acknowledged he understood the voluntary nature of the interview and that lying to federal Agents was a crime pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1001. After being advised of the identities of the interviewing Agents and the nature of the interview, provided the following information: who is also known by the nickname has been an Agricultural Specialist at U.S. CBP for approximately 13 years. has lived in Charleston, South Carolina since 2016. Prior to that, from 2009 to 2016, lived and worked in the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI). From approximately 2014 to 2016, worked on Saint John's island in the USVI. Prior to that, worked on Saint Thomas island in the USVI. specifically lived in the area of the USVI known as Frenchman's Bay. Unlike the U.S. mainland, the USVI does not use traditional home addresses to identify a residence. Instead, the USVI uses Post Office (P.O.) Boxes. Consequently, could not provide a home address to identify his former residence in the USVI. could not recall the P.O. Box he used in the USVI. is current U.S. CBP supervisor. was U.S. CBP supervisor in the USVI. may ve n Texas now. met JEFFREY EPSTEIN (EPSTEIN) through role as an Agricultural Specialist at U.S. CBP in the USVI. was part of a team Mwmismiccon 04/07/2021 A Charleston, South Carolina, United States (In Person) hitt* 58H-NY-3190518 Daledmhed 04/12/2021 by Ilux document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions oldie FBI. II is the property of the FBI and ts loaned to your agency; it and its contents are not to be distributed (tubule your agency. 3501.409-001 Page 1 of 6 SUBJECT TO PROTECTIVE ORDER PARAGRAPHS 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, and 17 EFTA_00109637 EFTA01249742 FD.xeamms.s.to 58H-NY-3190518 continuation or FD.302 or (U) Interview of .On 04/07/2021 .nige 2 of 6 of U.S. CBP personnel responsible for arrival and pre-departure inspections of private airplanes entering and exiting USVI ports. As an Agricultural Specialist, inspected specific places, like cupboards, and items, like food and garbage. also inspected bags using an X-ray machine and may even pat down clothing in bags to check for agricultural items therein. did not inspect persons or passports because that role is reserved for U.S. CBP Officers, not Agricultural Specialists. There was almost always a U.S. CBP Officer to accompany on inspections. never had a problem with EPSTEIN and EPSTEIN would not have put his private planes in an illegal position. never encountered EPSTEIN at the airport when was assigned to Saint John's island from 2014 to 2016. last contact with EPSTEIN at the airport was approximately 2014. Prior to 2014, saw EPSTEIN approximately one or two times per month at the Saint Thomas airport. also saw EPSTEIN once by EPSTEIN's office on Saint John's island. thought it was a good idea to maintain contact with EPSTEIN because of his status, wealth and influence. At one point, thought he wanted to stay in the USVI and EPSTEIN would be a good person to know if ever decided to run for public office there. The USVI is a beautiful place and the money is good, but it has a great deal of racial tension. The "blacks" disrespect the local white population there. "Driving While White" is a real thing in the USVI. Racial and ethnic groups mainly keep to themselves, even those who comprise U.S. CBP personnel. did not talk or socialize with his U.S. CBP colleagues after work or talk with them about EPSTEIN. There is a racial/cultural separation between "whites", "blacks" and "Puerto Ricans". There is a lack of intelligence and socialization in the USVI. Consequently, there is massive turnover of "whites" coming from the U.S. mainland. had even submitted requests for a transfer to the U.S. mainland because racism and corruption are so bad in the USVI. requests were denied because critical staff numbers were already low. stayed in the USVI for eight years before eventually transferring to the U.S. mainland. submitted this last transfer request because he wanted a normal life in the states. Also, then-girlfriend, a doctor he dated for three years, was moving back to the U.S. mainland. transferred shortly after she left. Because of this racial tension, would talk to EPSTEIN to make sure he 3501.409-001 Page 2 of 6 SUBJECT TO PROTECTIVE ORDER PARAGRAPHS 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, and 17 EFTA_00109638 EFTA01249743 FU•302a (Itev. 5.810) 58H-NY-3190518 ConlinuationolTD•302a (U) Interview of .On 04/07/2021 .p., 3 of 6 was being treated with fairness and respect by non-white U.S. CBP personnel. would empathize with EPSTEIN if EPSTEIN encountered a rude U.S. CBP official and would try to explain to EPSTEIN the U.S. CBP regulations in a respectful way. EPSTEIN never offered anything to in return for receiving special favors at U.S. CBP. never received any benefit or gift in exchange for facilitating EPSTEIN's visits to the USVI. never provided special favors to EPSTEIN in his capacity as a U.S. CBP Agricultural Specialist. never helped EPSTEIN traffic underage girls. EPSTEIN was a wonderful person who was known for helping poor people. EPSTEIN would fly people to his island from places in Eastern Europe, like Czechoslovakia. EPSTEIN never talked to about transporting women to his island on his private jet, but assumed Eastern European women who took commercial flights to the USVI were traveling to visit EPSTEIN's island. EPSTEIN wanted to buy new computers as a gift for the U.S. CBP in the USVI because their old computers were slow. EPSTEIN also wanted to buy turkeys as a gift for U.S. CBP personnel. A U.S. CBP supervisor told EPSTEIN that U.S. CBP could neither accept the computers nor the turkeys because it violated U.S. CBP rules. Instead, EPSTEIN donated new computers to a local school in the USVI. EPSTEIN has never given money to but did talk to EPSTEIN about money issues. For example, visited a financial institution located in EPSTEIN's office building that may have been called SUNCOAST LOAN (SUNCOAST). was interested in purchasing real estate in the USVI. After learning about the interest rates and other loan terms, asked EPSTEIN if there was any way the institution could offer a better deal. EPSTEIN said he would find out but EPSTEIN never got a good deal and never followed up. never borrowed money from EPSTEIN nor did he receive a loan from SUNCOAST. does not normally associate with convicted felons, but he supported EPSTEIN despite the allegations that surfaced in 2008 about EPSTEIN's abuse of minors. was aware of EPSTEIN's conviction involving the abuse of minors but supported EPSTEIN because he was a good guy to had also heard that EPSTEIN's secretary may have raised these allegations just to frame him. 3501.409-001 Page 3 of6 SUBJECT TO PROTECTIVE ORDER PARAGRAPHS 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, and 17 EFTA_00109639 EFTA01249744 FD•302a (Rev. 5.810) 58H-NY-3190518 Continuation of FD•303 or (U) Interview of .On 04/07/2021 ,page 4 of 6 has EPSTEIN's island telephone number and EPSTEIN's two other telephone numbers but could not remember the details of how or when he obtained these telephone numbers. calls to these telephone numbers have always been received by someone who works on behalf of EPSTEIN, like a receptionist at EPSTEIN's office. has never had a direct line to EPSTEIN by telephone. doubted anyone else at U.S. CBP was friendly with EPSTEIN and did not think anyone else at U.S. CBP had ever been invited to EPSTEIN's island. After work on Saint John's island, would hang out at a bar called ISLAND TIME. ISLAND TIME was on Saint Thomas, located near an office building owned by EPSTEIN. EPSTEIN's boat captain, CARLOS LNU (CARLOS) also hung out at ISLAND TIME. EPSTEIN did not hang out there but owned the building and the Red Hook Marina where the bar was located. did not normally hang out with EPSTEIN because EPSTEIN ran in different social circles. last visited ISLAND TIME in or around December 2020. The bar, Red Hook, and the town was generally unscathed after the hurricane. and CARLOS may have had casual discussions about the allegations surrounding EPSTEIN, but if CARLOS had any personal knowledge of illegal activity he never shared it with also knew EPSTEIN's pilot, LARRY (LARRY). (Agent Note: LARRY is known to Agents as Larry Visoski.] No one ever told about any problems with EPSTEIN and no one ever seemed upset, concerned, or in trouble. Everyone seemed happy. None of EPSTEIN's workers, nor any of colleagues, ever talked to about helping to facilitate EPSTEIN's illegal activity. was sure it happened simply based on all of the ethical problems and corruption in the USVI. heard of four or five U.S. CBP officials who were busted in Saint Thomas for illegal activity. However, worked with some ethical, "pretty righteous" U.S. CBP Agricultural Specialists and he did not think they would have done anything illegal with EPSTEIN. has never met with EPSTEIN in New York or anywhere on the U.S. mainland. overly exaggerated his acquaintance with EPSTEIN to others. would show people that he had EPSTEIN's telephone numbers saved in phone. did this more frequently after EPSTEIN's death. It was an ego boost for to say he was associated with EPSTEIN because not everyone can say they know a billionaire. Prior to about two years ago, did not ingratiate himself into EPSTEIN's life or embellish his 3501.409-001 Page 4 of 6 SUBJECT TO PROTECTIVE ORDER PARAGRAPHS 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, and 17 EFTA 001096x30 EFTA01249745 F0302a (Rev. 5.810) 58H-NY-3190518 Continuation of F0302 or (U) Interview of .0n 04/07/2021 ,page 5 of 6 relationship with EPSTEIN. stood by EPSTEIN as he would any friend, even though he was, in reality, more of an acquaintance. was not sure he had ever met GHISLAINE MAXWELL (MAXWELL). recalled meeting an attractive woman who was often with EPSTEIN but he did not think she was MAXWELL. The woman met used to be a model and MAXWELL was not an attractive woman. visited Little Saint James island on only two occasions. On the more recent occasion, in approximately 2014 or 2015, visited Little Saint James island to inspect coconut palm trees that EPSTEIN had imported from Puerto Rico. did this on his personal time and as a favor because he liked EPSTEIN. coordinated this trip with EPSTEIN's property manager and CARLOS transported could not recall the property manager's name. EPSTEIN was not present on the island for this visit. After inspecting the trees, advised EPSTEIN's property manager that the trees contained spider mites and should not be planted on Little Saint James island. On the first occasion, in approximately 2013, EPSTEIN invited to his home for lunch on Little Saint James island. EPSTEIN probably only invited because asked to be invited. CARLOS transported to and from EPSTEIN's island. On the island, and CARLOS walked around EPSTEIN's beach. On the beach, saw about three or four "nice", "beautiful" women swimming and having fun. did not notice anything unusual nor did he notice anybody who appeared to be in trouble. The lunch itself took place in a gazebo on the island and consisted of a sandwich and wine that cost no more than $25.00. thought it was "pretty cool" to have lunch at the home of a billionaire. After lunch, traveled back to Saint Thomas island together with both CARLOS and EPSTEIN. This was the only time ever joined EPSTEIN for a meal or drinks. never engaged in sexual activity on Little Saint James island nor did ever witness sexual activity on Little Saint James island. EPSTEIN probably did not know well enough or trust enough to introduce to EPSTEIN's perverted behavior. EPSTEIN probably trusted about 50% so would not have done anything illegal in front of EPSTEIN never offered women to did not have personal knowledge about EPSTEIN's sexual activities with children. never saw 3501.409-001 Page 5 of 6 SUBJECT TO PROTECTIVE ORDER PARAGRAPHS 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, and 17 EFTA 001096x31 EFTA01249746 FO.302a(Rev. 5.810) 58H-NY-3190518 Conlinualionall).302or (U) Interview of .On 04/07/2021 .page 6 of 6 EPSTEIN with children. EPSTEIN always had older ladies with him, maybe in their 20s or 30s. It was disgusting to think of a 50-something year old fondling a 15-year old. (Agent Note: In response to the question of whether he would report such activity, did not provide an immediate response, but instead paused to consider his answer to the question.] "guessed" he would say something to someone if he saw something like that happen. (Agent Note: Later in the interview, after revisiting the question, provided the following statement.] would not just ignore that behavior but would respond accordingly and figure out some way to handle it. never saw any nefarious behavior from EPSTEIN, or on EPSTEIN's island, that should have been reported. dated a woman who had "issues". She threatened to report association with EPSTEIN to the FBI. never had conversations with her about EPSTEIN but was concerned about any allegations she might raise with the FBI. therefore self-reported his association with EPSTEIN to his U.S. CBP supervisor in case any allegations were made against has heard other people have gone whale watching in EPSTEIN's helicopter, but has never personally done so. If supervisor thought differently, then either lied to him in order to exaggerate his relationship with EPSTEIN, or else his supervisor misunderstood during his self-report. 3501.409-001 Page 6 of 6 SUBJECT TO PROTECTIVE ORDER PARAGRAPHS 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, and 17 EFTA 00109642 EFTA01249747