Sodom and Gomorrah: Inside Jeffrey Epstein’s private island

Jeffrey Epstein acquired Little St. James in 1998, turning the private Caribbean island into the center of a trafficking operation that drew victims and powerful visitors for years. What began as a remote retreat became the site of documented abuse, with survivors’ accounts and newly released records filling in details that remained hidden for decades.

Jeffrey Epstein’s sex island was elaborate

Epstein outfitted Little St. James with a main residence, three guest cottages, a caretaker’s cottage, its own desalination plant, a helipad, and a private dock. More than seventy staff members worked on site, many instructed to keep what they saw to themselves. Visitors arrived by helicopter or boat, among them physicist Stephen Hawking, who attended a 2006 science conference in the area that Epstein helped sponsor; Hawking toured the region but has not been accused of any misconduct.

Victims on Jeffrey Epstein’s sex island were subject to countless abuses

Virginia Giuffre, who was recruited as a teenager, described repeated sexual abuse at Epstein’s direction, including encounters that left her hospitalized with internal injuries. She stated that Epstein, Prince Andrew, and groups of other girls participated in the same events. Additional survivors recounted being confined on the island and sexually assaulted. Court records and later document releases have included photographs of bedrooms and other interior spaces taken during official searches.

Jeffrey Epstein’s island might have been the center of his human trafficking scheme

Prosecutors alleged the island functioned as a hub in a larger trafficking network. Virgin Islands Attorney General Denise George filed suit against Epstein’s estate and associates, describing a “trafficking pyramid scheme” that moved victims between the island, New York, New Mexico, and Palm Beach properties. The case later settled as part of broader estate proceedings.

Some of Jeffrey Epstein’s victims were held hostage on the island

Sarah Ransome reported that Ghislaine Maxwell confiscated her passport upon arrival. After an unsuccessful escape attempt by swimming, Ransome was returned to the compound. Isolation left victims dependent on Epstein-controlled transport. Chauntae Davies, who worked as a flight attendant on Epstein’s plane, described being pressured into giving massages that quickly turned into sexual assaults.

Post-Epstein Ownership and Development Plans

Little St. James and neighboring Great St. James were sold together in May 2023 to investor Stephen Deckoff for $60 million. Deckoff announced plans to convert the properties into a luxury resort, yet as of early 2026 only limited permitting for storage facilities has moved forward and no major construction has begun. The sale proceeds contributed to victim compensation funds administered through Epstein’s estate.

New Document Releases and Visual Evidence (2025-2026)

In late 2025 and early 2026 the Department of Justice released millions of pages of Epstein files under new transparency legislation, including interior photographs and video of Little St. James taken by authorities. The House Oversight Committee separately published images showing bedrooms, a pool area, and other spaces documented during earlier searches. These materials provide the clearest public record yet of the island’s layout during Epstein’s ownership.

Updates on Key High-Profile Associations

Bill Clinton, Les Wexner, David Copperfield, and model Claudia Schiffer all visited the island on documented occasions. Virginia Giuffre maintained her account of abuse involving Prince Andrew until her death in 2025; newly released correspondence has been cited by investigators as supporting elements of her earlier statements. No criminal charges have been filed against most visitors, though civil litigation and reputational consequences have continued.

Victim Compensation and Legal Resolutions

Epstein’s estate has distributed more than $120 million to survivors through civil settlements and compensation programs. The U.S. Virgin Islands reached agreements that funneled island sale funds into victim support. While many questions remain about the full scope of activities on Little St. James, these resolutions mark a concrete step toward accountability for those harmed.

Locals started hearing rumors of Jeffrey Epstein’s sex island

Residents on neighboring islands noticed repeated flights carrying groups of young women and girls, some reportedly as young as eleven. The compound earned local nicknames including “Pedophile Island” and “Orgy Island.” Those observations, combined with victim testimony, helped draw law-enforcement attention to the property years before Epstein’s 2019 arrest.