FBI SURVEILLANCE AND SEARCH RECORDS — LITTLE ST. JAMES ISLAND U.S. Virgin Islands — August 2019
On August 12, 2019 — two days after Jeffrey Epstein's death at MCC — FBI agents conducted a search of Little St. James Island, Epstein's approximately 70-acre private island in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The search was coordinated between the FBI, SDNY prosecutors, and USVI territorial authorities and was executed under federal search warrants.
ISLAND OVERVIEW: Little St. James, located approximately one mile southeast of St. Thomas, was purchased by Epstein in 1998 for a reported $7.95 million. Epstein subsequently invested tens of millions of dollars in construction and development, transforming the island into a compound that included a main residential structure, guest houses, a helipad, a private dock, maintenance buildings, staff quarters, and the distinctive blue-and-white striped structure commonly referred to as the "temple." Epstein also owned nearby Great St. James Island, purchased in 2016 for approximately $18 million.
FBI SEARCH OPERATIONS: FBI agents arrived at the island by boat and helicopter. The search team included evidence recovery specialists, digital forensics technicians, and agents trained in crime scene documentation. Agents methodically searched the main residence, guest quarters, and auxiliary buildings, photographing and cataloging items of evidentiary interest. The search lasted several days.
EVIDENCE COLLECTED: FBI agents seized electronic devices including computers, storage media, and components of the island's security and communications infrastructure. Agents documented the layout and contents of all structures, including bedrooms, bathrooms, and common areas. The search also encompassed outdoor areas, utility buildings, and the island's infrastructure including its water treatment and power generation facilities.
THE "TEMPLE" STRUCTURE: The blue-and-white striped building, which had attracted widespread public attention through aerial drone footage, was entered and documented by FBI agents. The structure was described in filings as a music room and study, containing a piano, artwork, and furnishings. Its unusual architectural design — including a gold dome that had previously collapsed in Hurricane Irma in 2017 and was replaced with a painted wooden cupola — generated significant public speculation about its purpose. FBI records described the interior as a single large room with no basement or underground chambers, contradicting some online theories.
STAFF INTERVIEWS (USVI): In conjunction with the island search, FBI agents conducted interviews with current and former island employees, including maintenance workers, boat captains, and household staff. These employees described the operations of the island, the frequency and nature of visits by Epstein and his guests, and the transportation of visitors between St. Thomas, Little St. James, and the airport. Some employees described seeing young women on the island and being instructed not to interact with them or discuss their presence.
USVI GOVERNMENT LAWSUIT: Separately from the federal investigation, the government of the U.S. Virgin Islands filed a civil enforcement action against Epstein's estate in January 2020, alleging that Epstein had engaged in a decades-long pattern of human trafficking on the islands. The USVI complaint cited records showing that between 2001 and 2019, Epstein had brought girls as young as 11 to the islands and that USVI authorities had documentation of more than 100 young women and girls being transported to the island on Epstein's aircraft and boats. This lawsuit resulted in a $105 million settlement with Epstein's estate in November 2023.
ISLAND DISPOSITION: Following Epstein's death, both Little St. James and Great St. James were listed for sale as part of the estate liquidation to fund victim compensation. The islands were sold in 2023 to a private buyer for approximately $60 million. The USVI government imposed conditions on the sale, including requirements for demolition of certain structures.