In its lawsuit against JPMorgan Chase & Co., the Government of the United States Virgin Islands (USVI) alleged that the bank knowingly facilitated, sustained, and concealed the sex-trafficking network operated by Jeffrey Epstein by continuing to provide him banking services long after red flags should have alerted JPMorgan to his misconduct. The complaint, filed in late 2022 by then-Attorney General Denise George, sought at least $190 million in damages and accused JPMorgan of ignoring warning signs, failing to file required suspicious-activity reports, and effectively “turning a blind eye” to transactions supporting Epstein’s operations—including in the territory where his Little St. James Island is located. The USVI also asked the court to declare that the bank participated in Epstein’s trafficking venture and obstructed enforcement of anti-trafficking laws.


JPMorgan responded to these claims with testy and defensive filings, pushing back against the USVI’s legal theories and seeking to limit the scope of discovery and liability. The bank argued that the territory itself bore responsibility for enabling Epstein by offering tax incentives and lax oversight, and it sought to have key claims dismissed or narrowed—including arguing that top executives like CEO Jamie Dimon were irrelevant to the case and should not be deposed. JPMorgan also contended that the USVI had already obtained a large volume of documents in prior litigation and that additional demands were a “fishing expedition.” Ultimately, rather than go to trial, JPMorgan agreed in 2023 to a $75 million settlement with the USVI to resolve the dispute, without admitting wrongdoing, including funds directed toward supporting anti-trafficking efforts in the territory.


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