New Mexico AG Sues Epstein Associates Over Zorro Ranch Sex Trafficking Cover-Up
The lawsuit accuses Jeffrey Epstein's former lawyer and accountant of concealing sex trafficking operations at his infamous Zorro Ranch and seeks to prevent them from benefiting from his estate.
New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez announced Wednesday a lawsuit against Jeffrey Epstein's former personal lawyer, Darren Indyke, and accountant, Richard Kahn, accusing them of concealing sex trafficking activities at the notorious Zorro Ranch.
The lawsuit, filed by the New Mexico Department of Justice, alleges that Indyke and Kahn were aware of and actively concealed Epstein's sex trafficking operations on the 10,000-acre Zorro Ranch located near Santa Fe. According to the complaint, both men used their positions and Epstein's wealth to hide alleged abuse.
Torrez claimed that Indyke and Kahn managed finances and authorized transactions related to the trafficking activities. The suit also names the estate of Jeffrey Epstein, valued at over $100 million, and the 1953 Trust, which holds estate assets. Both Indyke and Kahn have previously testified to Congress that they were unaware of such activities.
Furthermore, the attorney general alleged that Indyke and Kahn enriched themselves through their association with Epstein, with Indyke reportedly pocketing $16 million and Kahn receiving over $10 million between 2011 and 2019. The lawsuit aims to prevent Indyke and Kahn from receiving any payments from Epstein's estate, stating that the resources should instead go to survivors.
The Zorro Ranch, described as isolated in the high desert and equipped with its own airstrip, benefited from New Mexico's historical reputation for privacy concerning wealthy residents and lax criminal laws. The state did not recognize human trafficking as a crime until 2008 and, unlike other states where Epstein owned property, did not require him to register as a sex offender due to its lower age of consent.
Reports from earlier this year, including a 60 Minutes Australia interview with Epstein survivors, have shed light on alleged abuses at the Zorro Ranch. The property also drew attention in April when an anonymous email sender, claiming to be a former staff member, alleged the burial of two young girls on the estate's grounds, purportedly strangled on Epstein's orders.
Epstein was never charged in New Mexico, although the state attorney general's office investigated his operations in 2019. The former attorney general, Hector Balderas, had previously stated that the state's outdated laws were insufficient to protect children from abuse.