Bank of America reaches $72.5 million settlement in Epstein lawsuit


Bank of America has reached a $72.5 million settlement in a lawsuit that alleges the financial giant helped facilitate the sex trafficking operation of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to court documents filed Friday.

The lawsuit was filed last October in New York federal court on behalf of alleged victims of Epstein.

 It claims that “Bank of America knowingly and intentionally participated in, assisted, supported, and facilitated Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking venture by providing Jeffrey Epstein and his associates with banking and investment services while Bank of America ignored red flags and failed, or was otherwise negligent, in its compliance and regulatory responsibilities.”

Bank of America made “no admission of liability” or “wrongdoing” as part of the settlement, the court documents read. The deal must still be approved by a judge.

“While we stand by our prior statements made in the filings in this case, including that Bank of America did not facilitate sex trafficking crimes, this resolution allows us to put this matter behind us and provides further closure for the plaintiffs,” a Bank of America spokesperson told CBS News in a statement late Friday. 

The lawsuit, brought on behalf of a woman identified in court papers only as Jane Doe and “all others similarly situated,” said the woman was living in Russia when she met Epstein in 2011 and was “coerced into a cult-like life.”

It said she was paid by Epstein through a Bank of America account as she was controlled “financially, emotionally, and psychologically” by Epstein from 2011 through 2019 as he sexually abused her on at least 100 occasions, including raping her and forcing her to engage sexually with other women for his sexual gratification.

The lawsuit alleged that Epstein paid her rent and income from a phony job through a Bank of America account, and held her immigration status “over her head, until her ultimate escape when Jeffrey Epstein died.”

The lawsuit also focused on billionaire financier Leon Black, co-founder of Apollo Global Management. Though not a defendant in the lawsuit, Black was described as a “critical witness” in the case by Sigrid McCawley, a lawyer for Epstein victims.

The lawsuit accused the bank of ignoring $170 million Black paid from a Bank of America account to Epstein purportedly for “tax and estate planning advice.”

During a hearing earlier this month, a lawyer for Black persuaded Judge Jed S. Rakoff to postpone Black’s deposition for 10 days on the grounds that the parties were close to settling.

Epstein died in a federal jail in August 2019 as he awaited trial on sex trafficking charges. His death was ruled a suicide. He was known for his connections with wealthy and powerful men, and the lawsuit said he used it to his advantage in his attacks on women.

Banks are required by law to report suspicious activity in customer accounts to federal authorities in order to flag potential criminal activity, such as money laundering or fraud. The lawsuit alleged that Bank of America failed to file suspicious activity reports, known as SARs, until after Epstein’s death in 2019.

The recent Justice Department release of millions of pages of documents from law enforcement probes of Epstein show he had regular contact with CEOs, journalists, scientists and prominent politicians long after his 2008 conviction in state court in Florida on sex crimes charges.



Source link

  • Related Posts

    After Blue Angels low flyover, acting Navy secretary says: ‘No firings’

    A Blue Angels fighter jet buzzed a beach in Pensacola, Florida, during a Wednesday morning practice run, sending shrieks through a crowd of onlookers and umbrellas flying into the air.…

    Here Are the Maine Democrats Running to Replace Graham Platner

    Twelve Maine Democrats have signed up to run to replace Graham Platner as their party’s nominee for Senate, hoping to win the support of delegates at a hastily convened convention…

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    You Missed

    Salad Chains Are Seeing Foot Traffic Drop Over Cyclosporiasis Fears

    Salad Chains Are Seeing Foot Traffic Drop Over Cyclosporiasis Fears

    Corus to centralize Calgary, Edmonton news production, some jobs cut  – National

    Corus to centralize Calgary, Edmonton news production, some jobs cut  – National

    3 big Senate fundraising takeaways: From the Politics Desk

    3 big Senate fundraising takeaways: From the Politics Desk

    9 Best Sectional Couches From Sustainable Brands (2026)

    9 Best Sectional Couches From Sustainable Brands (2026)

    Netflix posts higher Q2 results but shares drop due to lukewarm forecast

    Netflix posts higher Q2 results but shares drop due to lukewarm forecast

    After Blue Angels low flyover, acting Navy secretary says: ‘No firings’

    After Blue Angels low flyover, acting Navy secretary says: ‘No firings’