Alleged Victim Files Amended Complaints
An alleged victim of the late financier Jeffrey Epstein has filed amended complaints against Bank of America and BNY last week. The victim, known as Jane Doe, has added to her claims that the banks failed to protect her from Epstein’s sex trafficking venture while knowingly benefiting from it.
Failure to Protect
Jane Doe alleged in the new complaint that Bank of America conducted no due diligence when it opened an account in an Epstein victim’s name, despite having “actual and constructive knowledge” that the account was being used to facilitate his sex trafficking venture. She claimed that “Tens of thousands of dollars of Epstein’s money was transferred in and out of that account despite the lack of explanation for why a victim who spoke little English and had no prospect of legitimate employment or personal wealth would be receiving such funds from a sex trafficker.”
Jane Doe filed the amended complaints after U.S. District Court Judge Jed Rakoff expressed skepticism about the suits, stating that they were “frequently conclusory” and failed to demonstrate the banks’ wrongdoing, as reported by Business Insider.
Connections to Epstein
In her complaint, Jane Doe highlighted how well-documented Epstein’s untoward behavior was, dating back to articles from 2002 and 2003 that raised questions about his credibility, sources of wealth, and associations. She noted that a criminal investigation into Epstein began in 2006, leading to convictions in 2008. The allegations in the complaints cover the period from 2013 to 2019, when Epstein’s sex trafficking enterprise ended with his arrest and death.
Jane Doe alleged that BNY processed suspicious wire transfers totaling hundreds of millions of dollars to, from, and on behalf of Epstein, his entities, and his known associates. BNY also “recklessly disregarded” Epstein’s connections to Jean-Luc Brunel, whose own sex crimes were investigated by CBS News’ “60 Minutes.”
Refusal to Provide Information
BNY continues to “conceal” further details of Epstein-related transactions, according to Jane Doe. Meanwhile, many details of Bank of America’s facilitation of Epstein’s crimes remain unknown because the bank has refused to produce data or documents without court orders. House lawmakers’ October request for Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan to supply more Epstein-related account information has not yet been fulfilled, she alleged.
A spokesperson for Bank of America stated that the amended complaint is filled with rhetoric and misrepresentations, and they have asked the court to dismiss it. BNY, on the other hand, pointed to its motion to dismiss the claims and declined to comment further.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the amended complaints filed by Jane Doe against Bank of America and BNY shed light on the alleged failures of the banks to prevent Epstein’s sex trafficking activities. These complaints raise important questions about the responsibility of financial institutions in detecting and reporting suspicious activities. The outcome of these legal proceedings will likely have significant implications for accountability in the financial sector.
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