EFTA00165441.pdf

From: ' To:' Cc: ' Subject: Fwd: RE: Jeffrey Epstein island search UPDATE Date: Tue, 06 Aug 2019 22:46:26 +0000 Importance: Normal Rgr, thanks. Assistant Director in Charge FBI New York Office (office) On Aug 6, 2019 18:31, As discussed. > wrote: Forwarded message From: ' Date: Aug 6, 2019 6:19 PM Subject: RE: Jeffrey Epstein island IL To: ' Cc: After speaking with ASAS, A/ASAC and SSRA we have agreed on the below general timeline. Various efforts are underway to lock down specifics re personnel, lodging, boat transport, vehicles, etc. 8/8/2019: NYO RDT personnel (x2) will travel to St. Thomas RA and collaborate with SSRA on all local logistical matters (ground transportation (car/boat), lodging, supplies, etc.). 8/9/2019: STRA SA will swear out search warrant 8/9/2019: NYO case agents will travel to STRA to conduct interview 8/11/2019: Q400 (with THRU x2) will transport NYO team (approx. 40 — case team, ERT, CART, EM) 8/12/2019: Execute search warrant and conduct interviews. Personnel will be broken out into search and interview teams. 8/13/2019: Conclude search (this obviously depends on what we encounter during the search) 8/14/2019: Depart — Depending on the availability of the Q400, this could be Comair NY SSA is engaged with SSRA Charles NY RDT Personnel are engaged with SSRA Charles EFTA00165441 NY ERT STL will engage with Si ERT STL CID is engaged From: Sent: Tuesday, August 06, 2019 10:49 AM To: Cc: Subject: RE: Jeffrey Epstein island search UPDATE For everyone's SA. I received a call this morning from SDNY advising that they're drafting the affidavit for the search of LSJ Island and are reaching out to the USAO to coordinate getting it sworn out this week (likely Thursday). At 11:00 today, I'm meeting with my team here in NY to sketch out a plan. ASAC and A/ASAC I was thinking that we could talk through the plan with you guys early this afternoon and then once we all agree, we can begin to execute. Does 1:30 work? If not, let us know and we'll make ourselves available. Let us know if you want someone from CID on the call. More at COB Thanks From: Sent: Friday, August 02, 2019 1:41 PM To: Cc: Subject: RE: Jeffrey Epstein island search UPDATE For everyone's SA. • NY has a planned conference call with SDNY on Tuesday to discuss probable cause re Little St. James (LSJ) island. The results of that meeting will be significant re the scope and timing of a search. • I had a good call with ASAC and SSA this morning. CBP has agreed to support re transportation between St. Thomas and LSJ. We just need to provide specs on the anticipated weight of equipment and number of people. Once we get into next week, we'll address the personnel count. Jess Huckemeyer, thoughts on equipment weight? It's likely a standard search so we'll have paper, boxes, tape, digital evidence, cameras, other small misc items...and the water. But, I don't anticipate heavy containers/equipment. Are we missing anything here? • ASAC E. team has a very good relationship with the hotel industry and has engaged Marriott so we shouldn't have a problem with lodging. ASAC is still working to determine if we have USG lodging available on St. Thomas. NOTE: Due to the hurricane, the options on St. Thomas are still very limited. EFTA00165442 • ASAC warned us about the need to prepare for the intense heat and humidity. We'll be searching indoors so that will provide significant relief but we'll anticipate moving significant cases of water from St. Thomas to LSJ. We'll give update after the Tuesday meeting. Thanks again to SJ for the help. From: Sent: Saturday, July 27, 2019 5:24 PM To: Cc: Subject: Jeffrey Epstein island search It was nice to talk to you. We will provide as much assistance as needed. I am copying ASAC who overseas the STT and STX islands as well as SSA who is our VCAC PCOR is SJ and SSRA who covers the islands. SSA will be covering for me in the next two weeks. He will make sure to serve as a POC and coordinate with SSRA=, ASAC and our LEO partners such as CBP and USCG. I will be in Quantico thus available via phone or email. Regards, On Jul 27, 2019 5:16 PM, " > wrote: Following up on our discussion yesterday. As noted, we are working to secure PC on a search warrant for Jeffrey Epstein's island near St. Thomas. We are still in discussions with the AUSAs but we believe it's likely to happen in the next 30 days. Our position is obviously the sooner the better. I'll detail a general plan below but please understand everything will be contingent upon the warrant timing and named items to be seized. Also, we recognize this is your AOR and has final say on the plan so we look forward to working with you to finalize it. I expect this to be a substantial op for the Bu but also don't want to negatively impact your normal operations. FYSA, the warrant we had for Epstein's residence in NYC was just for pictures and proof of residency but when we cleared the location we immediately observed things that gave us PC to conduct a complete search. We took 845 pictures and spent 13 hours to execute the search. Re the island search warrant: We feel confident our warrant will be for a full search and are planning accordingly. Everything about this case is such a circus so I'm hoping to get in and out as quickly as possible. Based on a Google image of the island, it appears as though there are between 15 -20 buildings on the island. I discussed the following plan with ASC who concurred with the framework. EFTA00165443 • Search teams: Once we start our search we'll have control of the whole island so instead of shutting down for the night and trying to secure it, I'm thinking two search teams (approximately 15 people per team) alternating 12 hour shifts. (this will include multiple photographers) • Interviews: There are an undetermined number of people we'd like to interview (staff, people who have worked on the island, etc.). My thought is to have 4-6 people just to focus on interviews on St. Thomas and JE's island. • Logistics support: Due to the isolated nature, we're thinking 2-4 people focused on water/food for the teams throughout. • EM: In addition to the SSA, we think it's appropriate to send an ASAC to oversee the operation. • Travel: Based on conversations with ASC , we're going to check with CIRG on availability of the Q400 (46 seat capacity). I assume we would land on St. Thomas and then travel by boat to the search location. • The footprint is 40-45 people for the operation. • Housing is an unknown • Boat transportation between St. Thomas and his island is an unknown (on the map it looks like a 3 mile boat ride) • Food - I think we'd just have logistical support coordinate bringing food/water from St. Thomas to the island as needed. • IMO any Drash tent option is a bad one as we will undoubtedly have plane/boat traffic monitoring our work. We'll just set up the administrative center inside one of the buildings. SDNY has preferred to isolate this case from the previous investigation 12 years ago. Did SJ have any involvement with that case (covering leads)? With your pending travel, just let us know who we should use as the main POC. As always, we appreciate the support and assistance. Best, ASAC New York Field Office Criminal - Branch C EFTA00165444