Updated February 27, 2025 — Jeffrey Epstein’s private island, Little St. James, is a roughly 72‑acre property about two miles off the coast of St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Epstein owned multiple residences and facilities there, including villas, pools and a helipad, and used a boat marked “LSJ” to transport staff and supplies.
Location and local reputation
Little St. James sits in the Caribbean as part of the U.S. Virgin Islands. Epstein held business interests in the territory, including stakes in an air operator. He donated to local officials and schools, but territory leaders and some residents have said he was not regarded as an upstanding community member, in part because he was a registered sex offender.
Allegations and legal findings
Epstein was charged in 2019 by federal prosecutors with sex trafficking conspiracy and a count of sex trafficking involving underage girls. He died in a New York jail that year; his death was ruled a suicide. Before those federal charges, Epstein reached a controversial non‑prosecution agreement in Florida in 2008 after pleading guilty to state charges of soliciting prostitution from a minor. Under that deal he served 13 months in jail with work release, paid settlements to victims and was required to register as a sex offender.
After Epstein’s death, the U.S. Virgin Islands’ attorney general sued his estate, saying the island had been used to conceal criminal activity. That suit resulted in a reported $105 million settlement on behalf of the territory. In filings, prosecutors and investigators have alleged Epstein used private air travel to move people to the island: he regularly flew into St. Thomas on a private jet and used helicopters operated by his company to shuttle women and girls between St. Thomas and Little St. James.
Witness accounts and victim allegations
Air traffic controllers and airport personnel reported seeing Epstein with girls who appeared very young, according to legal complaints. Some alleged victims have described scenes on the island and in Epstein’s St. Thomas office. One complaint says a 15‑year‑old tried to escape Little St. James by swimming away. An anonymous woman who spoke to reporters described being flown to St. Thomas, raped in Epstein’s office and later trapped in a bedroom on the island where she said a gun was strapped to the bedpost; she said leaving the island required access to a helicopter or boat.
Investigations, documents and public records
Court records, flight logs, emails, photos and other documents released during investigations have illuminated aspects of Epstein’s network and travel patterns. The private plane often referenced in reporting — sometimes called the “Lolita Express” in media accounts — was frequently used for Caribbean trips. Documents released in 2024 and other public records have named people connected to Epstein’s activities in various ways, but some individuals listed have denied wrongdoing or involvement.
Local reaction and nickname
Locals and visitors have referred to Little St. James by derisive names in response to allegations about Epstein’s conduct. Some who lived and worked nearby said rumors circulated for years, and that Epstein’s wealth and control of a private island made it difficult for victims to seek help.
Disposition of the island
In May 2023 media reports said billionaire investor Stephen Deckoff purchased Little St. James and neighboring Great St. James — both formerly owned by Epstein — for about $60 million. Announcements from the buyer described plans to redevelop the properties into a luxury resort with a limited number of rooms, though such projects require permitting and community review in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Summary
Little St. James is a small U.S. Virgin Islands island that became central to allegations against Jeffrey Epstein. Investigations and lawsuits have described the island as a place where trafficking and abuse were alleged to have occurred, and several victims and witnesses recounted attempts to escape or reported being transported there by plane, helicopter and boat. Epstein’s 2008 plea agreement, the later federal charges, his death in 2019 and subsequent civil actions have shaped ongoing public and legal scrutiny of the island and those associated with him.