REUTERS/Caitlin Ochs//File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNEW YORK, Aug 31 (Reuters) - A lawyer for the U.S. Virgin Islands said on Thursday that JPMorgan Chase (JPM.N) told U.S. authorities it processed more than $1 billion for Jeffrey Epstein over 16 years.
The U.S. Virgin Islands, where Epstein owned two private islands, is suing JPMorgan for at least $190 million and likely much more, saying it ignored red flags that Epstein was running a sex trafficking operation because he was a lucrative client.
JPMorgan has denied knowing that Epstein was running a sex trafficking operation, and has faulted the territory for having a cozy relationship with him.
"JPMorgan was a full service bank for Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking," Liu said.
Ellsworth also disputed the U.S. Virgin Islands' claim that JPMorgan obstructed investigations into Epstein, saying the bank had asked federal authorities about their own probes into his conduct.
Persons:
Caitlin Ochs, U.S . Virgin Islands, JPMorgan Chase, Jeffrey Epstein, Mimi Liu, Epstein, Liu, Jed Rakoff, Jeffrey Epstein's, Felicia Ellsworth, Ellsworth, Rakoff, Rakoff preliminarily, Luc Cohen, Noeleen Walder, Grant McCool
Organizations:
JPMorgan Chase Bank, REUTERS, U.S . Virgin, JPMorgan, U.S, U.S . Treasury Department, Reuters, Treasury, U.S ., Department, Deutsche Bank, Thomson
Locations:
New York City, U.S, U.S . Virgin Islands, Manhattan, New York