Victims of Jeffrey Epstein file lawsuit against Bank of America for allegedly facilitating sex trafficking of teenage girls.

Women who allege they were victims of Jeffrey Epstein have initiated a lawsuit against Bank of America in a Manhattan federal court. The suit accuses the bank of violating banking laws and failing to act on numerous warning signs regarding Epstein’s illicit activities, motivated by an alleged “absolute loyalty” to the disgraced financier while disregarding the victims of his extensive child sex trafficking operations.

The lawsuit, filed on behalf of an individual identified as Jane Doe, claims that Epstein abused her for an extended period from 2011 to 2019. It also seeks to represent a proposed class of Epstein’s victims, alleging that Bank of America overlooked a substantial amount of information indicating Epstein’s long-term involvement in trafficking underage girls and young women. The complaint asserts that the bank prioritized its financial gain over the well-being and safety of the victims.

Central to the accusations is the assertion that Bank of America maintained Epstein as a client due to the financial benefits associated with managing his accounts, which allegedly facilitated his criminal activities. The lawsuit alleges that the bank’s executives chose profit over ethics, turning a blind eye to the evidence of Epstein’s exploitation and abuse.

Details disclosed in the suit reference records from the Treasury Department, which reveal that Epstein and his associates executed 4,725 wire transfers exceeding billion between 2003 and 2019. The lawsuit highlights that an account linked to Epstein was opened by Jane Doe in 2013, subsequently utilized by Epstein’s wealth manager and accountant, Richard Kahn, for unspecified activities.

The complaint emphasizes that by 2006, there was widespread knowledge, or at least suspicion, of Epstein’s sex trafficking scheme, which involved the substantial cash payments to numerous victims and suspicious wire transfers. The suit argues that Bank of America’s denial of involvement in Epstein’s operations became increasingly untenable after details of his predatory behavior emerged publicly, especially following his 2006 registration as a sex offender.

This legal action echoes similar claims made against major banking institutions, most notably JPMorgan Chase and Deutsche Bank, both of which have faced substantial settlements related to their connections with Epstein. JPMorgan Chase reached an agreement to pay 0 million to over 100 victims, while Deutsche Bank consented to a million settlement in June 2023.

As the lawsuits continue to unfold, they bring into question the role financial institutions play in enabling or obstructing criminal enterprises, particularly in cases of human trafficking and abuse. The legal implications for Bank of America and other financial entities associated with Epstein’s activities remain to be fully realized in the ongoing litigation.

Media News Source.