FBI Tracked Down 10 Alleged Co-Conspirators Linked to Jeffrey Epstein During His 2019 Sex Trafficking Case, Newly Released Emails Reveal

Federal records show investigators moved quickly after Epstein’s arrest, issuing subpoenas and preparing expanded charges before his death halted the case

Newly released federal documents have revealed that the FBI identified and pursued 10 alleged co-conspirators connected to Jeffrey Epstein in the days following his 2019 arrest on sex trafficking charges — a development that is reigniting scrutiny over how the case ultimately ended.

According to internal emails reviewed by PEOPLE, federal agents were actively locating and subpoenaing individuals believed to be part of Epstein’s alleged network, preparing testimony for a grand jury that was considering additional charges before Epstein died in custody weeks later.

FBI Began Coordinated Action Immediately After Epstein’s Arrest

Epstein was arrested on July 6, 2019, after his private jet landed at Teterboro Airport, triggering an immediate response from federal and local law enforcement.

Just three days later, on July 9, members of the FBI’s Crimes Against Children Human Trafficking Unit began discussing efforts to locate 10 individuals they described as alleged co-conspirators. These individuals were to be served subpoenas compelling them to testify before a grand jury in the Southern District of New York.

At the time, Epstein had already been indicted on multiple federal charges, but prosecutors were preparing a superseding indictment that could have expanded the case significantly.

Subpoenas Served Across Multiple States

Emails show that investigators had already located and served subpoenas to a majority of the individuals within days.

According to one message, three were found and served in Florida, while others were located in Boston, New York City, and Connecticut. Four individuals had not yet been reached at that stage, including one described as a wealthy businessman in Ohio and three who were temporarily unavailable.

The emails do not publicly identify all 10 individuals, but they provide a rare look into the scale and urgency of the investigation as it unfolded.

Known Figures Were Flagged Early in the Case

An email sent shortly after Epstein’s arrest explicitly named two alleged co-conspirators: Ghislaine Maxwell and Jean‑Luc Brunel.

Maxwell was later convicted in federal court on sex trafficking charges related to her role in assisting Epstein. Brunel, who faced accusations of abusing minors, was found dead in a French prison cell in 2022 while awaiting trial.

Their inclusion underscores that investigators were already focusing on individuals close to Epstein well before his death.

Nearly All Alleged Co-Conspirators Were Subpoenaed

By August 7, 2019, an FBI agent reported that all but one of the 10 alleged co-conspirators had been successfully served with grand jury subpoenas.

The final individual was described as a British citizen who was still out of reach at the time. The email reflects how close prosecutors were to assembling testimony that could have expanded the scope of the case.

Plans Underway for Major Search at Epstein’s Island

As subpoenas were being served, the FBI was also preparing a large-scale search of Epstein’s private Caribbean property on Little Saint James.

Emails indicate the operation was expected to involve more than 50 agents and require use of the FBI’s private aircraft. The search was intended to gather further evidence tied to Epstein’s alleged activities and network.

Those plans were abruptly altered after Epstein was found dead in his jail cell in August 2019, an event ruled a suicide that immediately brought the federal case to a halt.

Epstein’s Death Ended the Grand Jury Process

Following Epstein’s death, the planned island search was scaled back, and the grand jury proceedings were effectively abandoned. With the primary defendant no longer alive, prosecutors did not pursue the expanded indictment.

The sudden end to the investigation has fueled years of speculation, frustration, and demands for transparency — particularly from Epstein’s victims and their advocates.

Survivors Continue to Push for Full Transparency

Since 2019, survivors have repeatedly called for the full release of all records tied to Epstein’s case. While the Department of Justice has begun releasing documents under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, critics argue the disclosures remain incomplete.

In a statement to PEOPLE, survivor and anti-trafficking advocate Liz Stein criticized the staggered release of records, saying it risks protecting those who enabled or participated in the abuse rather than delivering accountability.

Renewed Questions About What Might Have Been

The newly revealed emails offer one of the clearest glimpses yet into how extensive the federal investigation into Epstein had become before his death. With multiple alleged co-conspirators subpoenaed and major searches planned, many questions remain unanswered.

As more documents continue to emerge, the case continues to symbolize unresolved accountability, institutional failure, and the lasting impact on survivors seeking justice.

For many, the revelations reinforce a haunting reality: the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein may have been only just beginning when it was suddenly brought to an end.