DOJ files reveal Jeffrey Epstein moved $27.7M for a Morocco mansion days before his 2019 arrest, with Charles Schwab flagging suspicious activity.
DOJ files reveal Jeffrey Epstein moved $27.7M for a Morocco mansion [Photo: X]
Newly released US Department of Justice documents shed light on a major financial transaction carried out just days before Jeffrey Epstein was arrested in July 2019.
Records show that nearly $27.7 million was moved in connection with his attempt to purchase a lavish palace in Morocco. The filings detail how brokerage firm Charles Schwab Corporation processed the transfers, later flagging them as suspicious amid growing scrutiny around Epstein.
In the 10 days leading up to his arrest, Epstein pushed forward with plans to acquire a luxury estate in Marrakesh. Court-linked financial disclosures show that funds were wired in two major transactions between late June and early July 2019. One of the transfers was reportedly initiated even though the account involved did not have sufficient funds at the time.
The deal ultimately collapsed, but the timing of the transfers, just days before federal authorities detained Epstein, has raised fresh questions about his financial strategy during that period.
Charles R. Schwab founded the Charles Schwab Corporation in 1971 and helped pioneer the discount brokerage model in the United States. Over the decades, the company grew into one of the largest financial services firms in the country, offering brokerage, banking and asset management services.
In 2019, Epstein opened accounts at Schwab after Deutsche Bank began distancing itself from him. The DOJ documents show that Schwab opened three accounts in April 2019 for companies linked to Epstein, including one named Southern Trust.
According to the filings, Southern Trust attempted to purchase the Bin Ennakhil Palace in Marrakesh. Between June 26 and July 9, 2019, the company instructed Schwab to wire approximately 11.15 million euros (about $12.7 million) for the property.
That initial transfer was reversed after a caller informed Schwab that the deal terms were not agreeable. However, on July 4, two days before Epstein’s arrest, another wire request for $14.95 million was submitted, signed by Epstein and a co-signatory.
The second payment was reportedly sent to an account at Julius Baer in Switzerland held by realtor Marc Leon. The account involved allegedly lacked sufficient funds at the time because the earlier reversed payment had not yet been credited back.
Under US law, financial institutions must report potentially suspicious transactions to the Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. Schwab filed a Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) on July 13, 2019 — seven days after Epstein’s arrest.
The SAR reportedly cited “concerns with attempted wires for real estate, in light of negative media surrounding Jeffrey Epstein” and expressed worry that he could pose a possible flight risk ahead of a bail hearing.
The company later stated, “An associate of Epstein opened accounts in April 2019. Shortly after, our Risk team began investigating the accounts, and within 60 days of starting the review, we notified the client of our decision to close and terminate the relationship. We also referred the matter to federal law enforcement.”
The Bin Ennakhil estate spans approximately 4.6 hectares and features gold-draped interiors, a traditional hammam steam spa, dozens of marble fountains and expansive gardens. The property sits in Marrakesh, one of Morocco’s most prominent cultural and tourist hubs.
Realtor Marc Leon defended his role in facilitating the attempted transaction, stating, “Epstein had been convicted of sex crimes (in 2008) and had served his sentence. There was therefore nothing to prevent him from attempting to purchase property in Morocco. We had no way of knowing that he had continued his terrible crimes.” The sale never went through.
The attempted purchase came after renewed public focus on Epstein following investigative reporting by the Miami Herald in 2018, which revisited his prior plea deal and allegations.
In 2020, the US Virgin Islands subpoenaed several financial institutions, including Schwab, for documents related to Epstein’s estate. The subpoena did not accuse Schwab of wrongdoing. The DOJ documents highlight how Epstein continued making high-value financial moves even as legal pressure intensified.
Jeffrey Epstein was an American financier who moved in elite social circles and built connections with business leaders, politicians and celebrities. In 2008, he pleaded guilty in Florida to charges related to soliciting prostitution from a minor and served jail time under a controversial plea agreement.
In July 2019, federal prosecutors charged him with sex trafficking of minors in New York. Authorities accused him of operating a network that exploited underage girls over several years. Epstein denied the allegations. He died in federal custody in August 2019 while awaiting trial. Officials ruled his death a suicide.
After Epstein’s arrest in early July 2019, Schwab cancelled the second wire at the request of an individual acting on Epstein’s behalf. Much of the account activity remains redacted or limited in public documents, and the full decision-making behind certain transfers is not fully clear from the released files.
The Bin Ennakhil deal was never completed, and investigators continue to parse financial and legal documents related to Epstein’s extensive financial network. Several regulatory and congressional inquiries have cited these records as part of broader efforts to understand how Epstein maintained his finances while under scrutiny.
The Bin Ennakhil Palace is located in Marrakesh, one of the most historic and internationally known cities in Morocco. The estate sits in the upscale Palm Grove district, also known as La Palmeraie, an exclusive area on the outskirts of Marrakesh known for its sprawling luxury villas, private compounds and palm-lined landscapes.
The region attracts wealthy international buyers, celebrities and investors because it offers privacy, security and large estate-style properties while remaining close to the city’s main attractions and historic medina.
The Bin Ennakhil property itself spans roughly 4.6 hectares (over 11 acres), combining seclusion with access to one of North Africa’s most popular luxury real estate markets.
