New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez filed a civil lawsuit Wednesday against Jeffrey Epstein’s longtime attorney, Darren K. Indyke, and accountant, Richard D. Kahn, alleging that they helped finance, facilitate and conceal Epstein’s trafficking enterprise.
The 49-page complaint asks the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico to prevent the men from receiving payments from Epstein’s estate while the case proceeds. The state is also seeking damages, restitution, disgorgement and other relief for survivors.
The lawsuit alleges that Indyke and Kahn used their professional positions, control over accounts and roles in Epstein-related businesses to help operate and conceal the enterprise, including alleged trafficking connected to Zorro Ranch in New Mexico.
In a statement emailed to Newsweek, attorney Daniel Weiner said his clients "Indyke and Kahn emphatically reject the New Mexico Attorney General’s allegations that they were complicit in or in any way knowingly facilitated Mr. Epstein’s sexual abuse or trafficking."
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“If anyone is entitled to a recovery of Jeffrey Epstein’s estate, it’s the survivors, the Epstein survivors who were targeted and trafficked here in New Mexico and beyond,” Torrez said during a Wednesday press conference.
“This was not Jeffrey Epstein alone,” he said, adding that the lawsuit recognizes “the fact that none of this could be done by just one man.”
Torrez said Epstein’s operation was allegedly facilitated “by handlers, by lawyers, by accountants, by others, who have yet to face real consequence.”
Weiner said that Epstein's conduct "by all accounts occurred behind closed doors, in secluded locations, and at times when neither Mr. Indyke nor Mr. Kahn was present."
"Not a single woman has ever accused Mr. Indyke or Mr. Kahn of committing sexual abuse or witnessing sexual abuse, nor claimed at any time that she or anyone else reported to them any allegation of Mr. Epstein’s abuse," the attorney added. "The New Mexico Attorney General’s complaint does not allege anything to the contrary.
"Neither the New Mexico Attorney General nor anyone from his office asked to speak with Mr. Indyke or Mr. Kahn to seek relevant information from them before filing this baseless lawsuit, raising serious questions about the thoroughness of the Attorney General’s investigation and the motivations for his lawsuit.
"Mrs. Indyke and Kahn have given multiple depositions in civil lawsuits and have testified at length before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. Had the New Mexico Attorney General wanted to learn the actual facts of their professional services for Epstein, the Attorney General or his staff could have reached out to schedule interviews. Indyke and Kahn have cooperated with any and all investigations when asked to do so."
"Both Mr. Indyke and Mr. Kahn reject as categorically false the allegations that they knowingly facilitated or assisted Mr. Epstein in his sexual abuse or trafficking of women, or that they were aware of Mr. Epstein’s actions while they provided legal or accounting services to him. They are confident that they will prevail on the claims asserted against them."
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Torrez said New Mexico reopened its criminal investigation in February. The new civil lawsuit will proceed on a parallel track with a separate legal team, resources and investigative methods.
The lawsuit opens another avenue for New Mexico to pursue accountability as the state separately investigates alleged criminal conduct involving Epstein and his associates at Zorro Ranch.
The action also reflects continuing efforts to obtain accountability following Epstein’s death in federal custody in August 2019 while awaiting trial on federal trafficking charges. The complaint states that Epstein signed a will and amended the 1953 Trust on August 8, 2019, two days before his death, transferring his remaining property to the trust.
“I feel that the state of New Mexico and, frankly, the United States of America has failed to fulfill its obligation to protect the interests of survivors,” Torrez said Wednesday.
The case comes amid scrutiny of the Justice Department’s handling of federal Epstein records, with Torrez saying New Mexico has had its efforts to obtain federal materials related to its Zorro Ranch investigation blocked.
In its complaint, New Mexico alleges that state investigators opened an inquiry in 2019 but halted it at the request of federal prosecutors in New York, whom the state says later failed to provide promised investigative results. That remains New Mexico’s allegation and has not been established by a court.
Torrez said Wednesday that the Justice Department “continues to stonewall this agency” and has moved to dismiss New Mexico’s separate records-access claim.
Newsweek reached out to the Justice Department by email on Wednesday for comment about Torrez's claims.
Who Are Darren Indyke and Richard Kahn?
Indyke served as Epstein’s personal attorney from approximately 1995 or 1996 until Epstein’s death, according to the complaint.
In a 2009 U.S. Virgin Islands hearing quoted in the filing, Indyke described Epstein as “kind of my mentor” and said he had worked as Epstein’s “attorney, adviser, and personal representative for over 20 years.”
New Mexico alleges Indyke also served as an officer, director or trustee of Epstein-related businesses, foundations and trusts. The complaint claims he handled the 2011 transfer of Zorro Ranch to Cypress Inc. and provided corporate financial management for the ranch and other Epstein properties.
Kahn served as Epstein’s in-house accountant from approximately 2005 or 2006 until Epstein’s death, according to the suit. New Mexico alleges he held positions in Epstein-related businesses and trusts, served as treasurer and director of Cypress Inc. and participated in daily financial and personnel decisions involving properties including Zorro Ranch.
The suit alleges Indyke received more than $16 million from Epstein and related entities between 2011 and 2019, along with a $7 million loan the complaint says was never repaid and other financial benefits. It claims Kahn received more than $10 million over that period, while his company, HBRK Associates, received $4.9 million from Epstein’s JPMorgan accounts between approximately 2005 or 2006 and 2013.
Both men later became co-executors of Epstein’s estate and administrators and beneficiaries of the 1953 Trust. The complaint says Indyke could receive $50 million and Kahn $25 million, assuming money is available after the estate’s obligations are resolved.
The estate was valued at approximately $577.7 million when Indyke petitioned for probate in August 2019, but its reported value had fallen to more than $107 million by June 30, 2026, according to the complaint.
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What Is Zorro Ranch?
Zorro Ranch was Epstein’s remote New Mexico property near Stanley in Santa Fe County. The complaint says Epstein acquired approximately 7,600 acres in 1993, later constructing a main residence of more than 28,000 square feet and eight guest houses.
The state describes the property as isolated, gated and located more than 30 miles from Santa Fe, with a private airstrip, hangar and helicopter landing pad. New Mexico alleges that the ranch’s isolation helped prevent outside scrutiny and left visitors with limited means of leaving or seeking assistance.
The complaint quotes one witness as describing the property as a “giant ranch sort of in the middle of nowhere,” while another described it as “its own miniature town” and said Epstein called the main house his “castle.”
New Mexico alleges that girls and young women were transported to the property between 1997 and 2018 and that Zorro Ranch operated as an important location within the wider enterprise. The complaint includes accounts from several anonymous survivors whose allegations are connected to the ranch.
The filing also alleges the FBI found compact discs at Epstein’s Manhattan residence, including a disc carrying the word “Zorro.”
Zorro Ranch was sold by Epstein’s estate to a private party in 2023, with Kahn overseeing the sale, according to the complaint.
AG Alleges Financial Network Sustained Epstein Enterprise
The complaint alleges Indyke and Kahn provided more than ordinary legal and accounting services.
New Mexico alleges the two men served as officers or directors of Epstein-related entities, managed accounts and approved transactions that financed and concealed the alleged enterprise. The suit says that as of 2005, the men held or managed at least 140 bank accounts for Epstein and his businesses, many of which allegedly transferred money among entities and accounts.
The complaint alleges that between 2002 and 2013, Epstein or people acting for him withdrew more than $6 million in cash from his bank accounts. It further claims that between 2013 and 2017, Indyke made 97 cash withdrawals totaling about $200,000 each year.
New Mexico alleges the withdrawals were structured to remain below the $10,000 federal transaction-reporting threshold.
The complaint also says Kahn, a certified public accountant, testified before Congress that he was unaware of repeated $9,800 withdrawals and did not know those transactions were $200 below the federal reporting limit.
In another allegation, the complaint says Kahn emailed Epstein in 2017 about paying “the latest batch of medical expenses for girls” and asked only whether Epstein wanted to review the bills before payment.
Survivors Call for Justice
Survivors Anouska De Georgiou and Julie Molchanova appeared with Torrez at Wednesday’s announcement and argued that accountability should extend beyond Epstein and his close confidant Ghislaine Maxwell to anyone found to have knowingly enabled their conduct.
“My abuse did not happen in isolation,” De Georgiou said. “It could not have continued for as long as it did without people facilitating it, looking the other way, or choosing to do nothing to stop it.
“We cannot undo what happened or return what was taken from us, but we can demand answers, we can pursue justice, and we can insist that wealth, power and influence never place anyone beyond accountability.”
Molchanova said Epstein’s death had not erased the consequences for survivors.
“Epstein’s death did not make these consequences disappear, and it did not end my need for justice,” Molchanova said. “Epstein didn’t act alone. This lawsuit seeks answers about the people who helped him and the roles they played.”
Molchanova said she found it “deeply troubling” that Indyke and Kahn could potentially receive millions from Epstein’s estate while survivors continue to experience the effects of his crimes.
A statement signed by six survivors said the lawsuit could expose the roles Indyke and Kahn allegedly played, examine their handling of survivor claims and prevent Epstein associates from receiving money from his estate.
“Survivors deserve accountability and answers under oath,” the statement said. “Epstein’s chosen confidants should not get the last word—or the money.”
What Happens Next
New Mexico has asserted five legal counts: participating in a trafficking venture under the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act; kidnapping and criminal solicitation under the New Mexico Racketeering Act; conspiracy to engage in racketeering; and unjust enrichment. These are civil claims, despite some counts relying on alleged criminal conduct as racketeering predicates.
The state is asking the court to declare that the defendants engaged in a pattern of racketeering activity, require them to divest certain Epstein-related interests, restrict their future investments and award treble damages to people injured by the alleged racketeering.
It is also seeking compensatory and punitive damages, restitution, disgorgement, legal costs and an order preventing the estate’s co-executors from making distributions while the case is pending. New Mexico has demanded a jury trial.
Indyke and Kahn will have an opportunity to answer the complaint, dispute the allegations and challenge the requested relief. The court has not determined whether estate distributions will be temporarily blocked or whether New Mexico is entitled to any damages.
The civil lawsuit will proceed separately from New Mexico’s criminal investigation. Torrez said the civil action is focused on preserving estate assets and seeking compensation for survivors, while the criminal inquiry has a different objective and investigative team.
No new criminal charges were announced Wednesday.
New Mexico also intends to continue its legal effort to obtain complete federal Epstein records. Torrez said additional material could inform the state’s criminal investigation and deepen its understanding of Epstein’s enterprise.
The case now requires New Mexico to prove its extensive allegations against Indyke and Kahn, including the central claim stated on the complaint’s opening page: that the two men helped facilitate and conceal Epstein’s conduct and should not “profit after his death from the illegal activity that they enabled and furthered.”
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Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Hollie Silverman and Dave Siminoff.