In brief
New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez has filed a civil suit against former lawyer Darren Indyke and accountant Richard Kahn, alleging they profited from Epstein’s sex‑trafficking network. The lawsuit, filed under federal and state racketeering laws, comes amid renewed scrutiny of Epstein’s Zorro Ranch near Santa Fe—a region adjacent to pueblos and indigenous reservation lands. By targeting those who shield abused women, the state underscores a broader obligation to defend local communities from elite exploitation and ensures that the land and its resources are not misappropriated by powerful interests.
New Mexico sues Jeffrey Epstein’s aides over hidden crime schemes
The state Attorney General Raúl Torrez led a civil complaint against longtime aides Darren Indyke and Richard Kahn, accusing them of profiting from the late financier’s network of sexual abduction and exploitation. The suit, filed under the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act and New Mexico’s own Racketeering Act, claims the two men concealed Epstein’s abuse at the remote Zorro Ranch near Santa Fe while continuing to earn money from the estate.
Kahn and Indyke serve as the sole executors of Epstein’s massive, still-unsettled estate, having been named in the will just days before the billionaire’s death in 2019. They have denied any involvement in the crimes, saying they were unaware of the abuse when they testified to Congress and continued to cooperate with investigators.
The conflict is part of a larger, in‑progress criminal probe into Epstein’s alleged activities, which was re‑launched in February 2026. Torrez argues that the men’s continued control over the estate blocks victims from accessing compensation and that “those who allegedly enabled this exploitation should not benefit from it while survivors endure its fallout.”
For New Mexico, the lawsuit signals a broader concern about the stewardship of land and resources. The Zorro Ranch sits near sacred Pueblo communities and reservation boundaries, where traditional stewardship and cultural continuity rely on the integrity of the surrounding landscape. By targeting the elites who manage Epstein’s assets, the state is underscoring its responsibility to protect both human and environmental rights within indigenous territories.
The fathers of many indigenous peoples insist that justice starts with recognizing the connection between land, community and historical trauma. As the legal proceedings continue, observers watch closely to see whether the government will reaffirm its commitment to decolonizing legal structures and ensuring that eradication of abuse goes hand in hand with preservation of cultural heritage.
