Former Epstein Staffer Allegedly Involved in Island Kidnapping Cases

Authorities have reported two separate incidents of trespassing on Little St. James Island, formerly owned by Jeffrey Epstein, involving men allegedly trying to capture images and videos. According to court documents from the U.S. Virgin Islands, these individuals were subsequently restrained and detained.

The first incident on March 1 involved two brothers arriving via jet skis to document the island, only to be intercepted by Ann Rodriquez, the island’s longtime property manager, who pursued them by boat.

Rodriquez allegedly brandished a BB gun that resembled a Glock and threatened them, repeatedly shouting, “I will kill you,” as stated in the court records.

In a dramatic turn of events, one brother recounted how Rodriquez commanded the other to enter the water and board her vessel. Once on board, he was reportedly forced to kneel, stripped, and hog-tied, while their drone’s memory cards were confiscated and discarded into the sea.

The second brother fled and alerted authorities. Police found two more similar weapons on the island, according to court records.

Authorities are looking into charges against Rodriquez, including false imprisonment, kidnapping, assault and destruction of property. She’s scheduled to be arraigned next month.

In a separate incident on April 25, also involving Rodriquez, maintenance workers reported spotting a group on the private island who later said they were taking photos for a nonprofit.

The workers alerted Rodriquez and her daughter, who confronted the group and told them to stop, but the individuals fled. During the encounter, the daughter, who said she was five months pregnant, alleged one of the men pushed her.

The group escaped by boat, with Rodriquez pursuing them, but maintenance workers detained one man left behind and restrained him with duct tape until police arrived, according to court records.

The man is being charged with trespassing, according to court records.

Rodriquez told authorities that unauthorized visitors frequently approach the island to obtain social media content, St. Thomas Source reported.

An email to Rodriquez’s attorney seeking comment was not immediately returned.

Ex-Epstein employee Ann Rodriquez in DOJ files

Rodriquez appears in more than 200 documents in the DOJ’s library of records related to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, mostly emails concerning scheduling, maintenance and travel plans for Epstein and his guests to the island.

In one redacted email thread in June of 2017 that Rodriquez was included on, a redacted person wrote, “Hi Anna. Just want to confirm you know 2 girls (REDACTED and REDACTED) will accompany je (Jeffrey Epstein) to the island tomorrow. They will each need a room.” Rodriquez responded, asking if they were flying with Epstein or commercial.

In another redacted email thread from November 2013, Rodriquez sent out a list of food and beverage preferences for a guest named “Mr. Branson.” British billionaire Richard Branson emailed Epstein in September of that year, stating that it was nice to see him and that he would love to see him again, “As long as you bring your harem!”

Representatives from Virgin, the company Branson founded, told The New York Times that contact between him and Epstein was limited to group or business settings.

Rodriquez is listed under several titles in the documents, including general manager, island manager and receptionist. She is also one of several people listed as beneficiaries of the Jeffrey Epstein 2014 Trust for a sum of $500,000.

Appearing in the Epstein files is not evidence of guilt. In the U.S. only one person — Ghislaine Maxwell — has been convicted as a co-conspirator of Epstein’s.

Epstein’s infamous Caribbeans islands

Epstein’s Caribbean islands have long been central to allegations that he used the properties to traffic and abuse underage girls. He died in 2019 by suicide while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.

Investor Stephen Deckoff, founder of private equity firm Black Diamond Capital Management, announced in May 2023 that he bought the two islands for a combined $60 million.

Epstein initially purchased Little St. James, which is more than 70 acres, for $8 million in 1998 and built several structures on the property.

With a combined total of $60 million, the sale of both islands nearly amounted to a “buy-one-get-one-free” deal for Deckoff, The Washington Post wrote at the time, as they had both previously been listed for $55 million each, and even that had been a decrease from the original $125 million listing price.

Per a settlement agreement between the Virgin Islands and Epstein’s estate, a significant portion of the proceeds was given to the government to be used for providing services for sexual abuse victims.

NewsNation’s Cassie Buchman contributed to this story.

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Former Epstein Staffer Allegedly Involved in Island Kidnapping Cases

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