Full Breakdown
New Mexico Sues Epstein’s Former Lawyer and Accountant Over Alleged Ranch Abuse Cover-up
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
On October 21, 2026, New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez filed a federal civil suit against Darren Indyke, Epstein’s longtime personal attorney, and Richard Kahn, his former accountant and co-executor. The complaint alleges the two facilitated, financed and concealed Jeffrey Epstein’s sex-trafficking operation at Zorro Ranch, a 26,700-square-foot property about 30 miles south of Santa Fe that Epstein bought in 1993. The suit seeks a court order barring Indyke and Kahn from receiving any payments from the Epstein estate, which holds more than $100 million in assets, and requests compensatory, punitive and restitution damages for survivors.
Background & Context
Jeffrey Epstein, a financier convicted of sex-trafficking, died by suicide in a New York jail cell in August 2019 while awaiting trial. His former associate Ghislaine Maxwell is serving a 20-year sentence after a 2021 conviction. Witnesses at Maxwell’s trial testified that Epstein and Maxwell abused women at Zorro Ranch. The New Mexico Attorney General’s office reopened its investigation into the ranch earlier in 2026 and previously sued the U.S. Department of Justice for access to unredacted files.
Data & Statistics
- Estate value: reported as “more than $100 million.”
- Payments to Indyke: $16 million (2021-2023 period).
- Payments to Kahn: over $10 million (2011-2019).
- Zorro Ranch: 26,700 sq ft mansion with private airstrip; purchased 1993; sold in 2023 to the family of Don Huffines, Texas state comptroller, with proceeds earmarked for creditors.
Official Statements & Responses
Attorney General Torrez said the lawsuit is intended to prevent the pair from profiting from the estate, emphasizing that “those resources rightfully belong in the hands of survivors.” He noted that the estate’s 1953 Trust would otherwise benefit Indyke and Kahn. The U.S. Justice Department declined to comment on any federal investigation of the pair.
On-the-Ground Reports
A memorial for victims was erected outside Zorro Ranch on April 3, 2026, drawing nearly 50 participants who placed artificial flowers and held a vigil. Survivors Julia Molchanova and Anouska De Georgiou spoke at the press conference announcing the lawsuit.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the precise valuation of the Epstein estate: some describe it as “more than $100 million,” while the ABQ Journal cites “more than $107 million.” No public record yet confirms the exact amount of damages the plaintiffs seek, nor whether the estate’s trustees will comply with a potential injunction.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Those resources rightfully belong in the hands of survivors,” — General Raúl Torrez
- “Jeffrey Epstein did not operate alone, and his death does not end the pursuit of accountability for the people who helped make his crimes possible,” — General Raúl Torrez
- “None of this could be done by just one man,” — General Raúl Torrez
- “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,” — Dan Weiner
What’s Next
The case will proceed in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico. If the court grants the injunction, Indyke and Kahn would be barred from receiving any estate distributions while the litigation continues, and the plaintiffs could obtain monetary awards for survivors. The outcome may also influence ongoing federal inquiries into Epstein’s broader network.