Freshly unsealed financial records from the U.S. Department of Justice have exposed a frantic attempt by Jeffrey Epstein to finalize a $27.7 million real estate deal in Morocco just days before his 2019 arrest. The documents detail how the disgraced financier utilized accounts at the Charles Schwab Corporation to initiate large-scale international wires while federal investigators were closing in.
The Marrakesh Maneuver
Between late June and early July 2019, Epstein targeted the «Bin Ennakhil Palace»—a sprawling 4.6-hectare estate in the elite La Palmeraie district of Marrakesh. The filings show two significant transactions aimed at the property. Notably, one wire of $14.95 million was signed off by Epstein on July 4, exactly two days before he was detained by federal authorities at Teterboro Airport.
Banking Red Flags
The transactions raised immediate alarms at Charles Schwab. Despite Epstein opening the accounts only months earlier in April 2019, the firm’s risk team quickly flagged the activity. A Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) filed by Schwab noted concerns regarding the high-value wires and Epstein’s potential as a «flight risk.» The company eventually terminated the relationship and cooperated with federal law enforcement.
A Failed Exit Strategy?
The luxury estate, featuring gold-accented interiors and marble fountains, was being sold through realtor Marc Leon via a Swiss bank account at Julius Baer. While Leon claimed he had no knowledge of Epstein’s ongoing crimes, the deal ultimately failed to close following the financier’s detention. These newly revealed files underscore Epstein’s continued ability to move massive wealth through the global financial system even as his legal world was collapsing.