The News-Press and Naples Daily News are examining the Epstein files on the U.S. Department of Justice website for information relevant to Southwest Florida. We’ll periodically report our findings.
A keyword search in the Epstein files has turned up 231 references to Fort Myers.
The Epstein Library ― as it’s called on the U.S. Department of Justice website ― contains millions of documents online. They include everything from emails to PDF documents to a bill a Bonita Springs fine arts gallery sent to Jeffrey Epstein’s home in New York City.
Some documents are duplicated, which could decrease the number of Fort Myers references.
More than 1,000 women and children were victims of Epstein, the Justice Department has said. Many of them have referred to “Epstein Island,” which is Little Saint James ― a 70-acre private island Epstein owned in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Here’s what we found.
Fort Myers pilot paid $23,000 from Epstein business
Documents in the Epstein files showed a dozen checks from Jege Inc. in the Virgin Islands, to Christopher Higgins of Fort Myers, and one to his business. Most of the checks were drawn from Deutsche Bank Trust Co. Americas in New York City.
Jege Inc. was a Virgin Islands corporation that conducted business throughout the U.S. including Florida. In one lawsuit by a victim against the Epstein estate, a 2020 court filing said Jege was an Epstein company.
And Jege (sometimes showing as JEGE) was the owner of Epstein’s Boeing 727-100 that received the nickname the “Lolita Express.”
Epstein, who died in August 2019, sold Jege to a Georgia businessman in June 2019 ― about a month before Epstein was charged with orchestrating a sex-trafficking ring and abusing dozens of underage girls.
A LinkedIn search shows Christopher Higgins since August 2014 has worked as chief pilot/flight instructor with Fly Rite Aviation, 607 Danley Drive, Suite 106, Fort Myers. The website says Higgins founded the airline transport business in 2012.
Higgins identified himself when a journalist called Feb. 12. When the journalist mentioned that Higgins was in the Epstein files, Higgins said, “I’m sorry, I’m not interested,” then hung up the phone.
Higgins collected about $23,000 in checks from Jege Inc. from 2012 to 2014. The information in the Epstein files did not say what if any work Higgins did, whether or not he flew a plane and, if he did, who were his passengers ― if any.
Checks to Higgins, from Deutsche Bank:
A few other checks to Higgins were drawn from JP Morgan bank in New York:
Epstein billed $20,000 for marble fountain
An invoice from Fine’s Gallery, 11400 S. Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers, was sent to Jeffrey Epstein and an address on Madison Avenue in New York City.
The bill shows a balance as of May 2, 2007, of $20,224.32 for a Zorro marble fountain.
The original fountain cost was $23,750, with customer deposits of $50 and $7,125. Shipping cost $3,649.32 and the invoice shows zero for the 6% Florida sales tax.
Fine’s Gallery is now at 24971 S. Tamiami Trail in Bonita Springs. When asked for comment, no one at the current store was available Feb. 12.
Jeffrey Epstein timeline
Police in 1996 began receiving reports regarding Epstein, including complaints of him taking naked photos of minors.
Nine years later, Palm Beach Police began investigating after a report that a 14-year-old was paid for massages.
Epstein in 2008 pleaded guilty to a Florida prostitution charge, serving 13 months in a work-release program.
He was arrested again, in July 19 in New York on federal sex trafficking charges. One month later, Epstein was found unresponsive in his jail cell and pronounced dead.
To check out the Epstein Library on the DOJ website, click here or go to justice.gov/epstein.
Dave Osborn is the regional features editor of the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. Contact him at dosborn@usatodayco.com and follow him on Instagram @lacrossewriter.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Epstein company paid Fort Myers FL pilot nearly $23,000
Reporting by Dave Osborn, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News / Fort Myers News-Press
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