FirstBank Must Face Epstein Survivors’ Sex Trafficking Lawsuit, Judge Rules

A federal judge in New York has allowed Jeffrey Epstein survivors to pursue most of their lawsuit accusing FirstBank Puerto Rico of helping sustain his sex-trafficking operation through a banking relationship that allegedly lasted more than two decades.

U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff rejected FirstBank Puerto Rico and parent company First BanCorp’s bid to dismiss the survivors’ central claim that the bank knowingly benefited from participating in Epstein’s trafficking venture. The September 25, 2026, order also allows a claim under New York City’s Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Act to proceed.

Rakoff dismissed a separate claim accusing FirstBank of obstructing enforcement of the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act. He rejected the bank’s challenges to jurisdiction and venue, allowing the remaining claims to proceed in Manhattan. A more detailed opinion explaining his reasoning will follow.

The lawsuit was filed June 24 by Epstein survivor Julia Molchonova, who initially proceeded as Jane Doe. She is seeking to represent women who say they were sexually abused or trafficked by Epstein or his associates.

Molchonova alleges FirstBank was Epstein’s longest-serving banking partner and provided financial services connected to him and his organization from at least 1998 through 2020. The complaint accuses the bank of maintaining more than 30 accounts tied to Epstein, his companies, and associates while receiving financial benefits from the relationship.

The Trafficking Victims Protection Act allows survivors to seek damages from entities they allege knowingly benefited from participating in a trafficking venture. Molchonova claims FirstBank meets that standard because it continued providing financial services to Epstein while possessing information that should have alerted the bank to his conduct.

Epstein pleaded guilty in Florida in 2008 to state charges involving prostitution and a minor and was required to register as a sex offender. Molchonova alleges FirstBank continued handling accounts and transactions connected to him long after his conviction and after other financial institutions ended their relationships with him.

According to the complaint, FirstBank maintained a primary account in Epstein’s name from November 2000 through October 2019. The filing alleges the account was used for cash withdrawals that helped finance his abuse and says the bank continued providing services after Epstein’s July 2019 federal arrest on sex-trafficking charges.

Molchonova also claims FirstBank processed at least $21 million in wire transfers involving Epstein accounts from 2013 until his death in August 2019. By 2016, according to the filing, Epstein had been designated a “Platinum Banking” client whose account and wire transfer fees were waived.

The lawsuit further alleges FirstBank waited until after Epstein’s 2019 arrest to file a suspicious activity report concerning transactions associated with him.

Those allegations remain unproven. FirstBank has argued that it provided routine banking services and had no knowledge of Epstein’s sex-trafficking operation. First BanCorp has said it and FirstBank “categorically deny” the claims, intend to vigorously defend themselves and maintain compliance and anti-money laundering programs.

FirstBank joins other financial institutions sued by Epstein survivors over banking services provided to the late financier. JPMorgan Chase and Deutsche Bank previously reached settlements in separate litigation without admitting liability. In August, a federal judge approved a $72.5 million settlement between Bank of America and Epstein accusers who alleged the bank ignored warning signs while processing transactions tied to his operation.

Molchonova is seeking certification of the case as a class action. A class certification hearing is scheduled for October 15 before Rakoff in Manhattan.