Epstein survivor’s suit alleging Bank of America ignored abuse can proceed, judge says
A lawsuit against Bank of America that was filed by a survivor of Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking ring can move forward, a federal judge in New York ruled this week.
The victim presented sufficient evidence to support her claim that the Charlotte-based bank ignored clear warning signs of his abuse while profiting from his business, a New York federal judge ruled Wednesday.
The plaintiff, identified in court filings as “BOA Jane Doe,” filed the proposed class-action lawsuit in October. The suit alleges that the banking giant violated federal and state laws, including the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, by maintaining a financial relationship with Epstein despite his well-documented criminal history.
In an opinion and order issued Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff allowed two primary claims under the trafficking act to move forward against the bank, while four other claims were dismissed.
First, the judge wrote that the complaint “plausibly alleges that Bank of America recklessly disregarded in several ways information suggesting that Epstein’s venture was engaged in sex trafficking.” This included media reports and civil lawsuits that described Epstein as a “serial sexual abuser and trafficker,” the judge noted.
One of the examples cited in the suit was banking activity involving a New York address used to house dozens of trafficking victims. Another was documented evidence that a former Epstein banker at a Bank of America subsidiary “knew of Epstein’s crimes and the risks of banking with him.”
The court also allowed the claim to proceed in the litigation that Bank of America intentionally obstructed trafficking act enforcement by failing to file required Suspicious Activity Reports regarding Epstein’s accounts.
Rakoff noted that Bank of America provided “non-routine services” to Epstein’s associates, including granting Jane Doe “preferred customer” status despite her having no clear source of income.
“While Bank of America was not required to automatically credit unproven allegations in civil lawsuits, the amended complaint plausibly asserts that the bank turned a blind eye to these repeated, detailed allegations ... by utterly failing to engage in due diligence about them,” Rakoff wrote.
Bank of America on Thursday expressed satisfaction that the majority of the claims against it were dismissed.
“It’s important to understand the underlying facts have not been reviewed at this stage of the litigation,” the bank said in a statement. “We look forward to a full review of the facts.”
Judge dismisses several claims against Bank of America
The court rejected the theory that the bank acted as a “direct perpetrator” of trafficking and ruled that the trafficking act does not allow for “aiding and abetting” claims. Additionally, two state-law negligence claims were tossed because they were filed after New York’s three-year statute of limitations had expired.
The judge wrote that because Epstein’s abuse ended no later than his death in prison in 2019, the window for negligence claims had closed by the time the suit was filed in 2025.
A similar lawsuit against Bank of New York Mellon was dismissed in its entirety in January.
The court determined that BNY’s involvement was limited to routine correspondent banking and lacked the direct connection to Epstein’s misconduct found in the Bank of America allegations.
Epstein accused of running decades-long sex trafficking ring
Between the early 2000s and 2019, more than 4,700 transfers totaling over $1 billion linked to Epstein moved through major banking institutions, according to the case.
Jane Doe alleged that in 2013, Epstein’s associates directed her to open a Bank of America account as part of a scheme to deceive immigration officials. She claimed she was placed on the payroll of a sham company, with payments funneled from one of Epstein’s own accounts.
The suit also alleged that MC2 Model Management — a firm created by Epstein and French model scout Jean-Luc Brunel — served as a front for trafficking. The agency allegedly used Bank of America accounts to lure young women with fake modeling offers, while financial records suggest the bank was aware of these suspicious connections, according to plaintiff’s claims.
A jury trial for the remaining claims is scheduled for May 11 in New York.
This story was originally published February 13, 2026 at 5:05 AM.
