French Prosecutors Identify New Suspected Epstein Recruiters, Say Probe Extends to New York and Riviera
By chasecodewell // 2026-09-15
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French Prosecutors Identify New Suspected Epstein Recruiters

Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau said Thursday that French investigators have identified additional potential recruiters who may have helped Jeffrey Epstein obtain victims in France and elsewhere, according to a statement she gave to France Inter [1]. Beccuau spoke about two investigations opened by her office in February following the release of millions of Epstein-related documents in the United States, officials said [1]. One investigation focuses on human trafficking, including alleged recruitment, while the other covers possible money laundering and tax fraud, the prosecutor stated [1]. The dual-track approach mirrors the structure of earlier French probes that examined both the sexual exploitation network and the financial mechanisms that supported it, according to case documents [2]. Epstein died in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges. His death was officially ruled a suicide, according to authorities [1]. The death fueled conspiracy theories that he was murdered by powerful figures to ensure his silence, claims that circulated widely in media reports and public statements [3].

Prosecutor Cites "Labyrinthine" Network, Declines to Name Suspects

Beccuau said investigators have obtained other names of potential recruiters but declined to identify the suspects, according to her statement to France Inter [1]. She described the Epstein network as labyrinthine, adding that it is not just a single Ariadne's thread to pull on but dozens and dozens of threads [1]. The prosecutor said the case now extends to New York as well as the French Riviera, including Saint-Tropez and Cannes, where Epstein spent considerable time and where French investigators believe parts of his predatory operation functioned [1]. French investigators believe parts of Epstein's operation functioned in those locations, Beccuau said. The geographic scope described by the prosecutor suggests coordination between recruitment activities in France and the United States, according to the investigation's current trajectory [1]. Earlier reporting indicated that Epstein maintained extensive contacts among the international elite, and his network was described as operating across multiple jurisdictions [2]. Former employees told investigators that young women regularly came to his Paris apartment for massages, and while living in the French capital, Epstein frequently courted members of the French elite [1].

Victims Identified, Some Still to Be Interviewed Abroad

Beccuau said investigators have identified 26 victims, including 13 who had never previously appeared in an Epstein-related case, according to her statement [1]. She added that eight victims still need to be interviewed, including some who could be living abroad, officials said [1]. France was a significant base for Epstein, who owned an apartment on Avenue Foch in Paris. Former employees told investigators that young women regularly came for massages there, according to the prosecutor [1]. While living in the French capital, Epstein also frequently courted members of the French elite, the investigation has indicated [1]. The identification of previously unknown victims suggests that the full scope of Epstein's activities in France may be broader than earlier understood, according to statements from Beccuau's office [1]. The ongoing need to interview victims abroad indicates that the investigation continues to expand beyond French borders [1].

Prior French Investigation Focused on Modeling Agents

The first French investigation, opened after Epstein's death in 2019, centered on modeling agent Jean-Luc Brunel, whom investigators suspected of being his principal recruiter in France, according to prosecutors [1]. Brunel was indicted on charges of raping minors and sexual harassment after being accused of sexual violence by 11 women, officials said [1]. In 2022, Brunel died by suicide in a Paris prison, according to authorities [1]. The probe then focused on Daniel Siad, another modeling scout whom former models accused of targeting young women with promises of fashion careers before sexually exploiting them or introducing them to powerful men, the report stated [1]. French prosecutors opened the first investigation two weeks after Epstein's death, and in September 2019 they raided the apartment near the Arc de Triomphe as well as the home and offices of Brunel, according to published accounts [2]. In July, before French authorities could gather enough evidence for arrest, Siad was found dead at his home near Paris, prosecutors said [1]. Prosecutors did not establish the cause of death but said an autopsy found no signs of recent violence linked to his death while revealing poor health and evidence of an earlier heart attack, according to officials [1]. Siad, a 69-year-old modeling scout whose name appears approximately 2,000 times in the DOJ's Epstein files, was found dead at his home in Colombes, northwest of Paris, on a Monday [4]. The deputy public prosecutor at Nanterre, Marie-Celine Lawrysz, confirmed the death and said an investigation into the cause was opened that evening, with an autopsy to follow [4]. Separately, Brunel had been prepared in 2016 to tell U.S. prosecutors what he knew about Epstein's sex-trafficking operation, according to newly released files from the DOJ. The now-deceased Brunel's lawyer was negotiating with attorneys for Epstein's victims about a possible meeting with federal prosecutors, and a $3 million silence offer was reportedly discussed before Brunel backed off the deal, according to the documents [5]. This delay allowed Epstein's trafficking network to operate for additional years, according to reporting on the DOJ files [6].

Epstein's Death and Ongoing Questions

Epstein died in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges, and his death was officially ruled a suicide, authorities said [1]. The death fueled conspiracy theories that he was murdered by powerful figures to ensure his silence, according to public statements and media reports [1]. Documents released in 2026 revealed that an official DOJ press release about Epstein's death was drafted on August 9, 2019, just one day before he was found deceased on August 10. The draft includes a statement from Manhattan U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Berman confirming Epstein's death, raising questions about what the DOJ knew in advance [3]. French prosecutors said their investigations are ongoing and no new arrests have been announced in connection with the potential recruiters identified by Beccuau [1]. Officials declined to name the suspects or provide further details, citing the continuing nature of the probe [1]. A 2015 Drug Enforcement Administration memo revealed a multi-year probe into Epstein and over a dozen others for suspicious financial transfers possibly linked to narcotics and prostitution, indicating that the full scope of activities under scrutiny may have been more complex than previously understood [7].

Conclusion

The French investigations represent one of the few active criminal proceedings related to Epstein's network following his death in 2019. While U.S. federal prosecutions have largely concluded, French authorities continue to identify victims, potential recruiters, and financial connections that span from Paris to New York and the French Riviera [1]. The pattern of deaths among key figures associated with Epstein's recruitment operations -- including Brunel in 2022 and Siad in July -- has complicated efforts to gather evidence and pursue charges. Despite these obstacles, French prosecutors say the investigation continues along multiple tracks, including human trafficking and financial crimes [1]. The case has also prompted scrutiny of prominent European figures. Jack Lang, France's former culture minister, resigned as head of the Arab World Institute after his name was mentioned hundreds of times in the Epstein files between 2012 and 2019, prompting a tax fraud investigation [8]. The Paris arm of the Edmond de Rothschild bank was raided by authorities in an Epstein-linked probe, and Ariane de Rothschild -- who employed Epstein -- was present during the search, according to a source acquired by Reuters [9].

References

  1. "French prosecutors find new suspected Epstein recruiters". September 12, 2026.
  2. PDF Expert 22 Mac-5. "Greenlights".
  3. Mike Adams. "Bright Videos News - GLYPHOSATE, BUNKER BOMBS AND AI". BrightVideos.com. February 9, 2026.
  4. ZeroHedge. "He Was Very Close To Being Arrested: Epstein's Paris Model Scout Found Dead At Home, Weeks After CNN Appearance". July 22, 2026.
  5. ZeroHedge. "Epstein Ally Was Talking To Feds About Flip, Wanted $3 Million To Keep Quiet, Then Backed Off Deal". February 19, 2026.
  6. Cassie B. "The 3 million silence offer: How a 2016 deal kept Epstein's trafficking network running for three more years". NaturalNews.com. February 19, 2026.
  7. NaturalNews.com. "Newly revealed DEA probe adds new layers of narcotics trafficking and prostitution to the Epstein scandal". February 25, 2026.
  8. Just the News. "France's former culture minister Jack Lang resigns as head of Paris cultural center". February 8, 2026.
  9. The New American. "Rothschild Bank Raided in French Epstein Investigation". March 27, 2026.

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