With this filing, Stacey E. Plaskett, who had remained the lone defendant since March, is no longer facing claims tied to Epstein’s alleged crimes on Little St. James. Photo: VIC

The stipulation, signed by attorneys for both sides, brings an end to nearly two years of litigation that alleged current and former Virgin Islands officials enabled deceased financier Jeffrey E. Epstein’s sex trafficking operation.

A dismissal with prejudice is final, meaning the case cannot be refiled. 

The dismissal comes after weeks of signals that a resolution was near. On August 22, attorneys for Plaskett and the anonymous plaintiffs had told Judge Arun Subramanian that they believed the case “may be resolved shortly.” They were ordered to inform the court by August 28 whether a settlement could be reached, or else submit trial dates. Today’s filing ends the matter without trial.

The case was first filed in November 2023 by six women identified as Jane Does 1 through 6. Their complaint claimed that Epstein’s criminal enterprise in the Virgin Islands was facilitated by a broad network of high-ranking government officials and staff.

Initially, the defendants included the Government of the Virgin Islands, former Governors John P. de Jongh and Kenneth E. Mapp, former Attorney General Vincent Frazer, former Senators Celestino White and Carlton Dowe, and former First Lady Cecile de Jongh. But in March 2025, Judge Subramanian dismissed claims against all of them, citing jurisdictional barriers and, in Cecile de Jongh’s case, an earlier legal release tied to Epstein’s estate.

That left Delegate Plaskett as the sole remaining defendant. The court allowed claims of negligence and alleged violations of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) against her to move forward, while dismissing RICO claims.

Multiple defences invoked

Plaskett consistently denied the allegations, arguing that the plaintiffs had failed to state a claim and that the court lacked personal jurisdiction over her. In her April response to the amended complaint, she invoked multiple defences, including sovereign immunity, qualified immunity, statute of limitations, laches, and res judicata.

She also argued that her alleged connections to Epstein were insufficient to link her to the criminal conduct outlined in the lawsuit. Plaintiffs alleged she received financial and political support from Epstein, including a $30,000 loan and campaign contributions, in exchange for favourable political actions. Judge Subramanian, however, ruled that certain allegations were plausible enough to warrant further proceedings, leading to months of litigation leading up to this week’s resolution.

Thursday’s stipulation, signed by attorneys Jordan Merson for the plaintiffs and Eric Breslin for Delegate Plaskett, dismissed the case with prejudice. 

The dismissal ends one of several civil cases in which Epstein’s activities in the Virgin Islands drew scrutiny of local officials. With this filing, Plaskett, who had remained the lone defendant since March, is no longer facing claims tied to Epstein’s alleged crimes on Little St James.

A formal statement from Plaskett is anticipated, and this article will be updated accordingly upon its release.