Sex offender, human trafficker and financier Jeffrey Epstein made three tuition payments to Seton Hall between 2017 and 2019, according to files published by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).
On July 8, 2017, Epstein issued a $17,060 check from a Deutsche Bank account to an unnamed student for the fall 2017 and spring 2018 semesters. The tuition check shows a handwritten student’s name and ID number, both of which are redacted.
On July 13, 2018, Epstein issued an $11,749 check to SHU on behalf of another student, Brian Beller, for the same academic period. On Feb. 19, 2019, Epstein issued a second check for Beller, of $4,068, for the spring 2019 semester. Beller later graduated with an M.S. in accounting from SHU in December 2019.
Beller shares a last name with Harry Beller, Epstein’s financial adviser, who is referenced in the files in connection with the SHU checks. Under a column labeled “background,” the files list him as “Epstein employee Harry Beller.” There is no confirmation that the two are related.
The checks were signed by Darren Indyke, Epstein’s lawyer and co-executor of his estate.
Epstein has a documented history of funding the education of the children of his employees and associates.
Epstein paid tuition on behalf of the children of the then-U.S. Virgin Islands Gov. John de Jongh Jr. Emails between De Jongh’s wife, Cecile De Jongh, who worked as Epstein’s office manager for his companies in the U.S. territory, show her forwarding her children’s tuition bills to Epstein.
According to a JPMorgan Chase court filing, Cecile de Jongh also attempted to secure student visas and work licenses for young women connected to Epstein.
The filings further state that Epstein offered to fund former-Gov. De Jongh’s legal defense in a criminal case stemming from 2015 charges alleging misuse of public funds to make security improvements at his private residence.
Epstein also had a history of utilizing university connections to lure young women into his sex trafficking operation.
On Jan. 14, the House Committee on the Judiciary Democrats sent a pair of letters to the presidents of New York University (NYU) and Columbia University requesting assistance in the investigation of the extent to which Epstein “used his relationship with elite universities and colleges to further his criminal goals.”
In the letter to NYU President Dr. Linda G. Mills, Ranking Member of the Committee Rep. Jamie Raskin wrote that victims’ statements said “Mr. Epstein promised young women, some of them minors at the time, that he would arrange for them to be admitted to NYU. In other cases, Mr. Epstein personally paid for their NYU tuition.”
Similarly, Epstein promised victims admission and tuition payments at Columbia University, according to Raskin.
The reason Epstein made tuition payments to SHU has not been confirmed.
SHU is one of nine universities and colleges listed in the files as receiving tuition payments on behalf of women and children and, aside from Fairleigh Dickinson University, the only institution in New Jersey.
The files also reveal that Epstein made tuition payments to 19 other schools, including four preparatory schools, one of which served students with disabilities. Additional payments went to a daycare, two children’s day camps, a private school in the U.S. Virgin Islands, three language-immersion schools, a foreign education company, a tutoring center, a finishing school in Sweden, three Jewish education centers, a film studio and a dance studio.
University Relations did not respond to comment.
Megan Pitt is the head editor of The Setonian’s News section. She can be reached at megan.pitt@student.shu.edu.
Dominique Mercadante, editor-in-chief of The Setonian, contributed to reporting. She can be reached at dominique.mercadante@student.shu.edu.
