A survivor of Jeffrey Epstein’s sexual abuse has accused a former executive of the modelling agency that represented her of putting her in danger by sending her to the convicted sex offender’s Florida home for photoshoots.
Roza, who was 18 when she was first sent to Epstein’s Palm Beach residence in 2009, said Jeff Fuller, then president of the US branch of MC2 Model Management, knew where she was being sent. Fuller now runs another US modelling agency, The Source Models.
“My agency’s job was to protect me, and they failed. In fact, they put me in danger. And for that, they should be held accountable,” she told the BBC World Service.
Roza had arrived in the United States from Uzbekistan about a month before the first photoshoot. At the time, Epstein was serving a jail sentence for sexual offences against a minor but was allowed to work from his home during the day.
She said the agency knew about her trips to Epstein’s residence and that Fuller was aware of the arrangements.
“My agency knew exactly where I was. So Jeff knew exactly where I was going.”
Roza showed an expense statement which she said indicated that Fuller booked her return flight from Palm Beach after her second photoshoot at Epstein’s home.
Fuller has previously denied knowing that Roza was going to Epstein’s residence. He has also said he did not know she was being abused. He has not responded to the BBC’s latest allegations.
Roza said the photoshoots led to her being employed as an assistant to Epstein, who she accused of systematically raping her.
Investigation found that at least 10 models from MC2 met or communicated with Epstein after his conviction, according to documents released by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ).
The files also show that Epstein gave MC2 $1m in 2005, despite the agency’s owners telling a US publication two years later that he had no involvement in the company.
Model agencies’ links to Epstein
The investigation also examined the roles of former modelling agent Ramsey Elkholy and agency director Faith Kates, both of whom had close relationships with Epstein, according to the DOJ documents.
BBC Eye found that Elkholy attempted to connect 34 women with Epstein, including an 18-year-old who was still in school.
In one instance, Elkholy suggested that a female assistant working for Epstein befriend a young woman before introducing her to the financier.
The woman told said that Epstein sexually abused her during their first meeting at his New York townhouse when she was 19.
Elkholy denied knowing about or facilitating any abuse.
“I completely reject any allegation that I knew of or facilitated abuse of any kind… At the time, I had no knowledge of any abuse and I knew only his own [Epstein’s] account of his 2008 [legal] case, which I misguidedly believed,” he said.
He added that his intention was to help models find professional opportunities by introducing them to a well-connected individual.
Another survivor, identified as Simona, said Epstein raped her more than 200 times after she met him through the modelling industry.
She said she was 20 and already represented by a New York modelling agency when Epstein offered to introduce her to Faith Kates, then head of Next Management.
Simona said Kates suggested she undergo plastic surgery and sent details of a surgeon to Epstein.
She said Epstein later persuaded her to stop modelling and become his assistant, before raping her and controlling her life for nearly two years.
The DOJ documents show that Epstein asked Kates to meet five additional models, although it is unclear how many of the meetings took place.
Kates left her senior executive position at Next Management in December last year but remains legally listed as a director of the company.
Her lawyers stated that Epstein manipulated her and that she was among those misled by him.
“Jeffrey Epstein was a master manipulator… Ms Kates was one of those grossly misled by Epstein. Had she known then what she – and everyone else – now knows, she would have never associated with him,” they said.
They also denied that Kates had ever asked a model to undergo plastic surgery.
Next Management did not respond to the BBC’s request for comment.
The investigation has renewed questions about the role of modelling agencies and individuals who helped Epstein access young women.
Sigrid McCawley, a lawyer representing more than 100 of Epstein’s victims, said modelling agencies played an important role in his recruitment of women.
“Epstein said to many people he wanted three different girls a day. Think about those numbers… The model scouts were really critical because they were the ones who were identifying the type of woman that Epstein liked.”
McCawley also said Epstein’s female assistants were often under pressure and had little choice in how they carried out his instructions.
“These young survivors were being abused regularly. Their livelihoods were being threatened… They had to do what they were being told to do.”
Sara Ziff, founder of the Model Alliance, which campaigns for stronger protections for models in the United States, said agencies sometimes exposed models to predatory individuals.
“Often, [model agencies] are the problem. They are the link between the model and these predatory men.”
New York State Senator Zellnor Myrie is also challenging the US Department of Justice’s position that no evidence has been uncovered to justify further investigations into uncharged third parties.
He has proposed a new sex trafficking bill that would give law enforcement agencies greater powers to investigate people suspected of enabling Epstein’s activities.
Myrie told reporters that anyone who knowingly sent models to Epstein, or should have known about his activities, could be held accountable if the proposed legislation becomes law.
“If you were sending models to Epstein and you knew what Epstein was doing, or you should have known what he was doing, you will be held accountable.”
Meanwhile, MC2’s US branch was dissolved a month after Epstein’s second arrest in 2019. Fuller subsequently established The Source Models, which remains operational.
It was found that 50 models previously represented by MC2 were transferred to the new agency. The Source Models did not respond to requests for comment.
Roza said she hoped speaking publicly about her experience would encourage other survivors to come forward.
“There are many, many survivors out there who never speak, because it’s scary. So to all my sister survivors… you know me now. You know my name. I say, reach out.”
BBC Eye
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