The New Mexico Epstein Commission Interim Report (Part 11) (8/11/26)

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Epstein Chronicles

Host: Bobby Capucci
Episode: The New Mexico Epstein Commission Interim Report (Part 11)
Date: August 11, 2026

---

Episode Overview

This episode continues Bobby Capucci’s ongoing review of the interim report from the New Mexico Truth Commission, focusing on Jeffrey Epstein’s activities and associated institutional and legal failures in New Mexico. Capucci details proposed legislative changes, examines the enforcement lapses of sex offender rules, and highlights gaps that allowed Epstein to avoid meaningful oversight in the state.

---

Major Discussion Points & Insights

1. Chargeable Criminal Offenses and Statute of Limitations

• Commission’s Objective: The Truth Commission intends to refer opportunities for future prosecutions based on survivor statements and evidence.
• Identified State Statutes Potentially Violated (04:44):
  • Enticement of a child, prostitution, patronizing prostitutes, promoting prostitution, criminal sexual penetration, criminal sexual contact, criminal sexual contact of a minor, and human trafficking.
• Time Limits for Prosecution: Most crimes have a five or six-year limitation, except for sexual offenses against minors (prosecution possible until victim is 35).
• Legislative Development: House Bill 116 (2024) and Senate Bill 32 (2026) aim to eliminate the statute of limitations for human trafficking, allowing indefinite prosecution for future (not past) cases due to constitutional restrictions on retroactivity.

2. Institutional Failures in Oversight and Prosecution (07:18)

• List of Failures:
  • U.S. Attorney’s Office and New Mexico Attorney General did not complete investigations.
  • AG’s office did not retain records related to Epstein.
  • Santa Fe District Attorney did not investigate.
  • Authorities failed to consistently monitor Epstein as a sex offender.
  • The State Land Office failed to enforce land lease terms at Zorro Ranch.
• Regulatory Gaps: The episode details how existing laws and agencies failed to meaningfully act on information about Epstein for years.

3. Sex Offender Registration and Notification (SORNA) Oversight (09:41)

• Epstein’s Conviction: Convicted in Florida (2008) for procuring a minor (age 17) for prostitution.
• NM Sex Offender Law: Would not have compelled Epstein to register in New Mexico because the victim was 17 and state law only applied to offenses involving minors under 16.
• Federal SORNA Standards: Broader than NM’s statutes—requires sex offenders to register in each jurisdiction where they live, work, or go to school.
• Process and Documentation:
  • Notification letters exchanged between Florida and NM authorities (July-August 2010).
  • Email records show ongoing uncertainty about whether Epstein was required to register; initial conclusion was “not required” under state law.
  • Epstein did fill out NM registration paperwork on August 17, 2010, listing Zorro Ranch as his address.
  • Unusual questionnaire entries: reported a prior arrest in the UK (1973) for possessing a swordstick.
  • By August 19, 2010, state authorities formally advised his registration wasn’t required for his FL conviction but noted possible federal requirements.

4. SORNA Registration Activity Tracking (14:35)

• Record of Notifications:
  • Between 2010 and 2015, Epstein or his attorney, Darren Indyke, contacted Santa Fe authorities 13 times about planned NM visits.
  • Internal Zorro Ranch memos instruct that Epstein’s trips to NM be reported to authorities two days in advance.
  • Extensive emails from Epstein and attorney detail each NM visit—including specific dates and stated compliance with notification requirements** (see Memorable Quotes below)**.
• Significant Loopholes:
  • Epstein ultimately removed from the NM registry after initial registration because his crime didn’t meet state definitions regarding victim age.
  • 2026 legislation (HB 445) introduced to address this age-of-consent loophole; future reforms planned by Truth Commission for 2027.

5. Failure to Complete Annual Registration Requirements (18:40)

• Commission’s Findings:
  • Evidence shows Epstein registered at the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office on Aug 17, 2010.
  • No evidence found of required annual in-person check-ins or updated photographs after initial registration.
  • Epstein (or reps) were diligent about initial notices but fell short of repeated, legally required in-person appearances.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

1. On the Scope of Investigations

“Investigative area covers the failure of governmental and private entities to investigate, prosecute, or take action in response to Epstein’s known or suspected wrongdoing.”
— Bobby Capucci (07:18)

2. On Sex Offender Registration Loopholes

“While under New Mexico law Epstein would not have committed a crime because the girl was 17... On the other hand, he was convicted of a crime in which some sexual act or sexual conduct is an element and on that basis would appear to have been subject to Federal SORNA requirements.”
— Bobby Capucci (12:37)

3. On Legislative Reforms

“House Bill 116, 2024 and Senate Bill 32, 2026 both proposed amending Section 318 to remove the limitation for human trafficking... If enacted, this would eliminate the statute of limitations for human trafficking entirely...”
— Bobby Capucci (06:26)

4. Tracking Epstein’s Stays at Zorro Ranch

“Epstein emailed as an extra precaution on letting you know that I’ll be on my ranch for the month of August. Hope you are well.”
— Citing documented emails (Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office), Bobby Capucci (17:20)

5. On Compliance and Oversight Gaps

“Epstein was subsequently removed from the NM registry just two days after registering because his Florida conviction involved a victim over 16. The New Mexico legislature introduced HB 445 in 2026 to close this loophole.”
— Bobby Capucci (17:45)

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 04:44 – Review of potentially chargeable offenses and applicable statutes of limitations
• 06:26 – Proposed legislation to eliminate human trafficking statute of limitations
• 07:18 – Institutional failures in investigation and monitoring
• 09:41 – Detailed breakdown of SORNA and sex offender registration rules
• 12:37 – Complexity around federal vs. state sex offender laws
• 14:35 – Documentation of Epstein’s notifications and loopholes in enforcement
• 17:45 – Legislative efforts to close loopholes; mention of HB 445 (2026)
• 18:40 – Findings on lack of annual, in-person registration compliance
• 19:45 – Conclusion and teaser for next episode

---

Conclusion

This episode provides a thorough dissection of the legal and bureaucratic gaps that allowed Jeffrey Epstein to evade meaningful oversight as a registered sex offender in New Mexico. Bobby Capucci uses direct documentation, interim report details, and legislative updates to expose how both outdated laws and institutional apathy contributed to these systemic failures. Listeners are left with a nuanced understanding of the technicalities involved and a cliffhanger promising continued analysis in the next episode.

---

Additional Info:
Episode documents and source materials mentioned are available in the episode’s description box.

Transcript

[A]

Hanging out at the pool is great. Relaxing and playing Vegas style games on my phone at the same time. Drink in one hand and a blackjack in the other. It's all at spinquest. Over a thousand games including your favorite slots and table games. Be cool with this summer special new players get 30 coin packs for [e-mail]

[B]

Spin Quest is a free to play social casino void where prohibited. Visit spinquest.com for more details.

[C]

This Monday.com ad was created by a team of people and AI agents. The agents wrote the copy and managed the timelines while our human Creative director made sure it all made sense. Easy. Create your own AI agent today on

[D]

Monday.com what's up everyone and welcome to another episode of the Epstein Chronicles. In this episode, we're picking up where we left off with the New Mexico Truth Commission and their interim report about Jeffrey Epstein and his crimes in the State of New Mexico. Chargeable Criminal Offenses the Truth Commission will continue to look for opportunities to refer matters for a criminal prosecution so that the perpetrators can be held accountable. Based on survivor statements and other evidence, Epstein, Maxwell, and possibly others engaged in criminal conduct between 96 and 2012, the following state statutes with corresponding limitation periods were available as potential charges. Potentially chargeable Offenses and limitation periods Section 39 1. Enticement of a child 5 year misdemeanor Section 39 2. Prostitution 5 year misdemeanor Section 39 3. Patronizing prostitutes 5 years misdemeanor Section 39 4. Promoting prostitution 5 years misdemeanor Section 39 11. Criminal sexual penetration 6 years or if a minor, at any time after the occurrence of the crime until the alleged victim reaches the age of 35, subject to possible tolling section 39 12. Criminal sexual contact 6 years or if a minor, at any time after the occurrence of the crime until the alleged victim reaches the age of 35, subject to possible tolling Section 39 13. Criminal sexual contact of a minor 6 years Section 3052 1. Human trafficking 6 years if a second degree felony In 2008, the New Mexico Legislature enacted Human Trafficking Criminal Statute codified at NMSA section 30521 2025. A person can be convicted under this statute for knowingly 1. Recruiting, soliciting, enticing, transporting or obtaining by any means another person with the intent or knowledge that force, fraud or coercion will be used to subject the person to labor services or commercial sexual activity. 2. Recruiting, soliciting, enticing, transporting or obtaining by any means a person under the age of 18 years with the intent or knowledge that the person will be caused to engage in commercial sexual activity or three benefiting financially or by receiving anything of value from the labor services or commercial sexual activity of of another person with the knowledge that force, fraud or coercion was used to obtain the labor services or commercial sexual activity. New Mexico's human trafficking statute sets forth the definition and penalties but does not include a special limitation period. Accordingly, New Mexico's general limitation rules set forth at NMSA Section 31 8, 1978 apply with different limits depending on degree. For example, six years for second degree felonies, five years for third or fourth degree felonies. However, House Bill 116, 2024 and Senate Bill 32, 2026 both proposed amending Section 318 to remove the limitation for human trafficking for instances that are not already time barred. The proposed amendment was as follows. For any crime against or in Violation of Section 30521 NMSA 1978, no limitation period shall exist and prosecution for these crimes may commence at any time after the occurrence of the crime. If enacted, this would eliminate the statute of limitations for human trafficking entirely, regardless of the offense's degree, thereby allowing for future prosecution of these crimes without having a time limit to prosecute. These laws would not be retroactive, however, because of the ex post facto restrictions rooted in Article 1, Section 9 and 10 of the US Constitution. Investigative area number two institutional failures the investigative area covers the failure of governmental and private entities to investigate, prosecute, or take action in response to Epstein's known or or suspected wrongdoing. This includes, but is not limited to, the failure of the U.S. attorney's Office for the District of New Mexico to complete its investigation of Epstein's activities in New Mexico the failure of the New Mexico Attorney General to complete its investigation of Epstein the New Mexico Attorney General's failure to maintain a copy of records generated and collected in connection with its investigation of Epstein the Santa Fe District Attorney's failure to to investigate Epstein the failure of the state authorities to monitor Epstein as a sex offender and the failure of the State Land Office to enforce the terms of his land lease. Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act SORNA oversight On June 30, 2008, Epstein was convicted in Palm Beach, Florida of procuring a person under the age of 18 for prostitution in violation of Florida Statute 796.03. He was released from Probation Parole Corrections on July 21, 2010. The age of Epstein's victim at the time of the offense for which he was convicted was 17 under New Mexico law applicable at the time a sex offender residing in the state was required to register with the county sheriff no later than 10 days after being released from custody or being placed on probation or parole. When registering with the county sheriff, a sex offender was required to provide certain information including name and aliases, date of birth, Social Security number, address, place of employment, the sex offense committed, and the date and place of the sex offense. Idaho at section 2911A.4B, 2009 New Mexico law applicable at the time defined sex offense to include specified offenses as set forth by New Mexico statute, including criminal sexual penetration in the first, second, third, or fourth degree as provided in NMSA section 30.9, 11, 2009 or their equivalents in any other jurisdiction. Criminal sexual penetration in the fourth degree consists of all criminal sexual penetration on a child 13 to 16 years of age when the perpetrator is at least 18 years of age and is at least four years older than the child and not the spouse of that child while under New Mexico law Epstein would not have committed a crime because the girl was 17. If applicable, Sorna, codified at 34 USC Section 2901, provides a comprehensive set of minimum standards for sex offender registration and notification in the U.S. among other things, SORNA requires sex offenders to register and keep their registration current in each jurisdiction where they live, work, or go to school and also require sex offenders to make periodic in person appearances to verify and update their registration information. Only those convicted of qualifying sex offenses must Register. There are five classes of qualifying 1 designated federal sex offenses 2 specified military offenses 3 crimes identified as one of the special offenses against a minor four crimes in which some sexual act or sexual conduct is an element and five attempts or conspiracy to commit any offense in one of these other classes of qualifying offenses. On July 22, 2010, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement sent the New Mexico Department of Public Safety a letter notifying them that Epstein was a sexual offender and had indicated a Forwarding address of 49 Zorro Ranch Road, Stanley, N.M. fDLE also forwarded Epstein's FDLE Sexual Predator Offender Registration form, which listed the Virgin Islands as Epstein's then permanent address. The form listed Epstein's other addresses, his employer, which he listed as FTC 6100 Red Hook Quarter, Suite B3, US Virgin Islands and his vehicles. Also attached to the letter was a Notice of Sexual Predator and and Sexual Offender Obligations. By letter dated July 23, 2010, NMDPs notified Epstein of his obligation to register with the Sheriff of the New Mexico county in which he intended to reside no later than 10 days after establishing residence in New Mexico. On August 12, 2010, the detective responsible for overseeing Epstein sex offender registration sent an email to the NMDPS indicating that she spoke with Epstein's attorney and let him know that they're working on figuring out if Jeffrey would have a state requirement to register, just a federal requirement, and asking can you let me know what will be his requirement? On the same day, the program manager for the Sex Offender Registration Unit Soar at the NMDPs advised the detective, I guess he's not required to register in New Mexico. On August 17, 2010, Epstein completed a New Mexico sex offender registration form. According to the form, Epstein was required to register within 10 days after establishing residence in New Mexico. The form characterized Epstein as a temporary New Mexico resident with an address at Zorro Ranch. The form notes, next appointment not scheduled have not received letter from DPS is indicating that Mr. Epstein is not required to register in New Mexico. As part of the form, Epstein was required to acknowledge his sex offender responsibilities. His responsibilities included a requirement that Epstein in the event he intends to travel to another state or country for more than 10 days, notify the sheriff of the county he currently resides in and the state he'll be traveling to. On the same date, an offender questionnaire was completed for Epstein, although it does not appear he filled it out personally, the questionnaire required Epstein to identify all residents, ages of residents, and relation to the the offender for the location where the offender is residing. No information was provided. The questionnaire also indicated that Epstein previously had been arrested in 1973 by New Scotland Yard, London for unlawful possession of an offensive weapon, a sword stick? Epstein indicated yes to the question, has the offender ever lived with an adult lover, male or female, for at least two years and continuous with the same person? A table identifying Epstein's vehicles, two aircraft, four landlines 24 and cell phones. One was attached by letter dated August 19, 2010. NMDPs advised Epstein that under the current NMSA 1929 11A, he was not required to register with the State of New Mexico for his 2008 conviction, but that he might be required to Register under Title 1 of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and safety act of 2006 while he resides temporarily in New Mexico. Indeed, Epstein was not convicted of any of the crimes specified in NMSA section 29 that or their equivalents in any other jurisdiction. On the other hand, he was convicted of a crime in which some sexual act or sexual conduct is an element and on the basis would appear to have been subject to Federal SORNA Requirements under sorna, a sex offender shall appear in person, allow the jurisdiction to take a current photograph, and verify the information in each registry in which that offender is required to be registered not less frequently than one each year if the offender is a Tier 1 sex offender, two every six months if the offender is a Tier 2 sex offender, and three every three months if the offender is a Tier 3 sex offender. By letter dated May 21, 2012, Indyke provided the detective with updated SORNA notification information comprised of a spreadsheet listing Epstein's residences, vehicles, boats, aircraft, landlines, cell phone websites, Twitter accounts, and other social media accounts. By letter to the detective dated July 22, 2013, Ndyke updated Epstein's Sorna notification information with much the same information as the year before, although with a marked increase in the number of social media accounts. By letter dated April 27, 2017, the New York State Sex Offender Registry advised the NMDPs that Epstein had been assigned a risk level 3, meaning the risk to community is high.

[A]

Forget whatever plans you have this weekend because you're staying at home and playing on spinquest and there's never been a better time to sign up than right now. New users get $30 coin packs for just ten $10. All the table games you love with hundreds of slot games and real cash Prizes. That's at spinquest.com S P I N

[B]

Q U E-S-T.com Spinquest is a free to play social casino void where prohibited. Visit spinquest.com for more details.

[C]

This Monday.com ad was created by a team of people and AI agents. The agents wrote the copy and managed the timelines while our Human Creative Director made sure it all made sense. Easy create your own AI agent today

[D]

on Monday.com a comprehensive offender report dated July 17, 2019 and issued to the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office noted that the offender is not required to register per state law, but will be required to register per Adam Walsh when in NM not releasable to Webb when registering between December 2010 and and July 2015, either Epstein personally or through his attorney. Indyke contacted the Santa Fe County Sheriff's office on 13 occasions to inform them that Epstein's intended presence in New Mexico. An internal Zorro Ranch document noted that Jeffrey must email the detective two days prior to going to the ranch. On April 25, 2013, Indyke emailed Leslie Groff requesting make a note that any time he is scheduled to to go to NM or pb. Remind me two days before his scheduled departure to tell him to email woods in Palm beach and the detective in New Mexico. All contact was made with the detective. The Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office has provided no other information indicating that Epstein personally or through anyone else informed them of Epstein's intent to be in New Mexico. Documentation from the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office shows they were informed of of Epstein's presence in New Mexico as December 7, 2010 to date unknown. Ndyke advised by email that Epstein would be leaving New York and traveling to New Mexico on December 7, 2010. February 25, 2011 February 26 to March 2, 2011 Epstein emailed stating Detective Anaya as promised, I told you I would notify you or when I was again in New Mexico. I'll be there from Saturday, February 26 to Wednesday, March 2. You can call my cell if you if you have time. March 4 to March 7, 2011 Epstein advised by email I have a bad cold so I returned to New Mexico tonight, staying until Monday afternoon. July 7th 17th, 2011. By email dated July 7th, 2011, Epstein advised I'll be at the ranch starting tomorrow for seven days. Hope you're well. February 21st to March 1st, 2012 Indyke advised that Epstein would be traveling from New York to New Mexico on February 21, 2012 and would be staying in New Mexico no more than 8 days. July 30 to August 20, 2012 Epstein emailed advising Detective, I'll be staying in Santa fe for approximately three weeks starting next Monday the 30th. July 31 to August 31, 2012 Epstein emailed advising I arrived in New Mexico, will be in and out of the state for the next month. Hope things are well. September 14, 18, 2012 Epstein emailed out of abundance of caution I write to tell you that I arrived in New Mexico and I will leave on Tuesday the 18th. Hope you are well. February 23rd, 25, 2013 Epstein emailed I'll be in New Mexico the 23rd through 25th. Hope you are well. April 25th, 29th Epstein emailed I will be in New Mexico for 4 days. Hope you are well. August 1st through 31st, 2013 Epstein emailed I'll be In Santa Fe from Thursday, August 1st to August 31st. Hope you were well. December 20th, 28th, 2013 Epstein emailed Happy holiday Again out of an abundance of caution. Please be advised that I'll be in New Mexico for the week of the 20th. 28th Happy Holiday. August 1st through the 31st, 2015 Epstein emailed as an extra precaution on letting you know that I'll be on my ranch for the month of August. Hope you are well. Epstein was subsequently removed from the NM registry just two days after registering the because his Florida conviction involved a victim over 16 New Mexico's edge of consent the New Mexico legislature introduced HB 445 in 2026 to close this loophole. The truth commission intends to do so in future legislation for the general session of 2027. There's evidence that Epstein appeared in the Santa Fe County Sheriff's office on August 17, 2010 to complete his initial sex offender registration. However, the commission has yet to locate any evidence showing that Epstein appeared in person to allow the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office to take a current photograph and verify the information in each registry in which that offender is required to be registered each year or more frequently as may have been required under SORNA through the local New Mexico attorney. Epstein acknowledged after his first registration the follow up annual registration appearance must be made before December 31st of each calendar year beginning December 31st, 2011. If Jeffrey Epstein in that calendar year follow up annual registration appearances do not appear to have been made all right folks, we're going to wrap up right here and in the next episode dealing with the topic, we're going to pick up where we left off. All the information that goes with this episode can be found in the description box.

[B]

I have had no luck lately. Wait.

[C]

Lady Luck Britsky. I got you. I've had so much luck on spinquest.com they have all of my favorite games, slot games, live blackjack craps and bubble craps. You can even get a 30 coin pack for just 10 bucks.

[D]

10 bucks for 30.

[B]

I'm headed over to spinquest.com right now. Spinquest is a free to play social casino void where prohibited. Visit spinquest.com for more details.