Jeffrey Epstein and the Latin American Power Brokers Around His Network (Part 2) (5/27/26)

Summary

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Episode Overview

Podcast: The Epstein Chronicles
Host: Bobby Capucci
Episode Title: Jeffrey Epstein and the Latin American Power Brokers Around His Network (Part 2)
Release Date: May 27, 2026

This episode dives deep into the often-overlooked connections between Jeffrey Epstein and key Latin American business and political figures. Referencing investigative work by Shirsho Das Gupta in the Miami Herald, Capucci explores Epstein’s entanglements with Venezuela’s oil industry, Cuban intermediaries, and international power brokers. The narrative reveals how Epstein was leveraged for advice and access concerning vast fortunes and state resources, setting aside the myth of Epstein as a mere “lone predator.”

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Epstein’s Ties to Venezuela’s Power Brokers

• Nationalization of Ports and Oil (00:59–03:30):

  • Hugo Chavez expropriated control over Venezuela’s ports, causing international companies like DP World to lose control and billions of dollars.
  • DP World CEO Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayam, who had a long relationship with Epstein, sought Epstein’s advice on the crisis.
    • Quote: “Hell of a Mossad agent, huh? Jeffrey Epstein, king of the Mossad, hanging out with nothing but sheikhs and oil barons and decorating his ‘mosque’ on the island with Islamic trappings…” — Capucci [02:10]

• Epstein’s Strategy:

  • Epstein supposedly advised Bin Sulayam to turn to Cuba, believing Castro’s regime could sway Chavez to allow DP World back into business in Venezuela.
  • Capucci emphasizes the transactional, "grease the wheels" nature of doing business in Venezuela at the time.
  • Planned meetings in Havana between DP World officials and the Cuban government went unacknowledged by all parties when reached by the Herald, suggesting possible ulterior motives or attempts to distance from controversy.

High-Level Security and Elite Access

• Venezuelan Influence & Introduction Roster (03:30–05:45):
  • “Just a lone predator. Just a guy who likes to do disgusting things. How many lone predators get a security detail when they go down to Venezuela to negotiate with the regime?” — Capucci [04:30]
  • Plans existed to introduce Epstein to Venezuela’s top power players—including Chavez’s aide, financial advisors to the state oil company, and a Chinese diplomat.
  • Although the Herald reports the trip never took place, details are elusive and responses evasive.

Oil Deals and Corruption: The Derwick Associates Case

• Epstein’s Business Negotiations (05:45–09:00):
  • 2012 meeting: Epstein, through intermediaries, discussed oil ventures tied to Derwick Associates and Venezuela’s PDVSA, targeting the world’s largest oil reserves in the Orinoco Basin.
  • Capucci harshly critiques the inequality in Venezuela, pointing to systemic self-enrichment by elites at citizens’ expense.
    • Quote: “The people of Venezuela were living the way they were living because these scumbags in power decided to keep all that money for themselves.” — Capucci [07:10]
  • U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) violations arise in context; Capucci suggests every Epstein-linked deal involved corruption.

Legal Scrutiny and Denials All Around

• Investigations and Allegations (09:00–10:31):
  • The U.S. Justice Department and Manhattan DA separately investigated Derwick over corruption and banking violations.
  • Capucci notes a double standard in how elites face legal consequences, with financial crimes often shielded from regular justice.
    • Quote: “These rich people, you think they have the same rules we do? Most certainly not.” — Capucci [08:39]
• Deniability of Relationships:
  • Key figures—D’Agostino, Betancourt—deny engaging with Epstein, despite records of introductions and planned meetings.
  • Capucci scoffs at the widespread denial: “Nobody did business with them, nobody went to the meetings, nobody knew him. And it's all just a figment of our imagination.” [11:12]

Continuing Corruption Under Maduro & U.S. Policy

• Sanctions and Shifting Allegiances (10:31–11:40):

  • U.S. sanctions, then their removal, hint at political and financial motives for selective crackdown.
  • Capucci cynically links political changes to self-interest for U.S. and Venezuelan elites.

• The Narrative Battle:

  • Capucci is adamant that narratives of Epstein as a “lone operator” are false, stressing that powerful people were well aware of his reputation and activities.
  • Quote: “They think that their narratives are just going to hit and they're just going to get ran with... But that's not how it works anymore.” [12:38]

The Bigger Picture: South America and Epstein’s Operations

• Not Just Venezuela (12:31–13:45):
  • Capucci asserts South America was a long-running “hunting ground” for Epstein and his circle, suggesting many victims and players remain unnamed.
  • The episode ends with a pledge to keep investigating and sharing new findings as they emerge.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Hell of a Mossad agent, huh? Jeffrey Epstein, king of the Mossad, hanging out with nothing but sheikhs and oil barons...” — Bobby Capucci [02:10]
• “Just a lone predator... How many lone predators get a security detail when they go down to Venezuela to negotiate with the regime?” — Capucci [04:30]
• “The people of Venezuela were living the way they were living because these scumbags in power decided to keep all that money for themselves.” — Capucci [07:10]
• “These rich people, you think they have the same rules we do? Most certainly not.” — Capucci [08:39]
• “Nobody did business with them, nobody went to the meetings, nobody knew him. And it's all just a figment of our imagination.” — Capucci [11:12]
• “They think that their narratives are just going to hit and they're just going to get ran with... But that's not how it works anymore.” — Capucci [12:38]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• (00:59–03:30): Chavez’s Venezuela and the expropriation of DP World
• (03:30–05:45): Epstein’s planned, high-security trip to Venezuela and planned introductions
• (05:45–09:00): Oil deals, Derwick Associates, and the scope of corruption
• (09:00–10:31): Legal investigation, U.S. and DA scrutiny, and elite impunity
• (10:31–12:45): Sanctions, denials, and the myth of Epstein as a “lone wolf”
• (12:31–13:45): South America’s larger role in Epstein operations

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Conclusion

Capucci’s tone is unsparing and skeptical, calling out repeated attempts by elites to distance themselves from Epstein despite ample evidence of deep, multifaceted relationships. The episode paints a picture of opaque networks connecting high finance, politics, and systemic exploitation—extending Epstein’s influence across continents, especially throughout Latin America. Capucci pledges continued reporting as more of the Epstein story is inevitably unearthed.

Transcript

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what's up everyone? And welcome to another episode of the Epstein Chronicles. In this episode we're going to pick up where we left off with that Miami Herald article that was authored by Shirsho Das Gupta and the headline once again Oil in Venezuela Research in Cuba Inside Epstein's Ties to Latin America Trouble and Porto Cabello Chavez had ordered all of Venezuela's ports to be expropriated. The port, whose private owners did not comply, would be seized by the military. At the time, Porto Cabello, a port roughly 200 miles west of Caracas, was being run by a private company called DP World. As I write this, our operations have ceased to be under our control, the company's highest ranking official in the region wrote in an email to DP World's Top Executives on August 1 that year. And of course that was one of the big things that Hugo Chavez did. He nationalized all of the oil and the companies that were running these oil companies at the time, they were sol and some of these companies ended up missing out on billions and billions of dollars. So once that happened, all these different ports that were being managed by international firms, they were just pushed out. And of course that also led to what we saw recently in Venezuela with Maduro being arrested by the Trump administration, DP World CEO at the time, Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayam, with whom Epstein had shared a decades long relationship, turned to Epstein for advice. Hell of a Mossad agent, huh? Jeffrey Epstein, king of the Mossad, hanging out with nothing but sheikhs and oil barons and decorating his quote unquote mosque on the island with Islamic trappings. But maybe Ian Carroll or Candace Owens or one of these other morons can tell us some more about how he's really the Mossad James Bond. The financier claimed it was actually the Cubans who had pushed Chavez to expropriate the ports. Epstein advised Ben Suleiman to travel to Cuba, win over the Castro regime, and then have them convince the Venezuelans to let DP World operate the ports again. Look, when you're dealing with somebody like Hugo Chavez, when you're dealing with the former Venezuelan regime, they'll play ball. If you have the right amount of dough, that's what it comes down to. Are you willing to grease the wheels? And if the answer is yes, game on. If the answer is no, you better find someplace else to do business. Ben Suleim and his team, the record show, planned to travel to Havana in late September that year and meet with Cuban officials at the historic Hotel Saratoga. Neither Ben Sulyam nor DP Worl responded to the Herald's requests for comment. The ports of Puerto Cabello remained under the control of the Venezuelan regime. And in their mind, they probably were making more money controlling the port, then outsourcing it. And up until Chavez took over, that was pretty much how things were going in that country. The oil companies, the foreign nationals, they had Providence to do whatever they wanted, basically. But then when you had the socialist regime come in, that changed and they nationalized everything and they chased out a lot of the international businesses that were running these ports and helping the country operate. Black gold of the Aronoko d'. Agostino. The record show planned to crack his trip for Epstein in 2012 and promised him an armored car and security contingent during his stay there. Just a lone predator. Just a guy who likes to do disgusting things. How many lone predators get a security detail when they go down to Venezuela to negotiate with the regime? Maybe one of these people that like to tell us that Epstein wasn't an international trafficker would like to answer that question. Then again, maybe not. A proposed itinerary shows that he wanted to introduce Epstein to some of the most influential figures in the country at the time. They included Alejandro Andraj Chavez, personal aid, Henry Ramos, Alup d' Agostino's brother in law and the leader of the Venezuelan opposition at the time, Baldo Sanso, financial advisor to the state controlled oil company, and Yuchi Chen, a Chinese diplomat. Well, I wonder why he wanted to introduce him to a Chinese diplomat. I'm sure that Mr. Chen wasn't corrupt. I'M sure that he wasn't over in Venezuela, up to no good. On behalf of the ccp, d' Agostino told the Herald that Epstein's planned trip to Venezuela did not take place. He didn't answer why? Well, why not? Why wouldn't you answer? Why is there a reason? Why wouldn't Epstein go if it was all planned? During a November 19, 2012 lunch meeting with Epstein, D' Agostino discussed a business opportunity with him. Oil. The correspondence and a copy of a non disclosure agreement reviewed by the Herald show the discussion was about Venezuelan company Derwick Associates joint venture with PDVSA to explore the oil fields along the Orinoco river in the southern part of the country. The largest petroleum reserves in the world. Think about that. The largest in the world. More than Saudi Arabia, more than Iran, more than anywhere in the Middle east, more than America, more than Canada. And the people of Venezuela were living the way they were living because these scumbags in power decided to keep all that money for themselves. Derwick Associates chairman is Alejandro Betancourt Lopez, whom d' Agostino introduced. Epstein. The record suggests that one of the topics of discussion at d' Agostino meeting with Epstein was the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, a federal law aimed at preventing the bribery of foreign officials for a business gain. And I'm of the belief that just about every business that Epstein was involved in, whether it was behind the scenes or up front, was corrupt. Every last one of them. And I'm also of the mind that if you were in business with them and you benefited from ill gotten gains, then you should be part of the conversation too. Because I promise you, if somebody was under RICO investigation and they sent you some money, your account would be frozen and the basis would be that you're receiving illicit funds, you're getting funds from a criminal conspiracy. So now you're a part of that criminal conspiracy and you'd have to jump through hoops, have to get a lawyer, go to the court, like whole thing. But when it comes to Jeffrey Epstein and his friends, no way we can't have a RICO investigation because of course that would lead to real transparency. And that's exactly what they're trying to avoid. Two years later, the Wall Street Journal reported that the Justice Department was probing Derwick's business dealings in Venezuela for potential corruption, an allegation that Derwick has denied. The Manhattan District Attorney's office was also investigating the company for potential violations of New York banking laws. The report said. Oh, you know that was happening. I hate to tell you, but all these people are breaking the law when it comes to finances. These rich people, you think they have the same rules we do? Most certainly not. And the sad part is they benefit both ways. They get the money tax free and then on the back end they find a way to shelter it so they never have to pay taxes on it.

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And on, on it goes. In 2017, the Venezuelan regime, having passed into Maduro's hands after Chavez's death, also announced an investigation into the company for the spectacular overpricing of oil contracts. According to Reuters, the U.S. imposed sanctions on D' Agostino in 2021 for coordinating the trade of Venezuelan oil on behalf of pdvsa, which it accused of being the Maduro regime's primary conduit for corruption to exploit and profit from Venezuela's natural resources. The Trump administration lifted the sanctions against d' Agostino last year. Of course he did. The Epstein administration is going to take care of Epstein's buddies and if they feel like Mr. D' Agostino can make them a few bucks, all the better. I met Mr. Epstein only a few times to discuss business opportunities in Venezuela oil sector that did not materialize, d' Agostino said in a statement to the Herald. I decided not to engage in any dealings with Mr. Epstein subsequently. Oh, no, not at all. I'm sure you guys just, you know, broke off all contact and decided that was that. You already knew what Epstein was when you were dealing with him. So don't give me the. Save the nonsense, save the stories. Miss me with all of it. Betancourt, Miami based attorney, told the Herald that d' Agostino had introduced his client Epstein, but that Betancourt never did business with him and did not attend the November meeting. Nobody did business with them, nobody went to the meetings, nobody knew him. And it's all just a figment of our imagination. Maybe all of us are suffering through the Mandela effect and we just don't know it. Then again, maybe these people are just, you know, lying. After the initial introduction, Mr. Betancourt never spoke to or corresponded with Epstein, nor did Epstein ever invest with my client. He said Mr. Betancourt had no relationship with Epstein, business or personal. No, none at all. Nobody knew him. Listen, guys, nobody had any idea who Epstein was or what he was up to. Nobody read the paper. What, you think the most powerful people in the world don't have their finger on the pulse and know what's going on in the news? I mean, they really think you're dumb. That's what it comes down to. I know I keep saying it, but it needs to be said again. They think that their narratives are just going to hit and they're just going to get ran with and that everybody's going to fall in line, but that's not how it works anymore. And I know that everybody listening right now, nobody believes it. And nobody believes that Jeffrey Epstein was a lone wolf. The Justice Department and the Manhattan District Attorney's office did not answer the Herald's questions about whether Epstein was also part of their probes into Derwick. Look, we had that DEA probe and Epstein was named. So was that this probe? I think it's highly likely. I can't confirm it, obviously, but I think it's highly likely. Federal officers arrested Epstein in July 2019 on sex trafficking charges. He was found dead in federal custody in lower Manhattan a month later on August 10, 2019. And when I was talking about South America previously, I told you that we're going to learn a lot more, and here we are. And I think that this is just the tip of the iceberg. Because Jeffrey Epstein, Jean Luc Brunel, and God knows who else were actively using South America as a hunting ground for literally decades. So just how many people have found themselves caught up in that web? My guess is a lot more than we know. And in that vein, we're gonna keep on keeping on. And when we have some more information about South America and Jeffrey Epstein's operation down there, we'll get it added to the catalog. All the information that goes with this episode can be found in the description box.

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