Archived Fox News Report on David Copperfield’s Musha Cay Purchase Cited in the Epstein Investigation
Snapshot
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Original article | “Property Owner Sued Copperfield Over Sale of Island Where Alleged Rape Occurred” |
| Publisher | Fox News |
| Publication date | October 24, 2007 |
| Archived capture | October 26, 2007 |
| Primary subject | David Copperfield’s acquisition of Musha Cay |
| Former property owner | John James Melk |
| Property | Musha Cay and neighboring islands in the Bahamas |
| Related lawsuit | Melk v. Copperfield |
| Epstein files connection | The article was circulated between federal prosecutors investigating Jeffrey Epstein and David Copperfield |
| Primary Epstein record | EFTA00214586 |
| More complete copies | EFTA00223791 and EFTA00223792 |
| Email date | February 28, 2008 |
| Email subject | “DC and JE” |
| Email sender | Assistant United States Attorney A. Marie Villafaña |
| Email recipient | Assistant United States Attorney Susan Roe |
| Historical status | Media report citing court filings and a then active federal investigation |
| Important limitation | The article is not a judicial finding and does not establish criminal conduct by Epstein or Copperfield |
The archived Fox News article reported on allegations that magician David Copperfield concealed his role in the acquisition of Musha Cay, a private island resort in the Bahamas.
The report became relevant to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation several months later. In a February 28, 2008 email, federal prosecutor A. Marie Villafaña told federal prosecutor Susan Roe that she had located a Federal Express shipment from Jeffrey Epstein to “John Melk/Musha Cay.” Villafaña searched those names, found the Fox News article, and suggested that Melk might be someone investigators should interview.
The email is preserved in EFTA00214586. More complete copies appear in EFTA00223791 and EFTA00223792.
The evidence establishes that prosecutors investigating Epstein and Copperfield exchanged information about a shipment from Epstein to Musha Cay’s former owner. It does not establish that Epstein participated in Copperfield’s island purchase, that the shipment concerned the sale, or that the two investigations proved a joint criminal scheme.
What Is This Record?
The original record is a Fox News article published on October 24, 2007 under the headline “Property Owner Sued Copperfield Over Sale of Island Where Alleged Rape Occurred.”
The article discussed two separate subjects:
- John Melk’s civil fraud allegations concerning the sale of Musha Cay to an entity ultimately controlled by David Copperfield.
- A federal investigation into an allegation that Copperfield sexually assaulted a woman on the island.
The report said Melk, a cofounder of Blockbuster Video, previously owned and developed Musha Cay. According to the article, Melk objected to selling the resort directly to Copperfield because he questioned Copperfield’s financial qualifications, resort management experience, and suitability as an owner.
The report stated that an entity called Island Group of Companies Ltd. subsequently offered to purchase the property. Melk alleged that he was told the entity represented Christian Jagodzinski and Michael Gleisner.
After the transaction, Copperfield reportedly informed Melk that he controlled Imagine Nation Company, the entity acquiring Musha Cay. Melk alleged that the buyer’s identity had been deliberately concealed through a “strawman” transaction.
Copperfield disputed Melk’s characterization and argued that the former owner was experiencing seller’s remorse. The litigation settled in 2006 under undisclosed terms.
The archived article was later identified by federal prosecutors because Epstein’s Federal Express records reportedly showed a package sent to “John Melk/Musha Cay.”
Source and Provenance
The original Fox News page remains available through both the Internet Archive and Fox News.
Media Sources
The Internet Archive timestamp shows that the supplied capture was preserved on October 26, 2007 at approximately 2:33 a.m. UTC, two days after the article’s stated publication date.
Epstein Records
The direct connection between the article and the Epstein investigation appears in several government records:
| Evidence record | Contents |
|---|---|
| EFTA00214586 | One page version of Villafaña’s February 28, 2008 email |
| EFTA00223791 | More complete copy identifying Susan Roe and the Federal Express destination |
| EFTA00223792 | Duplicate copy of the same communication |
| EFTA00223790 | Susan Roe’s response discussing the Melk litigation and the separate Copperfield investigation |
| EFTA00223748 | Larger production containing the surrounding prosecutorial correspondence |
The pages also display earlier production identifiers connected to Doe v. United States, case number 9:08 cv 80736. That litigation concerned the federal government’s handling of Epstein victims and the nonprosecution agreement.
The archived Fox article is therefore a secondary media source embedded within a primary government communication. The email proves that prosecutors reviewed and discussed the article. It does not make every claim in the article a government finding.
What the Record Contains
The Musha Cay Ownership Dispute
Fox News reported that John and Janet Melk acquired Musha Cay and developed it as an exclusive private resort.
According to the article, John Melk decided to sell the property but wanted a purchaser with sufficient capital and luxury resort management experience. Copperfield expressed an interest in buying the property, but Melk allegedly opposed allowing Copperfield to control the resort.
The article reported that Island Group of Companies Ltd. later presented itself as the purchaser. An attorney allegedly represented that the company’s partners were Christian Jagodzinski and Michael Gleisner.
Financial information supplied during the transaction reportedly persuaded Melk that the proposed purchaser possessed adequate resources and resort management experience.
After the transaction, Copperfield allegedly informed Melk that he was the actual owner behind Imagine Nation Company and the Musha Cay acquisition.
The Fraud Allegations
Melk alleged that Copperfield and others concealed Copperfield’s involvement because Melk would not knowingly have sold the property to him.
The Fox report characterized the transaction as a purported “strawman” purchase. That word describes a transaction in which someone appears to act as the purchaser while another person is the actual intended owner or beneficiary.
Use of an intermediary is not automatically illegal. Whether a transaction is fraudulent depends on the representations made, the parties’ duties, the seller’s reliance, the governing law, and other facts.
Melk filed a federal civil action alleging fraud. Copperfield disputed the allegations. The dispute settled in 2006, and the settlement terms were not publicly disclosed.
Because the litigation ended in a settlement, the Fox article should not be read as evidence that a court found Copperfield liable for fraud.
The Sexual Assault Investigation
The article was published shortly after reports that federal agents searched Copperfield’s Las Vegas warehouse and a theater where he performed.
A woman alleged that Copperfield sexually assaulted her during a visit to Musha Cay in 2007. Copperfield and his attorneys denied the allegation.
The woman was later publicly identified through civil litigation as Lacey Carroll. The federal investigation continued for more than two years and closed without criminal charges in January 2010.
The United States Attorney’s Office stated that the closing of the investigation should not be understood as a declaration of guilt or innocence. Later reporting found that federal prosecutors faced substantial jurisdictional obstacles because the alleged conduct occurred in the Bahamas.
References to Unverified Rumors
The Fox article quoted allegations from Melk’s civil filings concerning rumors about Copperfield’s personal life, business history, and possible associations.
Those statements were allegations contained in litigation materials. They were not established judicial findings. Villafaña’s email specifically noted the article’s reference to rumors about Copperfield’s personal life, but her interest in that passage did not verify the rumors.
Key Evidence
Epstein Sent a Package to John Melk at Musha Cay
The most important Epstein related detail does not originate in the Fox article. It appears in the federal prosecutor’s email.
Villafaña stated that she was reviewing approximately five years of Epstein’s Federal Express records. She described the shipping records as highly informative and said they showed a package from Epstein to “John Melk/Musha Cay.”
This detail appears clearly in EFTA00223791.
The record does not provide:
- The shipment date
- The package tracking number
- The package contents
- The sender address
- The delivery confirmation
- The person who accepted the package
- The reason for the shipment
- Evidence that Copperfield knew about it
- Evidence that it related to the property transaction
The shipment is a documented investigative lead, not proof of a criminal or financial relationship.
Villafaña Connected the Shipment to the Fox Article
Villafaña wrote that she searched the names John Melk and Musha Cay and located the Fox News story.
She characterized the possible business connection as “somewhat shady” and asked whether Melk might be someone investigators should contact.
That was a prosecutor’s preliminary assessment during an investigation. It was not a formal charging conclusion or judicial finding.
The Email Was Sent During the Active Epstein Investigation
Villafaña’s email also discussed the continuing federal Epstein investigation. She wrote that investigators were continuing to locate additional girls and described internal review activity involving Epstein’s attorneys and the Department of Justice Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section.
The email therefore places the Fox article within the active federal investigative process, not within a later historical review.
Susan Roe Responded With Information From the Copperfield Investigation
In EFTA00223790, Susan Roe responded that investigators working on the Copperfield matter already knew about the Melk lawsuit and possessed information concerning it.
Roe wondered whether Epstein might have been involved in the alleged intermediary transaction. She also suggested checking whether Copperfield used Federal Express.
This was an investigative hypothesis. The available email does not show that prosecutors proved Epstein participated in the Musha Cay acquisition.
Federal Prosecutors Were Comparing Two Investigations
The subject line “DC and JE” refers to David Copperfield and Jeffrey Epstein.
The correspondence shows that prosecutors in Florida and Washington were exchanging information because the two investigations appeared to contain overlapping people, attorneys, shipping records, or factual leads.
Roe was an Assistant United States Attorney in the Western District of Washington, where the Copperfield investigation was based. Villafaña was an Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of Florida working on the Epstein case.
The exchange demonstrates investigative coordination. It does not establish that Copperfield and Epstein were charged together or that prosecutors completed a joint prosecution.
What It Proves
The combined records establish that:
- Fox News published an article about the Musha Cay sale on October 24, 2007.
- The article reported allegations from John Melk’s civil fraud litigation against David Copperfield.
- The Melk litigation concerned allegations that Copperfield’s identity was concealed during the property transaction.
- Copperfield disputed Melk’s allegations.
- The civil dispute ended in a settlement with undisclosed terms.
- The article also discussed a then active sexual assault investigation involving an allegation on Musha Cay.
- Copperfield denied the sexual assault allegation.
- Assistant United States Attorney A. Marie Villafaña found the article while investigating Epstein’s Federal Express records.
- Those records reportedly showed a package from Epstein to “John Melk/Musha Cay.”
- Villafaña sent the article to Assistant United States Attorney Susan Roe.
- The email subject was “DC and JE.”
- Roe confirmed that investigators working on the Copperfield matter knew about the Melk lawsuit.
- Roe considered whether Epstein might have been connected to the alleged intermediary transaction.
- Prosecutors considered additional investigation of the shipment and property transaction.
- The Epstein and Copperfield investigations were being compared by federal prosecutors in February 2008.
What It Does Not Prove
The records do not establish:
- What Epstein sent to John Melk or Musha Cay.
- Why Epstein sent the package.
- Whether the package concerned Copperfield.
- Whether the package concerned the island transaction.
- Whether Epstein financed any part of the Musha Cay purchase.
- Whether Epstein participated in the alleged intermediary arrangement.
- Whether Copperfield asked Epstein to contact Melk.
- Whether Melk had a social or business relationship with Epstein.
- Whether prosecutors interviewed Melk as a result of the email.
- Whether the Federal Express lead produced admissible evidence.
- Whether a court found Copperfield liable for fraud.
- Whether the settlement included an admission of wrongdoing.
- Whether any rumor quoted in the Fox article was true.
- Whether Copperfield committed the sexual assault alleged in 2007.
- Whether the absence of criminal charges constituted an exoneration.
- Whether Copperfield participated in Epstein’s trafficking operation.
- Whether the two men referred women or girls to one another.
- Whether Epstein ever visited Musha Cay.
- Whether the investigations established a joint criminal plan.
- Whether the archived article accurately captured every allegation in the underlying civil filings.
The correspondence documents investigative interest and information sharing. It is not a criminal charge, verdict, or finding of liability.
People and Entities
| Person or entity | Role |
|---|---|
| Jeffrey Epstein | Subject of the Florida federal investigation whose shipping records showed a package to John Melk or Musha Cay |
| David Copperfield | Purchaser associated with Musha Cay and subject of the separate federal investigation |
| A. Marie Villafaña | Southern District of Florida prosecutor who found and circulated the Fox article |
| Susan Roe | Western District of Washington prosecutor involved in the Copperfield investigation |
| John James Melk | Former owner of Musha Cay and plaintiff in the civil fraud litigation |
| Janet Lorraine Melk | Former coowner of the island properties |
| Christian Jagodzinski | Person identified in the Fox report as associated with Island Group of Companies Ltd. |
| Michael Gleisner | Person identified in the Fox report as associated with Island Group of Companies Ltd. |
| Imagine Nation Company | Entity identified with Copperfield’s acquisition and operation of the island resort |
| Island Group of Companies Ltd. | Entity described as participating in the purchase process |
| Musha Cay | Private island resort in the Exuma Cays of the Bahamas |
| Fox News | Publisher of the October 2007 report |
| Federal Bureau of Investigation | Agency involved in the Copperfield and Epstein investigations |
| Southern District of Florida | Federal prosecutorial district handling the Epstein investigation |
| Western District of Washington | Federal prosecutorial district handling the Copperfield investigation |
| Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section | Department of Justice component referenced in the Epstein prosecutorial email |
| Lacey Carroll | Woman who made the 2007 allegation against Copperfield and later filed a civil action |
| Bruce Lyon | Attorney mentioned in the surrounding prosecutorial correspondence as discussing both Copperfield and Epstein |
Copperfield has denied the sexual misconduct allegations reported against him. His attorneys have also disputed characterizations of his relationship with Epstein.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1995 | The Melks reportedly acquired Musha Cay and began developing the property |
| 2002 | John Melk reportedly considered selling the resort |
| October 2002 | Representatives connected to Copperfield reportedly expressed interest |
| 2003 | The transaction involving Island Group of Companies Ltd. and Imagine Nation Company proceeded |
| 2004 | Melk filed federal civil litigation alleging fraud |
| 2006 | The property dispute settled under undisclosed terms |
| 2007 | A woman alleged that Copperfield sexually assaulted her on Musha Cay |
| October 2007 | Federal agents searched Copperfield properties in Las Vegas |
| October 24, 2007 | Fox News published the Musha Cay article |
| October 26, 2007 | The supplied Internet Archive capture was preserved |
| February 28, 2008 | Villafaña sent the article and Federal Express lead to Susan Roe |
| February 28, 2008 | Roe responded with information from the Copperfield investigation |
| 2008 | The prosecutorial emails were preserved within records later produced in Epstein victim rights litigation |
| December 2009 or January 2010 | Federal authorities closed the Copperfield investigation without charges |
| April 2010 | Carroll dropped her civil lawsuit |
| May 2024 | The Guardian published an extensive investigation into allegations against Copperfield |
| February 2026 | Newly released Epstein records generated renewed reporting about the relationship between Epstein and Copperfield |
Sources differ concerning the precise month of the alleged 2007 incident on Musha Cay. The Fox article referred to June, while later civil and investigative reporting has used July or August. The conflicting dates should remain identified rather than silently harmonized.
Related Evidence
EFTA00214586
EFTA00214586 preserves the one page version of Villafaña’s email. The sender, recipient, and package destination are partly obscured, but the email subject, date, Fox News address, and core investigative discussion remain visible.
EFTA00223791 and EFTA00223792
EFTA00223791 and EFTA00223792 preserve clearer copies. They identify Susan Roe as the recipient and show that the package destination was “John Melk/Musha Cay.”
These copies are necessary for understanding why Villafaña considered the Fox article potentially relevant.
Susan Roe’s Response
EFTA00223790 contains Roe’s response. She stated that investigators already possessed information about the Melk lawsuit and considered whether Epstein might have been involved in the alleged intermediary arrangement.
Roe’s language records an investigative theory. It does not document a completed factual finding.
Surrounding Prosecutorial Records
The larger EFTA00223748 production contains communications regarding potential Epstein charges, additional victims, telephone records, message pads, shipping records, grand jury preparation, and contacts with Department of Justice officials.
The surrounding pages demonstrate that Villafaña’s email was part of active prosecutorial work rather than casual commentary.
Later Copperfield Reporting
A 2024 Guardian investigation examined the 2007 allegation, the federal investigation, the jurisdictional problems encountered by prosecutors, and the inaccurate public description of the investigation’s closure as an exoneration.
A 2026 Guardian report examined newly released records concerning Epstein and Copperfield. Copperfield’s attorneys disputed claims that the men were friends and denied allegations of wrongdoing.
Independent researcher Antonia’s Substack investigation compiles reporting concerning Copperfield’s appearances in the Epstein files and later sexual misconduct allegations. It is a secondary research source and should be checked against the underlying evidence.
Ellie Leonard’s reporting on Epstein’s second island examines a separate island purchase in which the seller allegedly sought to avoid selling directly to Epstein. That later transaction should not be conflated with Copperfield’s acquisition of Musha Cay, but the comparison shows why researchers scrutinize ownership entities, intermediaries, and concealed purchasers in private island transactions.
Reliability
High Reliability Findings
| Finding | Reliability |
|---|---|
| Fox News published the article in October 2007 | High |
| The article was circulated between Villafaña and Roe | High |
| The email subject was “DC and JE” | High |
| Epstein’s shipping records reportedly showed a package to John Melk or Musha Cay | High as a statement in the prosecutorial record |
| Prosecutors discussed further investigation | High |
| Melk filed civil litigation over the property sale | High |
| The property dispute settled | High |
| The federal Copperfield investigation closed without charges | High |
Findings Requiring Qualification
| Claim | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Epstein participated in the Musha Cay purchase | Investigative hypothesis, not established |
| The package concerned Copperfield | Unknown |
| Copperfield used an unlawful straw purchaser | Alleged in civil litigation, not established through a public judgment |
| Rumors cited in the Melk filing were accurate | Unverified |
| The investigation exonerated Copperfield | Incorrect characterization of a decision not to charge |
| Copperfield participated in Epstein’s crimes | Not established by these records |
| The Fox report proves the underlying allegations | False |
| The precise date of the alleged 2007 assault is settled | Sources conflict |
The Fox article is reliable evidence of what was publicly reported in October 2007. The prosecutor emails are reliable evidence that federal investigators reviewed the report and considered its possible significance. Neither source independently proves the alleged fraud or sexual assault.
Survivor Safety and Privacy
The Fox article initially described the woman who accused Copperfield without naming her. Her identity later became public through civil litigation and media reporting.
Coverage should distinguish clearly between her allegation, Copperfield’s denial, the federal investigation, and the decision not to file charges. A prosecution decision based on jurisdiction or the ability to prove a federal crime beyond a reasonable doubt is not the same as proof that an allegation was false.
Researchers should also avoid assuming that every girl or woman referenced in the Copperfield records was connected to Epstein. Prosecutors were comparing investigations, but overlapping investigative leads do not automatically establish overlapping victims.
Descriptions of the alleged assault should remain limited to what is necessary to understand the investigation. Graphic repetition is not required to establish the evidentiary importance of the records.
Why This Matters
The archived Fox article matters because it became an investigative bridge between two federal inquiries.
Villafaña was examining Epstein’s shipping records while preparing a potential federal case. A package addressed to John Melk or Musha Cay led her to a report about Copperfield’s island acquisition. She then shared the lead with the prosecutor working on the Copperfield investigation.
Roe’s response shows that the information was taken seriously enough to compare shipping records, attorneys, witnesses, and the disputed property transaction.
The correspondence also demonstrates the value of ordinary business records. Shipping logs can reveal contacts that do not appear in address books, flight logs, calendars, or photographs. A single package destination can create a lead connecting people, properties, companies, and separate investigations.
The unresolved question is what happened after the lead was identified. The released records show prosecutorial interest, but they do not reveal whether Melk was interviewed, whether the package was recovered, or whether investigators determined why Epstein sent it.
Fact Check
| Claim | Finding | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Fox News published the linked article | Published October 24, 2007 | Confirmed |
| The supplied page is a preserved archive capture | Archived October 26, 2007 | Confirmed |
| The article concerned Musha Cay | Musha Cay is the central property | Confirmed |
| John Melk sued Copperfield | A federal civil fraud action was filed | Confirmed |
| A court found Copperfield committed fraud | The case settled without a public merits finding | Not established |
| The settlement terms were public | The terms were undisclosed | False |
| Epstein sent a package to John Melk or Musha Cay | Reported in federal prosecutorial correspondence | Confirmed as an investigative record |
| The contents of the package are known | The released page does not identify them | False |
| Villafaña found the article through Epstein’s shipping records | Stated directly in the email | Confirmed |
| Susan Roe knew about the Melk lawsuit | Stated in her response | Confirmed |
| Roe considered possible Epstein involvement | Presented as a question and investigative theory | Confirmed as a hypothesis |
| Prosecutors proved Epstein participated in the transaction | No proof appears in the examined records | Not established |
| Copperfield was charged in the 2007 investigation | The investigation closed without charges | False |
| Closing the case exonerated Copperfield | Prosecutors said closure should not be treated as a guilt or innocence determination | False |
| Copperfield denied the sexual assault allegation | His representatives issued denials | Confirmed |
| The precise date of the alleged incident is consistent across sources | Sources variously identify June, July, or August 2007 | False |
| The records establish a joint Epstein and Copperfield criminal scheme | No joint charge or finding appears | Not established |
| The article was merely collected without investigative use | Prosecutors actively discussed it | False |
Questions Still Unanswered
- What was inside the package Epstein sent to John Melk or Musha Cay?
- When was the package shipped?
- Which Epstein address appeared as the sender location?
- Who received and signed for the shipment?
- Did the shipment occur before, during, or after the Musha Cay transaction?
- Did Epstein communicate directly with John Melk?
- Did Epstein have any financial interest in Musha Cay?
- Did Epstein know Christian Jagodzinski or Michael Gleisner?
- Did Epstein communicate with Imagine Nation Company or Island Group of Companies Ltd.?
- Did prosecutors obtain the complete shipping record or delivery documentation?
- Was John Melk interviewed?
- Did Copperfield use Federal Express to communicate with Epstein or Melk?
- Did investigators find any evidence supporting Roe’s hypothesis about the intermediary transaction?
- Why was Epstein’s attorney reportedly discussing Epstein while contacting prosecutors about Copperfield?
- Were witnesses or employees common to both investigations?
- Did Department of Justice officials formally coordinate the Epstein and Copperfield investigations?
- Were any investigative reports created from the February 2008 lead?
- Are additional related records still sealed or withheld?
- Why do released copies contain different levels of redaction?
- Did the original Federal Express records survive in the released evidence collections?
Related EpsteinWiki Pages
- David Copperfield
- A. Marie Villafaña
- Jeffrey Epstein
- Doe v. United States
- Epstein Email Communications Index
- Communication Records
- Document Evidence
- Real Estate Transaction Records
- Flight Logs and Manifests
- How to Read an Epstein Document
- EpsteinWiki Investigative Standards
Source List
Primary and Archival Sources
- Archived Fox News report from October 26, 2007
- Current Fox News version of the report
- EFTA00214586
- EFTA00223790
- EFTA00223791
- EFTA00223792
- EFTA00223748
- Melk v. Copperfield, 330 F. Supp. 2d 1364
- The Treasurer of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas v. Imagine Nation Company
Reporting and Research
- Reuters report on the 2007 FBI searches
- The Guardian investigation into the federal Copperfield case
- The Guardian report on Copperfield and the released Epstein files
- Antonia’s Substack investigation into Copperfield and the Epstein files
- Ellie Leonard’s investigation into Epstein’s second island
- HeraldNet report on the closing of the federal Copperfield investigation
- Epstein Data