New Mexico DOJ Conducts Coordinated Search of Jeffrey Epstein’s Former Zorro Ranch With Current Owners’ Cooperation
On March 10, 2026, the New Mexico Department of Justice, with assistance from New Mexico State Police and the Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office, conducted a physical search of Jeffrey Epstein’s former Zorro Ranch, now owned by the family of Texas Republican Don Huffines—who bought the property from Epstein’s estate in 2023 and are cooperating with investigators. The state reopened the probe after revelations in newly unsealed FBI files (its original investigation was closed in 2019 at the request of federal prosecutors), saying investigators were seeking evidence to corroborate alleged victim testimony as lawmakers established a parallel commission to examine the ranch’s past.
📌 Key Facts
- State investigators began a physical, on-site search of Jeffrey Epstein’s former Zorro Ranch on Monday, March 10, 2026, led by the New Mexico Department of Justice with assistance from the New Mexico State Police and the Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office.
- The current owners are the family of Texas Republican Don Huffines; they bought the property from Epstein’s estate in 2023 (with proceeds going to estate creditors) and are cooperating with investigators, the Attorney General’s office said.
- The search is aimed at locating potential evidence and attempting to corroborate testimony from alleged victims; state officials say the reopening was prompted by revelations in previously sealed FBI files and the state is seeking access to the complete, unredacted federal case file.
- New Mexico’s original investigation of the ranch was closed in 2019 at the request of federal prosecutors in New York; state legislators have also created an Epstein commission (often called the Epstein Truth Commission) to examine past activities at the ranch and will work in parallel with the AG’s probe.
- The New Mexico DOJ publicly urged people to stay away from the area and to ground nearby drones during the operation, and a DOJ spokesperson pledged to keep the public informed, support survivors and “follow the facts wherever they lead.”
- Reporting reiterates that Epstein was never charged with crimes tied to the New Mexico property; the ranch is large — nearly 10,000 acres with a mansion, guesthouses and a private airstrip — and has been the subject of prior allegations and claims, including those in Virginia Giuffre’s memoir and reports about a purported plan to “seed the human race.”
- Separately, in related reporting from congressional testimony, Richard Kahn — Epstein’s longtime accountant and estate executor — told the House Oversight Committee he never saw any financial transactions between Epstein and Donald Trump, identified five parties (Les Wexner, Glenn Dubin, Steven Sinofsky, the Rothschilds and Leon Black) as having made significant payments to Epstein consistent with his role as adviser, and said an accuser of Trump received a settlement from the Epstein estate and that another head of state had financial dealings involving Epstein.
📊 Relevant Data
In the United States, Black individuals account for 40% of sex trafficking victims, despite comprising only 13% of the population.
Exposing Racial Disparities in Human Trafficking — Operation Underground Railroad
In Los Angeles County, two-thirds of trafficked youth are Black, though Black children represent only 7.4% of the child population.
RACIAL & GENDER DISPARITIES IN THE SEX TRADE — Human Rights for Girls
Leon Black paid Jeffrey Epstein $158 million for tax and estate planning advice between 2012 and 2017.
Billionaire Leon Black made a $158 million payment to Jeffrey Epstein, Senate Finance Committee says — CNN
Les Wexner stated that Jeffrey Epstein misappropriated more than $46 million from him and his family.
L Brands' Wexner: Jeffrey Epstein misappropriated vast sums from him — CNBC
Glenn Dubin denied being a client, but reports indicate Epstein received $15 million related to JPMorgan's purchase of Dubin's Highbridge Capital Management.
Oversight chair: Epstein accountant named individuals who fueled Epstein's wealth - Live Updates — Politico
📰 Source Timeline (6)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
March 11, 2026
8:26 PM
Epstein accountant testifies he never saw 'any type of transaction' with Trump, Comer says
New information:
- Richard Kahn, Jeffrey Epstein’s longtime accountant and an executor of his estate, testified under oath to the House Oversight Committee that he has never seen any financial transaction from Epstein to Donald Trump or any member of Trump’s family.
- Committee Chair James Comer said Kahn is the fifth witness in the House probe to testify that they have seen no evidence of involvement by Trump or his family in Epstein-related finances.
- Kahn testified that five parties — former Victoria’s Secret CEO Les Wexner, hedge fund manager Glenn Dubin, businessman Steven Sinofsky, the Rothschilds, and investor Leon Black — made significant payments to Epstein, consistent with Epstein acting as their tax and financial adviser.
- Democratic Rep. Suhas Subramanyam said Kahn also testified that a person who accused Donald Trump received a settlement from the Epstein estate, though it is unclear what that settlement concerned, and that Kahn mentioned another head of state with financial transactions involving Epstein.
March 10, 2026
9:02 PM
New Mexico prosecutors search Jeffrey Epstein's secluded former Zorro Ranch
New information:
- Confirms that state investigators physically began searching the former Zorro Ranch on Monday, March 10, 2026, and frames it as an active on‑site operation rather than just a planned or general probe.
- Notes that Attorney General Raúl Torrez’s office publicly emphasized the cooperation of the current owners, the family of Texas Republican politician Don Huffines, who bought the ranch from Epstein’s estate in 2023.
- Reiterates that the original New Mexico case was closed in 2019 at the request of federal prosecutors in New York and that previously sealed FBI files are the stated trigger for the renewed investigation.
- Adds that New Mexico legislators have established a new commission to examine past activities at the ranch, signaling a parallel political and oversight track alongside the AG’s criminal investigation.
7:02 PM
New Mexico DOJ announces search of former Jeffrey Epstein property Zorro Ranch
New information:
- Fox article reiterates that the March 10 operation is a physical search of the former Epstein Zorro Ranch property conducted by the New Mexico DOJ with assistance from New Mexico State Police and the Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office.
- Confirms that the current owners, the family of Texas politician Don Huffines, are cooperating and that the sale closed in 2023 with proceeds going to Epstein estate creditors.
- Quotes a fresh DOJ statement urging the public to stay away from the area and to ground any nearby drone activity so as not to interfere with the search.
- Restates that the prior New Mexico investigation was closed in 2019 at the request of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and that the reopening is based on information in newly unsealed FBI files, with the state seeking access to the complete, unredacted federal case file.
- Notes that the New Mexico DOJ intends to work with the Epstein Truth Commission recently established by the state legislature.
5:30 PM
Authorities have searched New Mexico ranch long owned by Epstein
New information:
- Confirms that authorities searched the Zorro Ranch estate on Monday, not just that a search was planned.
- Details that investigators were specifically looking for potential evidence and attempting to corroborate testimony from alleged victims connected to the ranch.
- Names the current owners as the family of Don Huffines, a real estate developer, former Texas legislator and now Trump-endorsed Republican nominee for Texas comptroller, and notes they are cooperating with investigators.
- Provides a fresh, on-the-record statement from a New Mexico DOJ spokesperson pledging to keep the public informed, support survivors and "follow the facts wherever they lead."
- Reiterates that Epstein was never charged with crimes related to the New Mexico property and notes the ranch’s scale (nearly 10,000 acres, with mansion, guesthouses and private airstrip) and prior allegations and claims tied to it, including Virginia Giuffre’s memoir and the reported 'seed the human race' plan.
1:13 PM
Jeffrey Epstein's former Zorro Ranch searched after revelations in FBI files
New information:
- Confirms that a physical search of the former Zorro Ranch began Monday, led by the New Mexico Department of Justice with assistance from New Mexico State Police and the Sandoval County Sheriff's Office.
- Clarifies that the current owners are the family of Texas Republican politician Don Huffines, who bought the property from Epstein’s estate in 2023, with proceeds going to creditors.
- Reiterates that the original New Mexico investigation was closed in 2019 at the request of federal prosecutors in New York, but has now been reopened because 'revelations outlined in the previously sealed FBI files warrant further examination.'
- Notes that New Mexico legislators have established a new commission to examine past activities at the ranch, parallel to the AG’s investigation.