Jeffrey Epstein’s New Mexico staff concealed critical evidence after 33 firearms vanished from his Zorro Ranch in 2018, refusing to cooperate with investigators despite possessing a complete inventory of the stolen weapons. The convicted sex offender was legally barred from owning guns, yet maintained a massive arsenal on his remote property near Stanley.
The Theft and Cover-Up
On August 26-27, 2018, thieves broke into a garage at Zorro Ranch and stole a large gun safe containing handguns, rifles, and antique weapons. Tire tracks led investigators to a slashed fence line, while two nearby cabins were also burglarized. Ranch manager Brice Gordon reported the theft to New Mexico State Police, but the cooperation ended there. Within 24 hours, staff had documented all missing firearms by serial number.
When Officer Byrd pressed Gordon to provide the serial numbers for distribution to pawn shops and gun shows, the ranch manager asked Epstein for permission. Epstein’s response was to refer Gordon to his attorney. The serial numbers were never shared with police, and staff stopped answering calls from investigators. One month after the robbery, state police closed the case due to lack of cooperation.
Illegal Arsenal on Federal Radar
Epstein’s 2008 felony conviction in Florida for solicitation of a minor prohibited him from possessing firearms under federal law. Despite this restriction, he maintained an extensive gun collection at Zorro Ranch. In a 2010 email, Epstein acknowledged his status as a felon forbidden from owning guns, asking his attorney whether he could carry firearms on an African hunting trip. He instructed Gordon to keep multiple weapons on the property, including high-powered rifles, when Epstein himself was not visiting.
The theft investigation revealed additional suspicious circumstances. Ranch pilot Larry Visoski informed Epstein in September 2018 that Gordon had been found with one of the stolen rifles in his residence on the property. Gordon’s explanations kept changing, and he suggested another staff member might have been involved in the theft. The recovered weapon raised questions about whether the robbery was an inside job.
Ongoing Investigations
Federal investigators never thoroughly searched Zorro Ranch during Epstein’s lifetime. The financier died in jail in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Recent scrutiny has triggered a New Mexico Department of Justice criminal investigation and a legislative truth commission examining the case. State Police spokesperson Amanda Richards confirmed the 2018 gun theft case could be reopened if new information surfaces. The ranch, owned by Epstein from 1993 until his death, remains central to understanding the scope of his criminal activities and the protection he received from those around him.
Sources
Yahoo: Dozens of Epstein’s Zorro Ranch guns were stolen in 2018, but staff wouldn’t work with police
