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<v Speaker 1>What's up, everyone, and welcome to another episode of the

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<v Speaker 1>Epstein Chronicles. In this episode, we're going to spin back

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<v Speaker 1>down to New Mexico and pick up where we left

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<v Speaker 1>off with the interim report on Jeffrey Epstein's behavior and

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<v Speaker 1>criminal activity in the State of New Mexico. Epstein in

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<v Speaker 1>New Mexico, Zoro Ranch and beyond. Jeffrey Epstein maintained his

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<v Speaker 1>residence in Santa Fe, New Mexico, off and on, beginning

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<v Speaker 1>in the early nineteen nineties. At this point, little is

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<v Speaker 1>known about Epstein's activity in Santa Fe prior to his

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<v Speaker 1>acquisition of Zoro Ranch. Epstein acquired and developed Zorro Ranch

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<v Speaker 1>as a vacation retreat approximately five years before he acquired

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<v Speaker 1>his property in the US Virgin Islands and ninth East

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<v Speaker 1>seventy first Street in New York City in nineteen ninety eight.

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<v Speaker 1>On March first, nineteen ninety three, Jeffrey Epstein acquired the

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<v Speaker 1>property that he would name the Zoro Ranch from sitting

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<v Speaker 1>New Mexico Governor Bruce King and his brothers and Sam King,

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<v Speaker 1>then Representative Ron The King acted as a realtor on

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<v Speaker 1>behalf of the King family. Epstein acquired the property through

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<v Speaker 1>the Zoro Trust identity, of which Epstein was trustee. Some

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<v Speaker 1>years later, on December sixteenth, twenty eleven, the Zoro Trust

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<v Speaker 1>transferred the ranch property to Cyprus Incorporated, a Virgin Islands

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<v Speaker 1>corporation of which Epstein was president. The Zoro Ranch remained

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<v Speaker 1>Epstein's New Mexico residence up until the time of his

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<v Speaker 1>death on August tenth, twenty nineteen. Flight records and whenness

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<v Speaker 1>testimony indicate that Epstein spent approximately two to five weeks

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<v Speaker 1>annually at Zoro Ranch from approximately nineteen ninety four to

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<v Speaker 1>twenty nineteen. John Kelly acted as an attorney in fact for

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<v Speaker 1>Jeffrey Epstein on March fifteenth, nineteen ninety three, by executing

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<v Speaker 1>the lan Lea's component of the accuisition from the New

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<v Speaker 1>Mexico State Land Office. Kelly served as US Attorney for

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<v Speaker 1>the District of New Mexico between ninety three and two

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<v Speaker 1>thousand and one. In twenty twenty six, Kelly released a

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<v Speaker 1>statement stating, in nineteen ninety three, I was asked by

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<v Speaker 1>the King family, with whom I was well acquainted, if

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<v Speaker 1>I would assist with the real estate transaction between an

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<v Speaker 1>out of state buyer and the King Family with respect

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<v Speaker 1>to one of the King Family properties. That out of

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<v Speaker 1>state buyer turned out to be Jeffrey Epstein. Kelly admitted

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<v Speaker 1>to meeting mister Epstein in connection with the transaction, stating,

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<v Speaker 1>I assisted with the transaction as an attorney at the

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<v Speaker 1>King Family's request. I do not specifically recall any direct

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<v Speaker 1>interaction with mister Epstein in connection with the transaction, and

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<v Speaker 1>I do not recall ever encountering him again. After that time,

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<v Speaker 1>Kelly's name was listed in Epstein's Black Book of Contacts.

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<v Speaker 1>Kelly stated that he had absolutely no knowledge of Epstein's

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<v Speaker 1>criminal conduct until it was reported in the press. In

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<v Speaker 1>response to a request for information, the USAO and M

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<v Speaker 1>stated that it could not comment on the internal process

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<v Speaker 1>or deliberation that occur within our office. Records obtained by

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<v Speaker 1>the NMSLO shed no light on Kelly's role in the

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<v Speaker 1>real estate transaction beyond what Kelly later reported to the press.

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<v Speaker 1>Zoro Ranch Acreage and Leases. Zoro Ranch is comprised of

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<v Speaker 1>the following real property interests, which include land owned through

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<v Speaker 1>a special warranty deed, as well as state and federal

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<v Speaker 1>grazing and agricultural leases. Eighty four point eighty six acres,

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<v Speaker 1>Section thirty six T thirteen n R ninety Waterline right

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<v Speaker 1>of Way R DASH three zero one three seven one thousand,

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<v Speaker 1>one hundred and fifty eight DOT ninety seven acres, Section sixteen,

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<v Speaker 1>parts of Section two T one two nine R nine E.

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<v Speaker 1>Grazing Lease GR twenty one, twenty two. Land Appraisals dated

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<v Speaker 1>May twenty second, twenty twelve, ADP THREEZH three ADP three four.

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<v Speaker 1>Assignment for federal land parcels acreage unconfirmed at this time.

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<v Speaker 1>The state and federal leases are subject to use and

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<v Speaker 1>other conditions administered by the nm SLO and the Federal

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<v Speaker 1>Bureau of Land Management. As discussed below, Epstein did not

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<v Speaker 1>always comply with these conditions, nor were they always enforced

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<v Speaker 1>by nm SLO and BLM. By letter dated November tenth,

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<v Speaker 1>nineteen ninety three, NMSLO advised Epstein that he had not

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<v Speaker 1>paid his lease fee for the October first, nineteen ninety

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<v Speaker 1>three due date, and that consequently a light fee had

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<v Speaker 1>been assessed. On July twentieth, nineteen ninety four, Glen Maxwell

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<v Speaker 1>signed a sworn appraisement of grazing and agricultural lands, a

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<v Speaker 1>testing that she had inspected the property was disinterested party,

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<v Speaker 1>and that the cash value per acre of the land

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<v Speaker 1>was three hundred dollars if sold and four hundred per

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<v Speaker 1>acre for lease purposes. It's not clear at this time

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<v Speaker 1>whether atsis Stein acquired the title to the seven thousand,

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<v Speaker 1>six hundred and twenty one dot seven four acres in

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<v Speaker 1>one transaction, or whether he added acreage to the ranch

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<v Speaker 1>over the years. Epstein's improvement to Zoro Ranch, what would

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<v Speaker 1>become the twenty eight thousand, six hundred and thirty six

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<v Speaker 1>square foot main residence, did not exist upon Epstein's purchase

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<v Speaker 1>of Zoro Ranch. Before this mansion was constructed, Epstein used

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<v Speaker 1>temporary structure, which witnesses described as almost like a log

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<v Speaker 1>cabin or a mobile home that was made to be

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<v Speaker 1>very nice. Over time, a variety of structures were constructed,

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<v Speaker 1>totally approximately fifty thousand square feet. These structures included staff cabins, guesthouses, stables,

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<v Speaker 1>and other function based outbuildings. As one witness described it,

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<v Speaker 1>there were all sorts of different homes, like little cabins

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<v Speaker 1>or guesthouses where different staff would live. Witnesses have stated

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<v Speaker 1>that when visiting the ranch, they entered through the back

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<v Speaker 1>of the house through a mudroom adjacent to the kitchen,

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<v Speaker 1>and were not permitted in other areas. Generally, they were

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<v Speaker 1>not allowed in the rest of the house, although one

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<v Speaker 1>witness was allowed into a library off the kitchen and

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<v Speaker 1>occasionally in Glenn Maxwell's bedroom. Epstein closely directed the many

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<v Speaker 1>improvements to the property, including construction of the main residence.

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<v Speaker 1>The main residence was constructed by Bradbury and Stam Construction.

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<v Speaker 1>According to the Santa Fe County Assessor, the Zoro Ranch

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<v Speaker 1>is comprised of seven thousand, six hundred and twenty one

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<v Speaker 1>dot seven four acres. Improvements include a three story, twenty

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<v Speaker 1>eight thousand, six hundred and thirty six square foot main

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<v Speaker 1>residence constructed in nineteen ninety nine, A four hundred thirty

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<v Speaker 1>four square foot guesthouse constructed in nineteen ninety nine, A

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<v Speaker 1>one thousand, eight hundred ninety five square foot guesthouse constructed

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<v Speaker 1>in nineteen sixty two, A two thousand, seven hundred and

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<v Speaker 1>fifty four square foot guesthouse constructed in nineteen ninety four,

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<v Speaker 1>an eighteen hundred and ninety six square foot guest house

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<v Speaker 1>constructed in ninety four, A two thousand, one hundred and

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<v Speaker 1>sixty four square foot guest house constructed in ninety nine,

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<v Speaker 1>a six hundred square foot guest house constructed in ninety eight,

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<v Speaker 1>a one thousand, thirty two square foot guest house constructed

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<v Speaker 1>in ninety four, and a one thousand, six hundred thirty

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<v Speaker 1>six square foot guest house constructed in nineteen ninety four.

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<v Speaker 1>At one point, a helipad was constructed as part of

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<v Speaker 1>a labyrinth garden. Epstein also had a private aerostrip and

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<v Speaker 1>hangar built. Epstein was also accused of relocating native petroglyphs

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<v Speaker 1>on his property from one location to the next. Zoro

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<v Speaker 1>Ranch required continued upkeep and underwent frequent improvements from ninety

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<v Speaker 1>four to twenty nineteen. Ranch personnel maintained regular documentation detailing

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<v Speaker 1>maintenance requirements and taskings. Maintenance, repair, renovation, and other improvements

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<v Speaker 1>had occurred on an ongoing basis over the years that

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<v Speaker 1>Epstein owned the property. Mission has not conducted a complete

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<v Speaker 1>accounting of maintenance. The financial records relevant to the acquisition, construction, maintenance,

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<v Speaker 1>and operation of Zoro Ranch are scattered and incomplete. The

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<v Speaker 1>full scope of spending at Zoro Ranch total construction costs,

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<v Speaker 1>staff payroll over the last twenty five years, property tax

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<v Speaker 1>history is not available from the EFTA documents alone. Which

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<v Speaker 1>is apparent from the EFTA documents, however, is that Epstein

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<v Speaker 1>was not a passive owner of the property, but demonstrated

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<v Speaker 1>in active and purposeful interest in everything that occurred there.

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<v Speaker 1>The property comprising Zoro Ranch was purchased in twenty twenty

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<v Speaker 1>three by Donald Puffin's and his family, who will report

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<v Speaker 1>that they had no prior connection to Epstein and state

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<v Speaker 1>they did not visit the property before he and his wife,

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<v Speaker 1>through a limited liability corporation, purchased it. The ranch was

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<v Speaker 1>renamed San Rafael Ranch, and the Huffien family announced plans

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<v Speaker 1>to transform the property into a Christian retreat. Renovations of

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<v Speaker 1>the ranch buildings have been completed and are underway. The

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<v Speaker 1>estate was sold at a public auction. The Haffeen family,

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<v Speaker 1>through their legal council, indicated that they'll cooperate with the

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<v Speaker 1>Commission's investigation, and contact with Hauffeen's family representatives is anticipated

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<v Speaker 1>in the short term to conduct a physical in person

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<v Speaker 1>inspection of the property. Zoro Ranch communication infrastructure. The Zoro

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<v Speaker 1>Ranch communication infrastructure and internet access were partly sourced through

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<v Speaker 1>Greg Wiler, founder of three B networks in one Web,

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<v Speaker 1>Bloomberg reported that Epstein served as an advisor behind the

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<v Speaker 1>funding of one Web. Emails showed that Epstein contacted Wyler

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<v Speaker 1>for assistance in sourcing Motorola radio equipment for the ranch,

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<v Speaker 1>and also consulted with Weiler on installing a similar system

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<v Speaker 1>on Little Saint James. Although more sophisticated and costly than

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<v Speaker 1>ordinary Internet systems, the evidence shows that it was difficult

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<v Speaker 1>to obtain reliable broadband for some to large remote property.

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<v Speaker 1>Two active FCC microwave licenses reportedly linked to Zoro Ranch

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<v Speaker 1>to Sando Crest Tower, a telecommunication structure on Sandia Crest.

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<v Speaker 1>Documentation provided under the EFTA shows how the system was

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<v Speaker 1>designed and built. The ranch's original dedicated data service was

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<v Speaker 1>the Time Warner T one line, a type of dedicated

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<v Speaker 1>digital communication line capable of transmitting one point five four

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<v Speaker 1>to four mbps of data. By twenty ten, the ranch

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<v Speaker 1>was served by a Sprint T one at eight hundred

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<v Speaker 1>ninety four forty six per month, against a quoted three

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<v Speaker 1>hundred and ninety three dollars per month for the Time

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<v Speaker 1>Warner line. In May of twenty thirteen, Jermaine Ruan an

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<v Speaker 1>Epstein employee who also managed technology on Little Saint James

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<v Speaker 1>wrote to Epstein, with the help of Greg Weiler, Motorola

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<v Speaker 1>point to point radio solutions would be the best fit

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<v Speaker 1>for Zoro Ranch. Starting in twenty thirteen, Richard Bolts of

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<v Speaker 1>Advanced Communications and Electronics, a local Albuquerque company, designed and

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<v Speaker 1>installed the satellite relay system. The architecture ran from Sandio

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<v Speaker 1>Crest over an Ethernet packet radio to Epstein's main residence

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<v Speaker 1>on Zoro Ranch. In twenty fourteen, however, Epstein complained that

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<v Speaker 1>the satellite does not work for my primary purpose. It

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<v Speaker 1>was supposed to be a backup to the improved, more

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<v Speaker 1>reliable delivery and distribution system at a significant cost. Epstein

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<v Speaker 1>subsequently demanded a return to the T one service. In

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<v Speaker 1>April of twenty sixteen, emails between Epstein and Zoro Ranch

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<v Speaker 1>personnel discuss a fiber microwave internet connection from Sandio Crest

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<v Speaker 1>to the ranch. Century Link engineers confirmed fiber was eight

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<v Speaker 1>feet from the conduit running seventy feet to CDZ's tower

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<v Speaker 1>location on Sandio Crest. Epstein received emails comparing the advantage

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<v Speaker 1>and disadvantages of license and unlicensed microwave systems from a

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<v Speaker 1>company called future Tech, which proposed a design and install

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<v Speaker 1>the system. Zora Ranch manager Bryce Gordon, and Hector coordinated

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<v Speaker 1>a project. A search of the FCC's online Universal Licensing

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<v Speaker 1>System shows licenses were granted in July twelfth of twenty sixteen.

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<v Speaker 1>All Right, folks, we're going to wrap up right here,

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<v Speaker 1>and in the next episode dealing with the topic, we're

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<v Speaker 1>going to pick up where we left off. All the

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<v Speaker 1>information that goes with this episode can be found in

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<v Speaker 1>the description box.