Jeffrey Epstein’s former longtime business associate has been found dead in his Connecticut apartment, according to police.
Steven Hoffenberg, 77, had a long business relationship with Epstein and was convicted of running one of the largest Ponzi schemes in U.S. history.
Police revealed that they are using dental records to confirm the identity of Hoffenberg’s body.
“A subsequent dental record comparison is underway to make a positive identification and subsequent notifications to appropriate next of kin,” police said in a statement.
Epstein was never charged for his role in the Ponzi scheme, something that irked many, including Hoffenberg.
Before his death, Hoffenberg said he told the authorities about Epstein: “There’s no question that I told them.
“It makes no sense. Like his whole life makes sense.
“His death makes no sense.”
Hoffenberg founded the New York debt collection agency Towers Financial Corporation.
He met and hired Jeffrey Epstein in the late 1980s to help at Towers.
“He was my best friend for years,” Hoffenberg said.
“My closest friend for years. He was my guy, my wingman.
“He appeared to be brilliant, extraordinarily gifted, and talented in convincing people to buy from him.
“And a criminal mastermind,” Hoffenberg said of Epstein.
“He knew many people in the brokerage business that sold securities and they gave him access to investors,” he added.
Hoffenberg came clean to NPR about his crimes and Epstein’s role in the scheme.
He said he told authorities about Epstein’s role but the sex trafficker was never charged.
BREAKING: Steven Hoffenberg, who worked with Jeffrey Epstein and was behind one of the largest Ponzi schemes ever, found dead at Connecticut apartment
— BNO News (@BNONews) August 25, 2022
From NPR:
Together, the two men acquired the parent company of two Illinois insurance firms, and then used the money in a failed bid to acquire the troubled airliner Pan Am.
They also drained hundreds of millions of investors’ dollars and Towers Financial eventually was forced into bankruptcy, Hoffenberg acknowledges.
“This was a criminal investment enterprise. So I’m not trying to state to you that there was a purpose that should be complimented,” he says.
Hoffenberg would plead guilty to mail fraud, tax evasion, and obstruction of justice in 1995, and would eventually serve 18 years in prison.
Epstein was never charged in connection with the scheme, although Hoffenberg says he told federal prosecutors about his role.
“There’s no question that I told them. It makes no sense. Like his whole life makes sense. His death makes no sense,” Hoffenberg says.
Why Epstein escaped prosecution is something of a mystery.
The federal prosecutor who handled the case, Dan Nardello, declined to comment, saying he never discusses cases he prosecuted.
Jeffrey Epstein associate Steven Hoffenberg is found dead in his apartment aged 77 https://t.co/F6vzG087BL pic.twitter.com/WmOfnesfty
— Daily Mail US (@DailyMail) August 25, 2022
