(CNN) Jeffrey Epstein allegedly transported underage girls to his secluded homes in the US Virgin Islands and forced them into sex work from 2001 through 2018, according to a lawsuit filed by the Attorney General of the US Virgin Islands. The suit, filed Wednesday, alleges that Epstein used a system of private planes, helicopters, boats and vehicles to bring young women and girls to his island residence on Little St. James. There, the victims were "deceptively subjected to sexual servitude, forced to engage in sexual acts and coerced into commercial sexual activity and forced labor," the lawsuit says. The scheme led to the molestation and exploitation of "numerous" girls between 12 and 17 years old, the suit alleges. As recently as 2018, the lawsuit says, air traffic controllers and other airport personnel reported seeing Epstein leave his plane with young girls who appeared to be between 11 and 18 years old.

Source: CNN January 15, 2020 20:21 UTC