Jeffrey Epstein’s Zorro Ranch Is Searched by New Mexico Police as Part of Investigation Into ‘Illegal Activity’ at Sex Trafficker’s Former Property

Jeffrey Epstein's former New Mexico ranch is being searched by the authorities as part of an ongoing investigation into "allegations of illegal activity" that are said to have taken place during the sex trafficker's ownership of the sprawling property.

The New Mexico Department of Justice released a statement on March 9 in which it confirmed that officers had been dispatched to Zorro Ranch—which was sold to the family of former Texas state Sen. Don Huffines for an undisclosed amount in 2023.

"At the direction of Attorney General [Raúl] Torrez, the New Mexico Department of Justice initiated a search this morning of the Zorro Ranch property previously owned by Jeffrey Epstein, with the New Mexico State Police and Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office providing assistance," the statement read.

"This search is part of the criminal investigation announced by the New Mexico Department of Justice on February 19th into allegations of illegal activity at Epstein’s ranch prior to Epstein’s 2019 death."

The Department of Justice spokesperson went on to thank the ranch's current owners for their "cooperation" in the investigation, as well as its staff members.

"We urge the public to please stay away from the area and ground any drone activity nearby to avoid interfering with the ongoing law enforcement operation," the statement added. "The New Mexico Department of Justice will continue to keep the public appropriately informed, support the survivors, and follow the facts wherever they lead."

Any members of the public with "credible information" about the illegal activity that may have occurred at the property are urged to submit a tip through the New Mexico Department of Justice website.

The search marks the first time that any significant police investigation has been carried out at the ranch, which was one of multiple properties in Epstein's possession at the time of his death in 2019. The predator died in his cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

Several of his other homes—including his properties in New York, Palm Beach, and his private island in the Caribbean—have all previously been subject to intense police scrutiny.

It comes less than one month after Torrez, New Mexico's attorney general, reopened a criminal investigation into alleged illegal activities at the ranch, after the original case to investigate the ranch was closed in 2019 at the request of federal prosecutors in New York.

He noted in a statement shared on Feb. 19 that he had made the decision to reopen the case after reviewing documents in the so-called Epstein files, which have been released by the Department of Justice in multiple batches over the past few months.

Torrez pointed specifically to FBI files that were included in the documents, noting that "revelations outlined" in these items "warrant further examination." He did not elaborate on what those details were.

However, the documents that have been made available to the public do include allegations written in a 2019 email sent to local New Mexico radio host Eddy Aragon that suggest "two foreign girls were buried" at the property "on orders" of Epstein and his right-hand woman, Ghislaine Maxwell, who is referred to in the email as "Madam G."

These allegations have never been verified; however, Aragon previously revealed to CNN that the email was sent to him by someone who worked on the ranch. He did not identify the person.

Huffines, who only identified himself as the current owner of the ranch after the investigation into Epstein's activities at the property was reopened, said in a post shared on X that he was ready and willing to work with the authorities in making the property available to them.

However, he noted that, by that point, no official request had yet been made for access to the property.

"We have always maintained an open line of communication with local authorities," he wrote. "No law enforcement agency has ever approached me to request access, and I have always said unequivocally that any such request would be met with immediate access and full cooperation."

Huffines and his family purchased the ranch, which is located about 30 miles outside of Santa Fe, NM, at a public auction in 2023, through a limited liability company listed only as San Rafael Ranch LLC. Their identities were not revealed until early 2026, however.

The family has never revealed how much they paid for the property—although Huffines noted in his X post that he had confirmed with the attorneys managing Epstein's estate that the proceeds from the sale "benefited the victims" of his crimes.

The property was initially assessed at $21.1 million for the 2023 tax year, but the LLC’s representatives challenged that figure, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican.

Court filings obtained by the publication found that in December 2024, the Santa Fe County assessor reduced the property’s 2023 taxable value to $13.4 million. In its appeal, the LLC contended that the property’s “notoriety,” along with its sale price, supported a lower assessment—and therefore a smaller tax bill.

Records obtained by the Santa Fe New Mexican also show that the property had been renamed San Rafael Ranch in 2024, and that its address is now listed as 49 Rancho San Rafael Road near Stanley, NM.

Huffines has since revealed that he plans to turn the property into a Christian retreat, noting that he hopes he can "redeem" the ranch for good.

"What the enemy once meant for evil, God can redeem for good," he wrote on X. "That’s why we renamed the property San Rafael, after the saint associated with physical and spiritual healing, and began plans immediately to remake it as a Christian retreat, reclaiming it for Jesus.

"Even the new entrance will reflect that mission and will read, 'BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO COME IN THE NAME OF THE LORD.'"

During an appearance on former Rep. Matt Gaetz's One America News Network show in February, he further explained why he had made the decision to purchase such a "dark" property, doubling down on his desire to transform the ranch into a symbol of hope.

"This was obviously a dark place, and we wanted to put light in a dark place,” he said. “It always shines the brightest when you do that.

"My faith is so strong in Jesus, and it really is, and I’m going to make this—the plan all along is to make this property into a Christian retreat. Matter of fact, it's under construction today. That's our goal."

Zorro Ranch, which included a 30,000-square-foot mansion on about 7,500 acres, was originally on the market for $27.5 million.

The ranch includes several additional homes, an airstrip with a hangar and helipad, and a tennis court.

It's located about a half-hour outside of Santa Fe.

The main home is three stories, with an indoor pool, library, and views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. There is also a small village on the property where additional homes, including a yurt, log cabin, and guesthouse, as well as a greenhouse, equestrian facility, and private firehouse, are located.

Epstein bought the ranch in 1993, which included nearly 7,600 acres of privately owned land, as well as an additional 423 acres leased from the Federal Bureau of Land Management.