Epstein Secrets

took Cana- dian heiress Wendy Belzberg on a date he hired a Rolls-Royce especially for the oc- casion. (Epstein has claimed he owned it.) In 1987. Hoffenberz, according to sources. set Epstein up in the offices he still occu- pies in the Villard House. on Madison Av- enue. across a courtyard from the rest

thed by Vanity Fair, Epstein may have good reason to keep his past cloaked in secrecy: his real mentor. it might seem, was not Leslie Wexner but Steven Jude Hoffen- berg, 57, who, for a few months before the S.E.C. sued to freeze his assets in 1993, was trying to buy the New York Post. He is cur- rently incarcerate

ue. Hoffenberg hired his new pro- tégé as a consultant at 525.000 a month, and the relationship flourished. "They trav- eled everywheie together—on Hoffenberg's plane. all around the world, they were al- ways together," says a source. Hoffenberg has claimed that Epstein confided in him. saying. for examp

t Citibank once sued him for defaulting on a $20 million loan. The article suggested that one of his business mentors and previous employers was Steven Hoffenberg, now serving a prison term after "bilking investors out of more than $450 million in one of the largest Ponzi schemes in American histo- rY%" As

the stock market, just as the 1987 crash was approach- ing. His story has subsequently changed. When asked if Wexner knew about his con- nection to Hoffenbere. Epstein said that he began working for Wexner in 1989, and that "it was certainly not the same time." Wherever and whenever it was that Ep- stein

never realized how many one-way streets and no-right-turns there are in midtown. I finally got out and walked"--and as we went down the corridor to Rubenstein's office, he asked, "Have you managed to talk to many of my friends?" Epstein had been supplying me the phone numbers of important scientists and f

thed by Vanity Fair, Epstein may have good reason to keep his past cloaked in secrecy: his real mentor. it might seem. was not Leslie Wexner but Steven Jude Hoffen- berg. 57. who. for a few months before the S.E.C. sued to freeze his assets in 1993. was trying to buy the New York Post. He is cur- rently incarcerated

ice a lavish lifestyle that included a mansion on Long Island. homes on Man- hattan's Sutton Place and in Florida. and a fleet of cars and planes. Hoffenbeng and Epstein had much in common. Both were smart and obsessed with making money. Both were from Brook- lyn. According to HotTenbers. the two men we

ces. set Epstein up in the offices he still occu- pies in the Villard House. on Madison Av- enue. across a courtyard from the restaurant Le Cirque. Holfenberg hired his new pro- tege as a consultant at 525.000 a month. and the relationship flourished. "They tray. eled everywhere together—on Hoffenberg's

s attention-grabbing moves was flying President Clinton and Kevin Spacey to Africa on a private jet. The article says that when Epstein worked for [Steve Hoffenberg], he cooked up some of Hoffenberg's questionable financing deals - a claim Epstein has denied. Full Text (249 words) (Copyright 2003, The New York

partment to former beau Dennis Gagomiros, says Keith Rubenstein, a lawyer for landlord Michael Tauber. "We are starting the eviction process," says Rubenstein, who estimated the "fair market" value of Janney's joint at $3,000 a month. Janney's lawyer, Sam Himmelstein, insists Janney "surrendered possession

ners and Citigroup. • Rumors that he left Bear Stearns under an SEC inquiry cloud. • Also rumored to have been a spook of some sort. • Mentored by Steven Hoffenberg "now serving a prison term after 'bilking investors out of more than $450 million in one of the largest Ponzi schemes in American history.' • His r

thed by Vanity Fair. Epstein may have good reason to keep his past cloaked in secrecy: his real mentor. it might seem, was not Leslie Wexner but Steven Jude Hoffen- berg, 57, who, for a few months before the S.E.C. sued to freeze his assets in 1993, was trying to buy the New York Post. He is cur- rently incarcerated

que. Hoffenberg hired his new pro- tege as a consultant at 525.000 a month. and the relationship flourished. "They trav- eled everywhere together—on Hoffenberg s plane. all around the world, they were al- ways together.- says a source. Hoffenberg has claimed that Epstein confided in him. saying. for examp

partment to former beau Dennis Gagomiros, says Keith Rubenstein, a lawyer for landlord Michael Tauber. "We are starting the eviction process," says Rubenstein, who estimated the "fair market" value of Janney's joint at $3,000 a month. Janney's lawyer, Sam Himmelstein, insists Janney "surrendered possession

thed by Vanity Fair, Epstein may have good reason to keep his past cloaked in secrecy: his real mentor. it might seem, was not Leslie Wexner but Steven Jude Hoffen- berg, 57, who, for a few months before the S.E.C. sued to freeze his assets in 093, was trying to buy the New York Asst. He is cur- rently incarcerated

dollars," Stroll has said. Hoffenberg, says a close friend, "really liked Jeffrey... Jeffrey has a way of getting under your skin, and he was under Hoffenberg's." Also appealing to Hoffenberg were Epstein's social connections; they included oil mogul Cece Wang (father of the designer Vera) and Mohan Murja

person in charge or the trans- actions. and Mitchell Bracer was assisting him with it in coordination on behalf or the insurance companies' money." Hoffinberg, claimed at the time. At one point. according to Hoffinberg. a broker forged the documents necessary for a SI.S million check to be written on in

partment to former beau Dennis Gagomiros, says Keith Rubenstein, a lawyer for landlord Michael Tauber. "We are starting the eviction process," says Rubenstein, who estimated the "fair market" value of Janney's joint at $3,000 a month. Janney's lawyer, Sam Himmelstein, insists Janney "surrendered possession

H, FL 33401 137. Address Currently Unknown 138. Steven Hoffenberg Address Currently Unknown 139. Michael Stroll

3401 137. Address Currently Unknown 138. Steven Hoffenberg Address Currently Unknown 139. Michael Stroll

ike Sanka 449 S BEVERLY DR STE 101 BEVERLY HILLS, CA 90212 109. S/A Witness #105 110. William "Bill" Rile CORAL SPRINGS FL 33076 111. I toward Rubenstein 1345 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10105 112. Robert Meister PALM BEACH FL 33480 113. Todd Meister PALM BEACH, FL 33480 114 Presi

that Citibank once sued him for defaulting on a $20 million loan. The article suggested that one of his business mentors and previous employers was Steven Hoffenberg, now serving a prison term after "bilking investors out of more than $450 million in one of the largest Ponzi schemes in American history." As he a

usiness mentors and previous employers was Steven Hoffenberg, now serving a prison term after "bilking invest

duals I've ever met. He's given tens of millions of dollars without seeking publicity for it, and he's also known as a brilliant financial adviser,* Rubenstein said. "So this was clearly out of character for a man who's led a very decent life." Palm Beach prosecutors had no comment. datimangan@nypostcom