--- alias: - Celestino White Sr. - Celestino A. White Sr. - Senator Celestino White category: Political Figure created: 2026-09-25 location: St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands relations: - fn: 5 role: chief of police type: head_of with: '[[Virgin Islands Police Department]]' - end: 2013 fn: 1 role: senator type: member_of with: '[[Legislature of the Virgin Islands]]' - fn: 5 role: contractor's agreement and confidentiality agreement, 10,000 dollars start: 2013-08 type: contractor_to with: '[[Jeffrey Epstein]]' - fn: 6 role: governing board member start: 2020-02 type: member_of with: '[[Virgin Islands Port Authority]]' - end: 2025-03-21 fn: 1 role: defendant start: 2023-11-22 type: subject_of with: '[[Doe 1 v. Government of the United States Virgin Islands]]' summary: Former Virgin Islands police chief and senator who signed a paid contractor agreement with Jeffrey Epstein in 2013 and has sat on the Port Authority board since 2020, reconfirmed in 2026. tags: - Person - CelestinoWhite - VirginIslands - VirginIslandsPortAuthority - JeffreyEpstein - GovernmentCapture - Lobbying updated: 2026-09-25 --- Celestino A. White Sr. is a former chief of police and senator of the [U.S. Virgin Islands](/places/us-virgin-islands/) who met [Jeffrey Epstein](/people/jeffrey-epstein/) at the office of [Southern Trust Company](/organizations/southern-trust-company/) in July 2013, signed a contractor's and confidentiality agreement with him for 10,000 dollars the following month, and was recommended to Epstein by [Cecile de Jongh](/people/cecile-de-jongh/) in 2015 for a monthly retainer that "will get you his loyalty and access." Governor [Albert Bryan](/people/albert-bryan/) nominated him to the governing board of the [Virgin Islands Port Authority](/organizations/virgin-islands-port-authority/) in 2020 and renominated him after the 2026 release of Justice Department files showing that White had offered to work on Epstein's behalf, including on the purchase of the government-owned Dog Island. The [Legislature of the Virgin Islands](/organizations/legislature-of-the-virgin-islands/) confirmed him to a third board term in March 2026 under an "exceptional service" exception to its two-term limit.[^1][^2][^3][^4][^5] ### Police Chief and Senator White was chief of police before entering the Legislature. The federal court that heard the 2023 trafficking suit against him recorded, from the defendants' filing, that he was a senator "until 2013." Appearing before the Legislature's Rules and Judiciary Committee in February 2020, he described a 42-year career in public service.[^1][^5][^6] In 2012, while White sat in the Legislature, the senators passed Bill 29-0239, enacted as Act No. 7372, which expanded the monitoring of sex offenders and required 21 days' advance notice of travel, with discretion for the Attorney General to reduce it. The second amended complaint in Doe 1 v. Government of the United States Virgin Islands quotes a July 1, 2012 email from Cecile de Jongh, the office manager of Epstein's territorial companies and wife of Governor [John de Jongh](/people/john-de-jongh/), to Epstein: "Will need to work through Dowe and White" to change the legislation, and "In the meantime, we will work with Vincent to give the discretion for status quo for you - thats the least he can do." Attorney General [Vincent Frazer](/people/vincent-frazer/) cut Epstein's notice period to 24 hours on August 14, 2012. The complaint alleged that "Epstein was thus allowed to circumvent the recently passed legislation with assistance of Senator Carlton Dowe, Senator Celestino White, and Attorney General Vincent Frazer."[^4][^7] ### Work for Epstein A calendar alert in Epstein's files records a "3:30pm Appt w/Celestino White at STC" on July 2, 2013, STC being Southern Trust Company, the firm whose territorial tax-incentive certificate was then pending. In August 2013 White signed a contractor's and confidentiality agreement with Epstein for 10,000 dollars. On October 16, 2014 Cecile de Jongh wrote to Epstein that "Kenn Mapp and Celestino White wanted to see you," adding that they would be in New York for a fundraiser; she asked how much he would contribute to the [St. Croix](/places/st-croix/) District Democratic Party, and he agreed to give 15,000 dollars. After [Kenneth Mapp](/people/kenneth-mapp/) won the governorship that November, White offered to obtain tickets for Epstein to the inaugural events.[^4][^5][^8] On February 11, 2015 Cecile de Jongh wrote to Epstein, as quoted in the Doe complaint: "you might want to consider putting Celestino on some sort of monthly retainer...that is what will get you his loyalty and access." In March 2015, preparing Epstein for a meeting with White and Mapp at Government House, she wrote: "When you get to Government House, there is a sign in book for visitors at the entrance. I have asked Celestino to arrange to have you not sign in and he said that he would take care of it."[^4][^5] The documents released by the [Justice Department](/organizations/department-of-justice/) on January 30, 2026 showed that White offered to work on Epstein's behalf on several issues, including helping to negotiate the purchase of the government-owned Dog Island. The Doe complaint's chart of defendants listed against White the entries "Waiver sex offender registry," "'Loyalty and access' for Epstein," "Controlled CZM commission," a reference to the Coastal Zone Management Commission, and "Changed sex trafficking law in accord with Epstein's lawyer's recommendations," and as benefits "Drafted [EDC](/organizations/economic-development-commission/) legislation," "Monthly retainer," and "$10,000 to consult changing name of one of Epstein's islands." No public statement by White on the documents was found.[^2][^4] ### The Port Authority Board On February 6, 2020 the Rules and Judiciary Committee forwarded White's nomination to the Port Authority board to the full Legislature without dissent among the members voting. He told the committee the airports' "low-hanging fruit" had to come first: "The community to which we're looking for support is never going to believe us when we say all these things are going to happen, when we can't take care of the things right in front of us." He cited the authority's 35 million dollar program at Cyril E. King Airport, 20 million dollars at Henry E. Rohlsen Airport and 110 million dollars in marine projects, and supported folding the West Indian Company dock into the authority, which he said was "established some 50 years ago with a specific purpose to oversee all seaports and airports."[^6] At a press briefing on March 2, 2026, asked about his renomination of White after the release of the Dog Island material, Governor Bryan answered: "Is lobbying illegal in the Virgin Islands." Bryan has said the record shows no special privilege afforded Epstein by his administration. At the committee's hearing of February 26, 2026 on White, the board chairman Willard John and Leona Smith, all of whom had served two terms, Senator Kenneth Gittens told White that "at some point I wanted you to just bow out or retire gracefully"; White answered, "Longevity has its place," and described himself as holding "a master's degree in common sense and a PhD in street sense, from the school of hard knocks." The full Legislature confirmed the three nominees for further terms on March 18, 2026 by votes of 11 to 3, with Gittens, Franklin Johnson and Clifford Joseph Sr. opposed. Two days later the authority's executive director, [Carlton Dowe](/people/carlton-dowe/), White's former Senate colleague and co-defendant, appeared in District Court on a federal bank fraud indictment and gave the board notice of his retirement.[^2][^3][^9][^10] ### The Trafficking Suit Six women identified as Jane Does named White, in his individual and official capacities, in their November 22, 2023 suit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York against the [Government of the United States Virgin Islands](/organizations/government-of-the-united-states-virgin-islands/), John and Cecile de Jongh, Mapp, Frazer, Dowe and Delegate [Stacey Plaskett](/people/stacey-plaskett/) under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act. On March 21, 2025 Judge Arun Subramanian dismissed the claims against White for lack of personal jurisdiction, holding that the only New York connection pleaded for him, as for the de Jonghs, Mapp and Frazer, was that Epstein's payments came from New York accounts. Final judgment was entered on May 5, 2026, and the plaintiffs appealed to the Second Circuit.[^1][^11] [^1]: Doe 1 v. Government of the United States Virgin Islands, No. 1:23-cv-10301-AS (S.D.N.Y.), Opinion and Order, ECF No. 202 (March 21, 2025), pp. 1 to 2, 10 to 14. https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.610915/gov.uscourts.nysd.610915.202.0.pdf [^2]: Carlson, Suzanne. "Bryan unapologetic for texts with Epstein, doubles down on denial of wrongdoing." *Virgin Islands Daily News,* March 3, 2026. https://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/news/bryan-unapologetic-for-texts-with-epstein-doubles-down-on-denial-of-wrongdoing/article_8bab46a1-6075-4c7c-abec-6efb19622e62.html [^3]: Eader, Tom. "VIPA ED Carlton Dowe indicted on bank fraud, tells board of retirement same day as court appearance." *WTJX,* March 20, 2026 (confirmation of John, Smith and White by votes of 11 to 3). https://newsfeed.wtjx.org/2026-03-20/vipa-ed-carlton-dowe-indicted-on-bank-fraud-tells-board-of-retirement-same-day-as-court-appearance [^4]: Doe 1 v. Government of the United States Virgin Islands, No. 1:23-cv-10301-AS (S.D.N.Y.), Second Amended Complaint, ECF No. 112 (May 24, 2024), paragraphs 4 to 6 and charts (Exhibits B, F and J), pp. 2 to 8, and paragraphs 137 and 161. https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.610915/gov.uscourts.nysd.610915.112.0.pdf [^5]: Carlson, Suzanne. "Files reveal Epstein's efforts to influence V.I. officials; emails with Mapp." *Virgin Islands Daily News,* February 2, 2026. https://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/news/files-reveal-epstein-s-efforts-to-influence-v-i-officials-emails-with-mapp/article_2dd4fe69-4daf-4dc2-b3b8-37a929002bb6.html ; Gilbert, Ernice. "Former Gov. Kenneth Mapp Visited Epstein's Island, Sought $50,000 for Final Election Push, DOJ Records Show." *The Virgin Islands Consortium,* January 31, 2026. https://viconsortium.com/vi-federal/virgin-islands-former-gov--kenneth-mapp-visited-epstein-s-island--sought--50-000-for--final-push---doj-records-show [^6]: Lee, Bethaney. "Former Senator Celestino White Approved for Port Authority Board." *St. Thomas Source,* February 6, 2020, captured February 7, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200207131359/https://stthomassource.com/content/2020/02/06/former-senator-celestino-white-approved-for-port-authority-board/ [^7]: Government of the United States Virgin Islands v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., No. 1:22-cv-10904-JSR (S.D.N.Y.), Exhibit 83, ECF No. 194-24 (filed June 20, 2023), pp. 36 to 47 (correspondence of July and August 2012 on Act No. 7372). https://web.archive.org/web/20260117011719/https://www.justice.gov/multimedia/Court%20Records/Government%20of%20the%20United%20States%20Virgin%20Islands%20v.%20JPMorgan%20Chase%20Bank,%20N.A.,%20No.%20122-cv-10904%20(S.D.N.Y.%202022)/194-24.pdf [^8]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA02134821, DataSet 10, calendar alert, "3:30pm Appt w/Celestino White at STC," July 2, 2013 (duplicates EFTA02134505 and EFTA02134861). https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2010/EFTA02134821.pdf [^9]: Charlemagne, Nelcia. "After Two-Term Limit, VIPA Board Nominees Advance on 'Exceptional Service' Vote." *The Virgin Islands Consortium,* February 27, 2026. https://viconsortium.com/vi-senate/virgin-islands-after-two-term-limit--vipa-board-nominees-advance-on--exceptional-service--vote [^10]: "Bryan 'Absolutely' Supports an Epstein Inquiry, Denies Wrongdoing." *St. Thomas Source,* March 2, 2026. https://web.archive.org/web/20260809212846/https://stthomassource.com/content/2026/03/02/bryan-absolutely-supports-an-epstein-inquiry-denies-wrongdoing/ [^11]: Doe 1 v. Government of the United States Virgin Islands, No. 1:23-cv-10301-AS (S.D.N.Y.), docket, including Judgment, ECF No. 229 (May 5, 2026); Doe 1 v. Government of the United States Virgin Islands, No. 26-1316 (2d Cir.), docket. https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/68031620/doe-1-v-government-of-the-united-states-virgin-islands/ ; https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73544397/doe-1-v-government-of-the-united-states-virgin-islands/