Miami, FL
How the Miami Herald Got the Epstein Documents
Last week, a judge began to release hundreds of pages of previously sealed court documents related to Jeffrey Epstein. Speculation about the anticipated contents abounded, with various corners of the internet hyping a presumed “Epstein client list” naming high-profile associates of the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender. Yet most of the names revealed in the filings—including Donald Trump and Bill Clinton—were already publicly known. That there was no smoking gun list of stars tied to Epstein’s trafficking of minors seemed, for some, to be the biggest takeaway. Take The New York Times’ write-up, which noted that while “the documents “appeared to add a bit more context” to Epstein’s relationship with powerful men, “they provided little, if any, new fodder for conspiracy theorists who remain fixated on Mr. Epstein’s dealings more than four years after his death.”
The Miami Herald’s Julie Brown, however, has a different perspective. “It is all part of the story,” she says, of “our criminal justice system and how we allow rich, famous, influential people to manipulate” it—a story she has been trying to tell for years. Brown is the reporter who, in a three-part investigation in 2018, questioned the 2008 plea deal that allowed Epstein to avoid federal charges and identified dozens of victims who accused Epstein of seeking and paying underage girls for sex. Her reporting returned Epstein to the spotlight and helped prompt his 2019 arrest. “It’s missing the point if all you want is names of famous people,” she says. “It’s about understanding the web of human trafficking and sex trafficking in our country.”
In recent days, the Herald has reported that the records contained “several full depositions that had not previously been public, subpoenas, witness lists, and court motions.” Among them was a June 2016 deposition by a girl whose name was redacted and was about 16 or 17 when she was lured to Epstein’s room. “I was just there, and all of a sudden something horrible happened to me,” the girl recalled, explaining that she was vague on details because she “worked very, very hard to not recall anything specific about my sexual encounters with this person as one of his victims.” Another new revelation was testimony given by a witness, Johanna Sjoberg, who worked for Epstein for five years and said she once overheard him on the phone talking about the hairdresser Frédéric Fekkai. “I heard him call someone and say Fekkai is in Hawaii. Can we find some girls for him?” she said. (Fekkai has denied knowing of Epstein’s conduct in the past.) The Herald also reported that the documents released “provide a deeper window into [Virginia] Giuffre’s quest to get the FBI and federal prosecutors to arrest Epstein,” including through “emails to FBI agents and a former federal prosecutor.”
The unsealed documents come from a 2015 defamation lawsuit filed against Ghislaine Maxwell—the British socialite and Epstein associate who is currently serving a 20-year sentence for her role in aiding Epstein’s abuse—by Giuffre, one of Epstein’s victims. The Herald has been fighting since 2018 to make documents in the case public. Thousands of pages of documents have been released as a result of their legal fight, and the latest batch, unsealed January 9, “are just the last of them,” says Brown. “They’ve been coming out in dribs and drabs for years now, and I think that you have to look at the totality of the information,” she says, which “is that this was a much bigger operation than just two dozen girls being sexually abused in Palm Beach.” She says the Herald was “never under the delusion that we were going to learn all these big names.” But “these documents are important to these victims. They want the truth to come out.”
The 2015 defamation case was settled out of court in 2017, but lots of information in it remained sealed. When Brown was working on her series for the Herald, she heard from sources that “there were documents in this lawsuit that would reveal more about the scope of what [Maxwell and Epstein] were doing,” she says. “Up until then, it was really only known that the crime happened in Palm Beach and there were victims in Palm Beach.” Now, she notes, “Of course, we know that the crimes were much more expansive than that”—thanks in part, she says, to the Herald’s legal fight. “Some of the first documents that were released were the most revealing,” says Brown, “and they were released on August 9, 2019, which was the day before Epstein was found dead.” The Herald’s original motion to intervene in the case and unseal the documents, in April 2018, came at the advice of former Herald attorney Sandy Bohrer, says Casey Frank, the Herald’s investigations editor. “We don’t like to throw money at lawsuits that are likely losers, but here’s a case where our lawyer was telling us, everything I see here tells me that you ought to sue,” says Frank, who has been with the paper for more than 40 years. “You may lose at the first level, but I think you’ll win at the second level,” Frank recalled Bohrer saying. “And by gosh, we won at the appeal level.”
Herald reporters have acknowledged the limits of the unsealed records while also maintaining their value. “Though none of the records directly implicate anyone beyond Epstein and Maxwell in illegal or improper activities, witnesses—mostly young women—testified that Epstein bragged about his sexual prowess with virgins and boasted of his long list of famous acquaintances,” the Herald wrote of the latest batch of documents. That list included Trump, Clinton, Prince Andrew, and the late Michael Jackson. (Neither Trump nor Clinton are accused of any wrongdoing involving Epstein, and a spokesperson for Clinton has referred to a statement issued on behalf of the former president in 2019, which stated he had no knowledge of Epstein’s “terrible crimes.” In 2022, Prince Andrew settled a sexual abuse lawsuit brought by Giuffre, though he has insisted he never met Giuffre and denied any wrongdoing.) “As is often the case with Epstein,” Brown wrote for the Herald, the documents “included salacious but largely unproven allegations by women who have lived traumatic lives, made more difficult by their involvement with Epstein.”
I ask Brown if she thinks that Epstein’s death and Maxwell’s imprisonment have dampened the media’s interest in the story, even as mainstream publications such as the Times and Wall Street Journal have conducted investigations in recent years. “Not only the media’s interest, but, more importantly, the government’s interest,” she says. “We know the names of some of the people that helped him and who worked for him.” She acknowledges that Maxwell’s case was a “very difficult” one to prosecute. But, she adds, “It just boggles my mind that there is only one person paying the price for this horrific crime.”
Miami, FL
North Miami Beach 6-year-old who was allegedly severely abused dies: Family
A 6-year-old boy with autism who police said was severely abused by his mother’s boyfriend in North Miami Beach has died after spending weeks in the hospital, family members said.
The boy, Mason, had been hospitalized in critical condition last month, but his grandmother told NBC6 on Friday that he’d been taken off a ventilator and passed away.
Police had responded to a home in the 1400 block of Northeast 179th Street for a report of a child in cardiac arrest.
In body camera footage released by police, Mason was seen wrapped in a blanket and had no detectable pulse.
North Miami Beach Police, Family Photo
North Miami Beach Police, Family Photo Mason
Mason was given CPR until Miami-Dade Fire Rescue crews arrived and regained a pulse, and he was taken to Jackson North Hospital in critical condition.
Doctors reported internal bleeding in the brain, lacerations to the liver and kidney, a broken arm, and bruises covering his entire body.
His mother’s boyfriend, 34-year-old Daniel Eduardo Romero, was accused of severely abusing the boy, and was later arrested on charges including aggravated child abuse causing great bodily harm involving torture, child neglect causing great bodily harm, and tampering with a victim.
According to an arrest report, Romero gave conflicting stories about how Mason was injured, first claiming he was teaching the boy how to ride a bicycle when he fell, then changing his story and claiming they were using a wagon.
Romero said the boy didn’t appear to be seriously injured and medical care was not sought but he woke up lethargic the next day and progressively weakened and when he became unresponsive they called 911, the report said.
Miami-Dade Corrections Miami-Dade Corrections Daniel Eduardo Romero

The boy’s mother, 32-year-old Cynthia Hernandez, was later arrested on charges including child neglect, failure to report child neglect and providing a false statement to law enforcement, officials said.
Police had previously said Hernandez was cooperating with the investigation and told officers Romero would become frustrated with Mason because of his neurodevelopmental condition. Records also show Romero has two prior convictions for domestic violence.
In the arrest report, Hernandez told detectives that Romero had a short temper and anger problems.
Hernandez’s attorney criticized her arrest, saying she was also a victim of domestic violence at the hands of Romero.
Her mother also said Hernandez was a domestic violence victim.
Romero pleaded not guilty and is being held without bond while he awaits trial. It’s unknown whether he’ll face new charges following Mason’s death.
Miami, FL
The Prime Cleaner Opens New South Miami Location, Expanding Premium Cleaning Services Across Miami-Dade County
Miami’s most trusted family-owned cleaning service opens a new South Miami location at 2000 S. Dixie Hwy. Serving Brickell, Coral Gables, Coconut Grove, Pinecrest, and surrounding areas.
MIAMI, FL – The Prime Cleaner, one of Miami’s fastest-growing residential cleaning services, officially announces the opening of its new South Miami office located at 2000 South Dixie Highway, Suite 100B-A, Miami, FL 33133. The expansion marks a major milestone for the family-owned business, which has completed over 9,000 cleanings and earned 500+ five-star reviews since its founding in 2021.
The new South Miami location positions The Prime Cleaner to deliver faster response times and same-day availability to homeowners and property managers across South Miami, Coral Gables, Brickell, Coconut Grove, Pinecrest, Key Biscayne, Kendall, Palmetto Bay, Miami Beach, Edgewater, Midtown Miami, the Miami Design District, and Aventura.
A Family Business Built on Trust
Founded by Jay and his mother Ana, The Prime Cleaner was built on a straightforward belief — that every Miami homeowner deserves a cleaning team they can genuinely trust. From day one, the business has operated with background-checked professionals, non-toxic products safe for families and pets, and a consistent crew model that ensures clients see familiar faces on every visit.
“Opening our South Miami office is something we’ve been working toward for a long time. South Miami and the surrounding neighborhoods have been part of our story since the beginning. Having a physical presence here lets us serve our clients faster, respond same-day, and continue building the kind of relationships this community deserves.”— Jay McGough, Co-Founder, The Prime Cleaner
Comprehensive Cleaning Services for Miami’s Finest Homes
From the South Miami office, The Prime Cleaner offers its full suite of professional cleaning services:
- Deep Cleaning — Top-to-bottom resets for homes that need a thorough refresh
- Standard Recurring Cleaning — Weekly, biweekly, and monthly housekeeping plans
- Move In / Move Out Cleaning — Built to landlord and property standards
- Post-Construction Cleaning — Dust, debris, and construction residue removal
- Event Cleaning — Pre and post-event cleanup for homes and venues
- Exterior Window Cleaning — Streak-free results for interior and exterior glass
- Tile & Grout Restoration — Deep cleaning that restores original color and shine
- Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning — Stain removal and odor elimination safe for pets and kids
- Post-Fumigation Cleaning — Full sanitization after pest control treatments
- Airbnb & Short-Term Rental Cleaning — Turnover cleaning to maintain five-star ratings
Every service is backed by The Prime Cleaner’s 100% satisfaction guarantee — if a client isn’t satisfied, the team returns and corrects it at no additional charge.
Rapid Growth Driven by Five-Star Service
Since launching in 2021, The Prime Cleaner has become one of Miami’s most reviewed and most trusted residential cleaning services. With over 9,000 cleanings completed and more than 500 five-star Google reviews, the company continues to grow month over month — driven entirely by client referrals, repeat bookings, and a reputation built one home at a time.
The South Miami expansion is part of a broader growth strategy that includes new neighborhood service pages, an expanded team of background-checked cleaning professionals, and an ongoing commitment to raising the standard of residential cleaning across Miami-Dade County.
About The Prime Cleaner
The Prime Cleaner is a family-owned residential cleaning service based in Miami, Florida. Founded in 2021 by Jayger and Ana, the company specializes in deep cleaning, recurring housekeeping, move in/out cleaning, post-construction cleanup, and specialty cleaning services across Miami-Dade County. Licensed, insured, and BBB accredited, The Prime Cleaner serves homeowners, landlords, Airbnb hosts, and property managers across South Miami, Coral Gables, Brickell, Coconut Grove, Pinecrest, Key Biscayne, Kendall, Miami Beach, Edgewater, Midtown Miami, the Miami Design District, Aventura, and surrounding neighborhoods.
New South Miami Office
2000 South Dixie Highway, Suite 100B-A | Miami, FL 33133 | (786) 420-4273 | www.theprimecleaner.com/location/south-miami
Media Contact
Company Name: The Prime Cleaner
Contact Person: Jay Tomasino
Email: Send Email
Phone: (305) 575 – 2776
Address:2701 Biscayne Blvd
City: Miami
State: FL
Country: United States
Website: www.theprimecleaner.com
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Miami, FL
Inside Miami’s billionaire bunker, a manmade island for the .01% where billionaires like Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg shell out for total privacy | Fortune
In a city known for flash and nine-figure price tags, Miami’s most coveted waterfront neighborhood features addresses that start at $60 million—and a near guarantee that you’ll never be able to visit.
Indian Creek Island, also known as Billionaire Bunker, is a 300-acre, manmade strip of land in Biscayne Bay just north of Miami Beach that has attracted the ultra-rich in droves. Its monied residents include NFL quarterback Tom Brady, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, and President Donald Trump’s daughter, Ivanka Trump.
The main island contains a mere 40 lots of purely waterfront property, adding another layer of exclusivity on top of the inflated cost to entry. The island’s interior is dominated by the Indian Creek Country Club and its private 18-hole golf course. Those looking to rub shoulders on the links will have to reportedly pay a $500,000 initiation fee and go through a lengthy admissions process.
Though properties could be had for less, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg became the latest billionaire to reportedly snatch up a newly completed mansion at an estimated price tag of between $150 million and $200 million earlier this month. And of the ultra-wealthy who can afford to shell out millions for a home, many often tear down the existing structure to build a new one, said Michael Martirena, cofounder of the Ivan and Mike Team at real estate brokerage Compass.
The Price of Exclusivity
With only 84 residents as of 2020, Indian Creek Island is one of the most exclusive enclaves in America, and a big reason why is the privacy and security that it affords its ultra-wealthy residents.
Indian Creek is an independent municipality with its own government and a police force that patrols the island 24/7 not only by land but also by sea. A single guarded bridge connects it to the mainland, and any visitors must show their ID and may even undergo vehicle inspection, said Martirena, who has toured properties there with clients.
“It’s a bubble, and no one can get on and off, unless you have a reason,” said Martirena, who specializes in ultra-luxury real estate.
Unlike nearby South Beach celebrity enclaves such as Palm, Star, and Hibiscus Islands—where boat tours regularly pass by waterfront mansions—Indian Creek’s marine patrols keep onlookers away, Martirena told Fortune.
Because of the island’s location and strategic landscaping, very few homes in the surrounding areas, like the Bay Harbor Islands or Surfside, have a clear view of Indian Creek Island. This makes it very private, said Martirena, and very desirable.
“It’s the place to be,” said Martirena. “People of that caliber feel safe and not bothered.”
And yet, wealth alone doesn’t guarantee access. All the listings are done “off market,” said Martirena, meaning a buyer’s agent will have to deal directly with a property owner’s representatives, and contact them multiple times if they are not quite ready to sell.
“It’s a small community, and just to keep the chatter at a low level, they do it all internally and very private,” he said.
In an already exclusive community, the western side offers an even more seclusive experience because the lots border the intracoastal waterway separating the island from the mainland, Mick Duchon, a Miami Beach–based real estate agent with the Corcoran Group, previously told Fortune. On this side of the island, home to two of the five richest people in the world, Zuckerberg and Bezos, the lots measure about 80,000 square feet, compared to 50,000 square feet which is the norm on the island, Duchon said.
Since announcing his move from Seattle to Florida in 2023, Bezos snapped up three properties on the island for more than $230 million combined. He’s turning two western lots into a compound while he lives in a Mediterranean-style house on the third lot on the other side of the island.
The billionaire migration to Indian Creek reflects a broader influx in South Florida luxury real estate, which Martirena described as “COVID 2.0.” Thanks in part to Florida’s lack of a state income tax, interest from high end buyers is exploding even as activity at the lower end of the housing market slows.
Another factor is the proposed 5% billionaire wealth tax, which is gathering steam in California. Google co-founder Larry Page has reportedly begun shifting assets, including his family office, out of California. The billionaire recently paid $173 million for two waterfront mansions in Miami’s Coconut Grove neighborhood.
Martirena said his own business has picked up over the last couple of weeks, with three recent inquiries that he attributed directly to the potential wealth tax.
“They’re kind of pre-planning ahead of time. They don’t want to move here,” he said. “They want to stay in the state of California, because they love where they’re at, and they never thought of moving. But they work very hard for their money, and they said they like their pocketbook much more.”
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