Jean-Luc Brunel

French model scout (1946–2022)

Jean-Luc Brunel (1946 – 19 February 2022) was a French model scout and modelling agency manager. He was known for working for a modeling agency which was financed by Jeffrey Epstein.[1] For thirty years, Brunel was accused of sexually harassing minors.[2]

Jean-Luc Brunel
Born1946 (1946)
Died (aged 75)
Paris, France
NationalityFrench
Other names"Le fantôme" (The ghost)
OccupationModel scout
Years active1970s–2019
Known forformer head of Karin Models and MC2 Model Management

His connections with Epstein became known, after Epstein's death.[3] Brunel was accused of getting teenage girls and taking part of a sex trafficking ring run by Epstein.

Arrest and indictment

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He was arrested on 16 December 2020, and charged with the rape of minors by French prosecutors.[4] In September 2021 he was indicted on a single count of rape [or for having raped one time]. The indictment came from an allegation that in the 1990s, Brunel drugged a 17-year-old model at a nightclub and raped her.[5] Brunel said he was innocent.[6]

On 19 February 2022, Brunel was found dead in his jail cell in Paris after hanging himself.[7][8][9]

References

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  1. Sarnoff, Conchita (22 July 2010). "Jeffrey Epstein Pedophile Billionaire and His Sex Den". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  2. Cobbe, Elaine (18 October 2019). "Ex-model accuses Jeffrey Epstein's friend of rape". CBS News. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  3. Swaine, Jon; Henley, Jon; Osborne, Lucy (17 August 2019). "Jean-Luc Brunel: three former models say they were sexually assaulted by Jeffrey Epstein friend". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  4. Ing, Nancy; van Hagen, Isobel (19 December 2020). "French modeling agent charged with rape of a minor in Jeffrey Epstein probe". NBC News. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  5. Allen, Peter (17 September 2021). "Jeffrey Epstein's model agent friend charged with raping teenager in 1990s". Metro.
  6. Rosman, Rebecca (16 September 2021). "Model agent friend of Jeffrey Epstein charged with rape of a minor". Daily Telegraph.
  7. Lauwereys, Zoé; Pham-Lê, Jérémie; Jacquard, Nicolas (19 February 2022). "Affaire Epstein : l'ex-agent de mannequins Jean-Luc Brunel retrouvé mort en prison". Le Parisien (in French). Retrieved 19 February 2022.
  8. James, Liam (19 February 2022). "Jeffrey Epstein associate Jean-Luc Brunel found dead in cell". The Independent. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
  9. "Epstein: Model scout Jean-Luc Brunel found dead in jail". BBC News. February 19, 2022. p. 1. Retrieved February 19, 2022.