THE PALM BEACH POST • TUESDAY, JUNE 23. 2009 Judge asked to name receiver to keep eye on Epstein's assets By SUSAN SPENCER-WEN0EL Palm Beach Pint SteWriter WEST PALM BEACH 7-- An attorney representing one of the passel of young women now suing billionaire Jeffrey Epstein is asking a federal judge to appoint a receiver to take over Epstein's property to prevent him from hiding or transferring assets abroad. Bradley Edwards also has asked that the receiver order Epstein to post a $15 million bond to ensure money is available if the women prevail in their lawsuits seeking damages because of the sexual contact they say Epstein had with them as minors. In a request entered into the court record Friday, Edwards wrote that Epstein. a man 'of "phenomenal wealth," now faces more than two dozen lawsuits. The woman Edwards represents is seeking more than $50 million in damages. "Accordingly, Epstein has currently pending against him lawsuits seeking more than $1 billion in damages. He thus faces financial ruin," Edwards wrote to US. District Judge Kenneth Marra. Edwards cited no direct evidence that Epstein is transferring assets abroad. He argued that because Epstein is a sophisticated money manager and is allowed out of the Palm Beach County Stockade each day to work at his office, he has the skill, the means and motive to be transferring assets abroad. Epstein is serving an 18-month sentence after pleading guilty nearly a year ago to state charges of felony solicitation of prostitution and procuring teenagers for prostitution. Epstein is allowed out of the stockade, though, each day from 7 am. to 11 p.m., a spokeswoman for the sheriff's office said recently. The saga began years ago when Palm Beach police investigated reports that young women were being brought to Epstein's manse on El Brillo Way to massage him and have sex with him in exchange Epstein Faces more than two dozen suits. for money. Attorneys representing the women have questioned Epstein about his sexual activities with their clients as well as his finances. Epstein has responded by invoking his right to remain silent and not incriminate himself. "The silence in the face of these questions speaks far louder than words," Edwards wrote. "As Justice (Louis) Brandeis recognized long ago 'Silence is often evidence of the most persuasive character.' This is plainly one of those situations." An attorney who represented Epstein during the questioning Robert U Critton Jr. of West Palm Beach. did not respond to an e-mail seeking comment. On Thursday, Circuit judge Jeffrey Colbath will consider whether to unseal a deferred-prosecution agreement Epstein entered with federal prosecutors. Attorneys have said that they seek to unseal that document in part to use it in striking at Epstein's right to remain silent esusan_spencer-wendel OpOpost.com EFTA00234516