Bernard Indyke
Bernard Indyke is a figure in the generational lineage connecting 1980s tax shelter fraud to the Epstein corporate network. As a manager at Jackie Fine Arts Inc., he placed his son Darren at Gold and Wachtel, the firm that both defended his employer's RICO litigation and served as process agent for J. Epstein & Company. Corporate techniques present at Jackie Fine Arts, including entity layering and international subsidiaries, later appeared in the Epstein entities Darren managed.
Bernard W. Indyke (born December 31, 1933, Brooklyn; died July 25, 2005, Jamesburg, New Jersey) was a manager and board member at Jackie Fine Arts Inc, a tax shelter fraud operation controlled by Herman Finesod that defrauded over 2,000 investors through overvalued art reproduction rights. Jackie Fine Arts was a client of Gold and Wachtel, the same firm that served as process agent for J. Epstein & Company Inc. from approximately 1988. Bernard placed his son Darren K. Indyke at Gold and Wachtel in 1986 as a pre-law assistant, establishing the connection through which Darren entered Jeffrey Epstein's orbit.
Records indicate that Bernard's involvement with Epstein-linked entities continued well past his son's hiring. FedEx shipping records from 2003 and 2005 document packages sent to and from Bernard and other Indyke family members at NYSO LLC, an Epstein operating entity at 457 Madison Avenue. The Indyke/Saipher family ultimately held 15% of Epstein's April 2019 trust 1, and Darren went on to manage at least 50 corporate entities across five jurisdictions, employing structural techniques — shell entity layering, international subsidiaries, opaque valuations — that paralleled those used at Jackie Fine Arts.
Jackie Fine Arts and Gold and Wachtel
The documented connection between Bernard Indyke and the Epstein network runs through Jackie Fine Arts Inc, a tax shelter operation founded by Herman Finesod and defended in court by Gold and Wachtel. Bernard served as manager and board member of Jackie Fine Arts during the period when Finesod was selling overvalued "master reproduction rights" to art prints — a scheme that generated RICO litigation across at least seven federal districts from 1983 to 2016, with the landmark case Faircloth v. Jackie Fine Arts Inc. (E.D.N.Y. 1:89-mc-00437) not terminating until 2016. Court records indicate over 2,000 investors were defrauded through a structure involving shell entity layering, non-recourse notes, inflated appraisals, and an international subsidiary (a Munich GmbH).
Gold and Wachtel's role in the litigation was direct. William B. Wachtel personally filed the brief in Faircloth v. Finesod, 938 F.2d 513 (4th Cir. 1991), defending Finesod against RICO claims on appeal. Attorney Elliot Silverman argued the case. The same firm, operating from 10 East 53rd Street, simultaneously served as process agent for J. Epstein & Company Inc. (NY Corp #1307306), incorporated around 1988. Bernard placed his son Darren at Gold and Wachtel in 1986, during the period when the firm was both defending Jackie Fine Arts in RICO litigation and handling Epstein's earliest corporate formation. When later asked about the relationship, William B. Wachtel told the Daily Beast that Bernard was a "mailroom employee." Corporate records show Bernard held the title of manager at a client firm, not an employee of Gold and Wachtel itself.
Operational Continuity After Retirement
FedEx Priority Overnight records from November 12, 2003 2 show Darren sending a package to Bernard at NYSO LLC, 457 Madison Avenue, New York — the same building that housed DKIP PLLC, Darren's Epstein-dedicated law practice. NYSO LLC was an Epstein operating entity. Bernard was seventy years old at the time and, based on available records, appears to have been retired, yet he was receiving express shipments at an address used for Epstein's New York corporate operations.
An April 2005 FedEx record 3 shows Lauren Bernard and Sharon Indyke — identified as Bernard's daughter or daughter-in-law — sending packages to the same NYSO LLC address at 457 Madison Avenue, three months before Bernard's death in July 2005. The involvement of multiple Indyke family members in shipping materials to Epstein entity addresses raises the possibility that the relationship between the Indyke household and the Epstein network extended beyond Darren's professional role, though the contents and purpose of these shipments are unknown. Deutsche Bank KYC records document the broader family footprint: Bernard's household included Sharon E. Indyke, Hannah Indyke, Samantha Indyke, and Michelle F. Saipher (Darren's wife), with addresses spanning 477 FDR Drive in Manhattan and multiple New Jersey locations.
Structural Inheritance and Technique Transfer
Jackie Fine Arts deployed a suite of corporate techniques that appear in closely parallel form in the Epstein network that Darren later managed. Jackie Fine Arts used layered shell entities (controlled through M and J Holding Corp) to obscure beneficial ownership. It relied on inflated valuations — in this case, of art reproduction rights — to generate fraudulent tax deductions. It used non-recourse notes to limit investor exposure while maximizing promoter returns. It maintained international subsidiaries (the Munich GmbH) to add jurisdictional complexity. And it depended on cooperation from lawyers, accountants, and appraisers who lent their credentials to the scheme.
Darren Indyke's Epstein practice used similar methods at greater scale: over 50 entities spanning New York, Florida, the U.S. Virgin Islands, New Mexico, and France. Southern Trust Company and Southern Financial LLC served as the controlling holding structure, analogous to M and J Holding Corp in the Jackie Fine Arts structure. Gratitude America Ltd and other USVI entities used jurisdictional differences for tax purposes. Real estate holdings were held through single-purpose LLCs. Darren's own DKI Graphics Inc. (NY Corp #1695791, filed January 1993) operated in the art industry before going inactive as his Epstein practice expanded. Whether the overlap in technique reflects direct transmission from Bernard, institutional culture at Gold and Wachtel, or independent adoption of common corporate structuring methods remains an open question.
Absence from Court Records
Despite serving as manager and board member of Jackie Fine Arts Inc. during the period of its tax shelter fraud, Bernard does not appear as a named defendant, witness, or co-conspirator in any court record found through searches of CourtListener. The named defendants in the Faircloth litigation were Herman Finesod, Jackie Fine Arts Inc., F. Peter Rose, Sigmund Rothschild, L.A. Walker, C.S. Pulkinen, National Settlement Associates of South Carolina Inc., Marilyn Goldberg, and Marigold Enterprises Ltd.
Bernard held a management role at a company that generated RICO judgments, yet his name does not appear in the resulting litigation. His son Darren later served as officer, signatory, or agent on dozens of Epstein entities while maintaining a limited public profile relative to the scale of assets under management. Bernard's absence from court records could reflect a behind-the-scenes operational role, cooperation with investigators, sealed records, or the fact that class actions were directed at the corporate entity rather than individual managers. The gap leaves unresolved questions about Bernard's specific functions at Jackie Fine Arts during the period of the fraud.
All Connections
13 total
All Connections
13 totalFather-son. Bernard was manager and board member at Jackie Fine Arts (Gold and Wachtel client). Got Darren hired at Gold and Wachtel after Colgate/Cornell, where Darren first encountered Epstein as client.
Father-son. Bernard managed Jackie Fine Arts, a Gold & Wachtel client. This family connection brought Darren into Epsteins orbit via the firm.
Bernard Indyke (Darren Indykes father) served as manager and member of the board at Jackie Fine Arts Inc, a Gold and Wachtel client that ran tax shelter fraud selling overvalued art master reproduction rights. Herman Finesod founded Jackie Fine Arts.
Bernard Indyke was manager or board member of Jackie Fine Arts Inc which was wholly controlled by Finesod through M and J Holding Corp. Gold and Wachtel represented both Finesod in litigation and employed Bernards son Darren Indyke starting circa 1986
Gratitude America is listed as one of Epstein's USVI entities in DOJ documents, alongside Great St Jim LLC and IGO Company LLC.
Indyke resisted revealing Epstein as controlling person of STC to Israeli lawyers handling Carbyne anti-money-laundering compliance.
Prytanee LLC ownership structure per Deutsche Bank's 2018 periodic review shows Southern Trust Company Inc holding 50%, with Jeffrey Epstein as sole shareholder.
Forums LLC made a 220,000 dollar internal funds transfer to Ghislaine Maxwell's JPMorgan Private Bank checking account in January 2006 (EFTA01524286).
CDE Inc. confirmed as USVI S Corporation owned by Jeffrey Epstein (JEE Owner). Listed in Richard Kahn's Open Items memo of March 2012.
Bernard Indyke received FedEx packages at Epstein entity NYSO LLC (457 Madison Ave, Nov 2003). Gold & Wachtel (where Bernard was manager at client Jackie Fine Arts) served as process agent for J. Epstein & Company Inc. (NY #1307306, ~1988). This chain: Bernard at Jackie Fine Arts (Gold & Wachtel client) -> Gold & Wachtel as Epstein's first corporate counsel -> Bernard receiving packages at Epstein entity address.
Father-son relationship confirmed by FedEx shipping record Nov 2003 and Deutsche Bank KYC family tree. Bernard placed Darren at Gold & Wachtel in 1986.
Bernard was manager/board member of Jackie Fine Arts Inc, founded by Finesod. Gold and Wachtel represented both JFA and Epstein.
Wachtel defended Finesod Jackie Fine Arts RICO fraud on appeal while Bernard was JFA manager. Wachtel then hired Bernards son Darren at Gold and Wachtel. Wachtel lied to media calling Bernard a mailroom employee.
All Findings
17 total
All Findings
17 totalfinancial (1)
Epstein's 2019 trust (Schedule B, EFTA02635424) lists SAIPHER at 5% alongside two INDYKE entries at 5% each, making the Indyke family direct financial beneficiaries of Epstein's estate. Michelle F. Saipher is Darren K. Indyke's wife (maiden name Saipher). Other beneficiaries: Karyna Shuliak 50%, three KAHNs at 5% each. Total Indyke/Saipher share: 15% (5%+5%+5%).
relationship (3)
As manager and board member of Jackie Fine Arts Inc, controlled by Herman Finesod, Bernard Indyke sat inside a Gold and Wachtel client. He placed son Darren at Gold and Wachtel in 1986. William Wachtel later told the Daily Beast that Bernard was a mailroom employee.
Bernard W. Indyke is the father of Darren K. Indyke, who managed Epstein's affairs from 2003 to 2019. Bernard managed Jackie Fine Arts, a Gold & Wachtel client. Deutsche Bank records (EFTA01295770) show Bernard Indyke household members: Hannah, Samantha, Sharon E. Indyke, and Michelle F. Saipher. Address at 477 FDR Dr Apt M601, New York NY 10002 (2000-2017). The family's tie to the firm is the documented route by which Darren came into Epstein's orbit.
FedEx records show Darren Indyke sending packages to Bernard Indyke at NYSO LLC 457 Madison Ave
LMSBAND document EFTA01318608 contains FedEx shipping records showing Darren Indyke as sender and Bernard Indyke as recipient at NYSO LLC 457 Madison Ave New York NY 10022. NYSO LLC is an Epstein entity at the same building that housed DKIP PLLC (Darren Indyke law firm). The record indicates Bernard had direct access to Epstein network entity addresses.
legal (4)
Jackie Fine Arts Inc. faced lawsuits across at least 7 federal districts (D.S.C., D.Minn., D.Me., C.D.Cal., S.D.Cal., E.D.N.Y., S.D.Fla.) from 1983-2016. Key cases: Faircloth v. Jackie Fine Arts Inc. (E.D.N.Y. 1:89-mc-00437, filed 1989, not terminated until 2016), multiple Ross v. Jackie Fine Arts actions, Turner v. Jackie Fine Arts (1983). The nationwide scope of the litigation is consistent with a fraud reaching 2,000+ investors. Bernard Indyke was manager and board member during this period.
Gold & Wachtel represented Finesod in Jackie Fine Arts fraud appeal
Gold & Wachtel (10 E 53rd St, NYC) represented Herman Finesod as defense counsel in Faircloth v. Finesod, 938 F.2d 513 (4th Cir. 1991). Attorneys Elliot Silverman argued and William B. Wachtel filed the brief. This is the same law firm where Bernard Indyke placed his son Darren circa 1986. Gold & Wachtel was incorporated in NY on 11/16/1988 (ID 1307306), went inactive 04/04/2001.
J. EPSTEIN & COMPANY INC. (NY Corp #1307306) was incorporated with GOLD & WACHTEL, ESQS as process agent at 10 East 53rd Street, NYC 10022. Filed ~1988, went inactive 04/04/2001. Gold & Wachtel was the firm where Bernard Indyke was manager and board member of client Jackie Fine Arts Inc, tying the firm to the earliest known Epstein corporate entity.
Bernard Indyke NOT named as defendant witness or co-conspirator in any court records found
Comprehensive search of CourtListener (opinions cases dockets) for Bernard Indyke found no cases where he is a named party. He does not appear in the Faircloth v Finesod opinions (district court 682 F.Supp. 837 or 4th Circuit 938 F.2d 513) as a defendant witness or co-conspirator. The named defendants in Faircloth were: Herman Finesod, Jackie Fine Arts Inc, F Peter Rose, Sigmund Rothschild, L.A. Walker, C.S. Pulkinen, National Settlement Associates of South Carolina Inc, Marilyn Goldberg, and Marigold Enterprises Ltd. Bernard Indyke role as manager or board member of Jackie Fine Arts is not documented in any court record we found.
intelligence (1)
Bernard W. Indyke (b. 12/31/1933 Brooklyn, d. 7/25/2005 Jamesburg NJ) connects 1980s tax shelter fraud to the corporate architecture later used in the Epstein network, principally through his son Darren. Bernard was manager and board member of Jackie Fine Arts Inc, a tax shelter operation (2000+ investors, RICO judgments) controlled by Herman Finesod. Gold & Wachtel — with William B. Wachtel on the brief — defended Finesod in the 4th Circuit RICO appeal (Faircloth v. Finesod, 938 F.2d 513, 1991), and Bernard placed son Darren at the firm in 1986. Wachtel later told the Daily Beast that Bernard was 'a mailroom employee.' FedEx records (EFTA01318608) document Bernard receiving packages at NYSO LLC, 457 Madison Ave, in Nov 2003 at age 70, and Sharon Indyke sending packages to the same address (EFTA01313073, Apr 2005). Epstein's April 2019 trust (EFTA02635424) assigns the Indyke and Saipher family 15% — Saipher 5% plus two Indyke 5% shares — and Darren drew a salary reported at .5M+ a year. Abigail S. Wexner transferred 15 Central Park West Unit 10B to Darren K. Indyke for /bin/zsh in Jan 2008 (ACRIS 2008012900966001), and an incoming transfer of .566M reached Darren's account on Nov 20, 2019, about four months after Epstein's death. Jackie Fine Arts relied on shell entity layering, inflated valuations, professional complicity, non-recourse notes, and an international subsidiary (a Munich GmbH) — techniques that recur in the 50+ entity network Darren later managed, catalogued from Deutsche Bank KYC and including L.A.W. Plantation Management Corp (likely Leslie A. Wexner). Bernard does not appear in any court record located despite his manager and board role, consistent with either a behind-the-scenes function or sealed proceedings.
identity (6)
Bernard W. Indyke (aka Bernard S. Indyke) born December 1933, confirmed deceased per Deutsche Bank KYC. Wife: Retha Elizabeth Shears. Addresses: 477 FDR Dr Apt M601 NYC, 2 Kean CT Livingston NJ, 15 Country Club Dr Monroe Township NJ, 4 Palmer CT East Brunswick NJ. SSN prefix 069-26. Phone (732) 656-7813, (973) 597-1165.
Indyke family tree drawn from Deutsche Bank KYC records. Bernard W. (b.12/1933, deceased) married Retha E. Shears. Children include Darren K. Indyke (b.2/1965), Sharon E. Indyke, Tobi F. Indyke (aka Bernstein, b.10/1964), and Scott Edward Indyke (age 53 in ~2018). Darren's household includes Hannah Indyke, Samantha Indyke, and Michelle F. Saipher (wife, maiden name). Also associated: Danielle N. Benowitz (aka Indyke) and Brian K. Becker.
Bernard W. Indyke born 12/31/1933 Brooklyn NY to David Indyke and Rose Friedman. Married Sharon Elaine Baskin. Died 7/25/2005 Jamesburg NJ. Father of Darren K. Indyke.
DKI Graphics Inc. (NY Corp #1695791) filed 1/20/1993 by Darren K. Indyke at 227 E 59th St, NYC 10022. Status alternated between ACTIVE and INACTIVE across multiple DB KYC checks (2011-2017). DKI = Darren K. Indyke's initials. The entity name 'Graphics' echoes Jackie Fine Arts' art reproduction business where Bernard worked. The address 227 E 59th St is in the same Midtown East neighborhood as Gold & Wachtel (10 E 53rd) and Epstein's 457 Madison Ave office.
Bernard W. Indyke was manager and board member of Jackie Fine Arts Inc, a Gold and Wachtel client tax shelter. Placed son Darren at G&W 1986. Deceased. Addresses: 4 Palmer Ct East Brunswick NJ, 15 Country Club Dr Monroe Township NJ, 477 FDR Dr Apt M601 NYC. Household: Sharon E, Hannah, Samantha Indyke, Michelle F Saipher, Danielle N Benowitz.
Bernard Indyke deceased with addresses in East Brunswick Livingston and Monroe Township NJ
Deutsche Bank due diligence reports on Darren Indyke list Bernard W Indyke as deceased. AKAs include Bernard W Indyke Bernard S Indyke. Addresses: 4 Palmer Ct East Brunswick NJ 08816, 15 Country Club Dr Monroe Township NJ 08831, 2 Kean Ct Livingston NJ 07039. Household members include Sharon E Indyke Hannah Indyke Samantha Indyke and Michelle F Saipher. Associates include Brian K Becker and Thomas F Pye.
document (2)
FedEx shipping record EFTA01318608 (Nov 12, 2003): FedEx Priority Overnight from DARREN INDYKE to BERNARD INDYKE at NYSO LLC, 457 Madison Ave, NYC 10022. The record places Bernard Indyke as recipient at an Epstein entity address (NYSO LLC, one of Epstein's NY operating entities), with Darren sending him materials there. Bernard was 70 years old at the time.
FedEx record EFTA01313073 (Apr 27, 2005): FedEx from LAUREN BERNARD & SHARON INDYKE to NYSO LLC, 457 Madison Ave, NYC 10022. Sharon Indyke (Bernard's daughter or daughter-in-law) was also sending packages to the Epstein entity NYSO LLC, indicating that Indyke family members beyond Darren had contact with Epstein entity addresses.