Date: September 29, 2011
From: David Stern (jeevacation@gmail.com)
To: Jeffrey Epstein
Subject: HK Cos
In this email, David Stern informs Jeffrey Epstein about his personal Hong Kong shell companies. He states that both entities are "100% owned by me" and describes them as having "little activity," a hallmark of shell entities used for discreet financial transfers or holding assets.
This document reveals the underlying financial infrastructure that David Stern maintained while acting as the primary bridge between Jeffrey Epstein and Chinese sovereign/corporate interests. The timing (Sept 2011) coincides with the pivot toward the African Investment Vehicle (Witan Group) and the legal maneuvers surrounding the Djibouti port.
Stern described these Hong Kong entities as having "little activity," indicating they were maintained as ready-to-use vehicles for the "African Investment Vehicle" strategy. This matches the "discreet investment firm" strategy where Epstein would remain "invisible" while Stern managed the external operations.
The name "Kapitanka" carries strong Slavic (Russian/Ukrainian) etymological roots, meaning "Captain" or "associated with a Captain." This aligns with Stern's role as Epstein's tactical "soldier" and his broader portfolio of Russian interests, which included pitching Russian farmland and facilitating meetings with Russian billionaire Vladimir Zemtsov.