Dossier

MICHAEL THOMAS

Defendant

Court Filing

Mentioned in 5 documents. Roles: Defendant, Defendant, Correctional Officer, Material Handler who falsified records, MCC New York employee charged with falsifying BOP records, Material Handler who failed to conduct mandatory rounds and inmate counts

Nationality

Black Book

Not listed

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MICHAEL THOMAS is mentioned in documents or reporting related to the Epstein case. Being mentioned does not imply any wrongdoing, criminal conduct, or inappropriate behavior.

AI-Generated Dossier

High evidence95% confidence

This dossier was generated by AI (Claude) from court filings, government releases, and other documentary sources in our database. It may contain errors or misattributions. Always verify claims against the linked source documents.

Background

Michael Albert Thomas (DOB February 11, 1978) is a former Federal Bureau of Prisons employee who worked at the Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) in New York City. His official title was Material Handler Specialist (also referred to as Material Handler Supervisor or Material Handler Foreman), though he was frequently described in court documents and media as a correctional officer. He resided in New Jersey, with addresses in Piscataway and Keasbey. Prior to the Epstein case, Thomas had no criminal history according to ejustice and NYPD database checks. He was identified as a victim in a domestic incident from December 2014 involving a custody argument with a girlfriend.

Epstein Connection

Michael Thomas was one of two Bureau of Prisons staff members assigned to the Special Housing Unit (SHU) at MCC New York during the overnight shift of August 9-10, 2019, the night Jeffrey Epstein died. Along with co-defendant Correctional Officer Tova Noel, Thomas was responsible for conducting mandatory 30-minute rounds and institutional inmate counts in the SHU where Epstein was housed. Thomas and Noel failed to conduct those required checks and instead sat at their desks, browsed the internet, and moved around the common area. They subsequently created and signed false count slips and round check sheets to conceal their failures. At approximately 6:30-6:33 a.m. on August 10, 2019, Thomas found Jeffrey Epstein unresponsive in his cell. Both Thomas and Noel were indicted on November 19, 2019 for conspiracy and making false records, and both ultimately received deferred prosecution agreements. Thomas was later separated from BOP employment.

Key Allegations(8)

Thomas repeatedly failed to perform mandated counts of prisoners under his watch in the SHU, and for substantial portions of his shift sat at his desk, browsed the Internet, and moved around the common area instead of conducting required rounds.

documented

efta-efta00089923 d-114 d-543 d-9303

Thomas created and submitted false count slips for the 12 a.m., 3 a.m., and 5 a.m. institutional counts at the MCC on August 10, 2019.

documented

d-542 d-6611 efta-efta00089923

Thomas repeatedly signed false certifications attesting to having conducted multiple counts of inmates when he never conducted such counts, causing MCC to believe prisoners had been properly monitored.

documented

efta-efta00089923 d-6612

Thomas conspired with co-defendant Tova Noel to defraud the United States and to knowingly make and use false writings or documents.

documented

efta-efta00089891 efta-efta00090242

Thomas downloaded and printed the 'SHU 30 CHECK SHEET (CONDENSED)' document from his BOP computer at approximately 12:39-12:43 a.m. on August 10, 2019, suggesting he prepared the false forms in advance.

documented

efta-efta00062276

When FBI and OIG agents attempted to interview Thomas on August 12, 2019, he denied over the phone that he was Thomas.

documented

efta-efta00092797

Thomas and Noel made a statement after Epstein's death that they did not complete proper 30-minute checks.

documented

efta-efta00039367 efta-efta00040941

Thomas and Noel admitted to falsifying logs showing they conducted required checks while actually sleeping.

documented

d-epstein-death-report d-113

Legal Status

named in docs

Indicted on November 19, 2019 in the Southern District of New York on one count of conspiring to defraud the United States (18 U.S.C. § 371) and three counts of making false statements (18 U.S.C. § 1001(a)(3)). Entered into a deferred prosecution agreement with the USAO-SDNY on or about May 25, 2021, requiring community service. The case was resolved without a conviction. Thomas was subsequently separated from BOP employment.

Cases:19 Cr. 830 (AT)1:19-cr-00830-AT

Notable Statements(2)

“Thomas denied over the phone that he was Thomas”

When FBI and OIG agents attempted to interview Thomas on August 12, 2019, two days after Epstein's death, Thomas denied his own identity over the phone.2019-08-12efta-efta00092797

“Officer Tova Noel and Material Handler Supervisor Michael Thomas made a statement after Mr. Epstein's death that they did not complete proper 30 minute checks”

Statement from a Lieutenant's memorandum regarding the admissions made by Noel and Thomas after finding Epstein dead.2019-08-10efta-efta00039367

Contradictions(2)

Public Claim

Thomas signed official count slips certifying he had conducted the 12 a.m., 3 a.m., and 5 a.m. institutional counts of inmates in the SHU.

Documentary Evidence

Surveillance video analysis and forensic computer examination confirmed Thomas did not conduct the required rounds or counts. Instead, he sat at his desk and browsed the internet for substantial portions of his shift. Thomas and Noel later admitted they did not complete proper 30-minute checks.

efta-efta00089923 efta-efta00062045 efta-efta00062276 efta-efta00039367

Public Claim

When contacted by FBI and OIG investigators on August 12, 2019, Thomas denied over the phone that he was Thomas.

Documentary Evidence

Thomas was positively identified as the Material Handler on duty in the SHU the night of Epstein's death through multiple records, surveillance footage, and computer forensic evidence showing his user account (BOP19012) was actively logged in during the shift.

efta-efta00092797 efta-efta00062276 efta-efta00062045

Key Relationships(3)

Tova Noellegal

Co-defendant in United States v. Tova Noel and Michael Thomas, 19 Cr. 830. Both were assigned to the SHU at MCC on the night of August 9-10, 2019 and both were charged with conspiring to falsify records. Both received deferred prosecution agreements.

Jeffrey Epsteinprofessional

Thomas was one of two BOP staff members responsible for monitoring Jeffrey Epstein in the SHU on the night Epstein died. Thomas found Epstein dead in his cell at approximately 6:30-6:33 a.m. on August 10, 2019.

Audrey Strausslegal

Audrey Strauss, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, oversaw the prosecution and deferred prosecution agreement in the Thomas case.

Timeline(19 events)

2019-08-09efta-efta00062045

Thomas began his overnight shift (12 a.m. to 8 a.m.) in the SHU at MCC New York, assigned with Correctional Officer Tova Noel to monitor inmates including Jeffrey Epstein.

2019-08-10efta-efta00062276

At 12:36:54 a.m., Thomas logged onto his BOP desktop computer (username BOP19012). At 12:39, he downloaded the 'SHU 30 CHECK SHEET (CONDENSED)' document. At 12:43, the document was printed.

2019-08-10efta-efta00089923

Thomas and Noel failed to conduct mandatory 30-minute rounds and created and submitted false count slips for the 12 a.m., 3 a.m., and 5 a.m. institutional counts.

2019-08-10efta-efta00039025

At approximately 6:30-6:33 a.m., Thomas and Noel began delivering breakfast and Thomas found Jeffrey Epstein unresponsive in his cell with a strip of bedsheet around his neck.

2019-08-10efta-efta00039367

Thomas and Noel made statements to a Lieutenant that they did not complete proper 30-minute checks.

2019-08-12efta-efta00092797

FBI and OIG agents attempted to interview Thomas, but he denied over the phone that he was Thomas and did not agree to speak with agents.

2019-08-12efta-efta00066543

Internal memo identified Thomas as a person requiring FBI interview: 'Michael Thomas (duty officer) (need 2 FBI).'

2019-08-13efta-efta00062274

OIG submitted forensic examination request for Thomas's BOP desktop computer hard drive for digital forensic analysis.

2019-11-19efta-efta00089923

Grand jury returned a six-count indictment charging Thomas and Noel. Thomas was charged with one count of conspiracy (18 U.S.C. § 371) and three counts of making false statements (18 U.S.C. § 1001(a)(3)). Case No. 19 Cr. 830 (AT).

2020-03-10efta-efta00039416

Government responded to defense discovery requests in United States v. Tova Noel and Michael Thomas.

2020-06-09efta-efta00089891

Court order issued by Judge Analisa Torres in Thomas's case.

2020-10-13efta-efta00092389

Government provided additional discovery to Thomas's counsel (Montell Figgins, Esq.) pursuant to Rule 16(a).

2021-05-18efta-efta00089485

Diversion report regarding Michael Thomas sent by U.S. Pretrial Officer, Southern District of New York.

2021-05-20efta-efta00068564

USAO-SDNY reported plans to offer deferred prosecution agreements to both Thomas and Noel, requiring community service.

2021-05-25efta-efta00090242

Deferred prosecution agreement filed in court. The USAO-SDNY determined that the interests of justice would best be served by deferring prosecution based on the facts and Thomas's personal circumstances.

2021-06-17efta-efta00063613

Thomas gave a voluntary sworn statement to OIG investigators at the Law Offices of Montel Figgins in Newark, NJ. His attorney and a union representative were present.

2021-06-23efta-efta00099219

Internal email update regarding OIG interviews with Tova Noel and Michael Thomas, the two MCC guards charged with falsifying count and round forms.

2021-06-29efta-efta00068566

USAO-SDNY planned release of approximately 2,700 pages of BOP documents related to Epstein, previously withheld due to the ongoing prosecution of Noel and Thomas.

efta-efta00064595

Thomas was separated (terminated) from BOP employment. A BOP internal affairs memorandum listing Thomas as 'Separated' was issued.

At a Glance

Click values for sources

Flight appearances

275

Document mentions

Various sources

Known connections

1 weak

Black book entry

Evidence Types

Court Filing

Known Connections (1)

Jeffrey EpsteinAssociated

MCC CO on duty during Epstein death; charged and DPA

External Cross-Check

Search ICIJ Offshore Leaks, OFAC Sanctions, SEC EDGAR, and Federal Courts

Offshore Connections (39)

Cross-referenced against the ICIJ Offshore Leaks Database (814K+ entities from Panama Papers, Paradise Papers, Pandora Papers, and Bahamas Leaks). Matches are based on name similarity and do not imply wrongdoing.

Bahamas Leaksentity

MICHAEL THOMAS CONSTRUCTION INC.

Jurisdiction: BAH

MICHAEL THOMAS

At a Glance

Known Connections (1)

External Cross-Check

Offshore Connections (39)

Document Mentions