According to DOJ-released documents indexed by Epstein Exposed, Tova Noel appears in 6 case documents in the Epstein files.
Federal Bureau of Prisons correctional officer at the Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) in New York. Noel and fellow guard Michael Thomas were the two officers assigned to monitor Epstein's unit on the night of August 9-10, 2019, when Epstein was found dead. Both officers were charged with falsifying prison records and conspiracy for failing to perform required inmate checks and then fabricating log entries to conceal their failure. Surveillance footage showed both officers appeared to be sleeping and browsing the internet during their shifts. The charges were later dropped in May 2021 after both agreed to complete community service and cooperate with investigations.
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Tova Noel is mentioned in documents or reporting related to the Epstein case. Being mentioned does not imply any wrongdoing, criminal conduct, or inappropriate behavior.
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
Tova Anjanique Noel was a Correctional Officer employed by the Federal Bureau of Prisons at the Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) in New York City. According to BOP records, she was an active employee listed under the Bureau of Prisoners/Federal Prison System. Her middle name is listed as Anjanique in BOP personnel records. She was assigned to the Special Housing Unit (SHU) at the MCC, where high-profile and high-risk inmates were held.
Noel became a central figure in the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein's death on August 10, 2019. Along with co-worker Michael Thomas (a Material Handler who was not a correctional officer), she was one of only two staff members assigned to monitor the SHU during the overnight shift of August 9-10, 2019. Following Epstein's death, both were referred for investigation by BOP's Office of Internal Affairs to the DOJ Office of the Inspector General and were subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury.
After being charged, Noel was placed on administrative leave from the BOP. According to her defense attorney's correspondence, she applied for a Claims Specialist position with the Social Security Administration in Fall 2020 and a Contact Tracer position in January 2021, reflecting the employment consequences of the pending felony charges.
Epstein Connection
Tova Noel was one of the two correctional staff members assigned to monitor the SHU at MCC New York on the overnight shift of August 9-10, 2019, when Jeffrey Epstein was found dead in his cell. She and co-worker Michael Thomas were responsible for conducting mandatory inmate checks every 30 minutes but failed to do so and subsequently falsified prison logs to conceal their dereliction. Both were charged with federal crimes related to the falsification of records. Their failure to perform required rounds is central to the controversy and investigation surrounding Epstein's death in federal custody.
Key Allegations(7)
Noel and Michael Thomas failed to perform required inmate counts and rounds on the night of August 9-10, 2019, in the SHU where Epstein was housed.
documentedNoel and 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.
documentedBoth officers appeared to be sleeping and browsing the internet during their shifts based on surveillance footage.
documentedNoel and Thomas admitted to falsifying logs showing they conducted required checks while actually sleeping.
documentedNoel was seen on surveillance video walking up to each tier at approximately 10:30 p.m. on August 9, 2019.
documentedNoel and Thomas made a statement after Epstein's death, as documented in a memorandum from a Lieutenant.
documentedAt approximately 6:30 a.m. on August 10, Noel and Thomas began delivering breakfast to SHU inmates and discovered Epstein. Thomas unlocked the cell door, saw Epstein hanged, and yelled for Noel to get help and call for a medical emergency.
documentedLegal Status
Noel was charged by federal indictment with conspiracy and making false records (Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1001(a)(3) and 2) in connection with falsifying institutional count and round forms on the night of Jeffrey Epstein's death. The indictment was unsealed on November 19, 2019. The case was resolved through a deferred prosecution agreement in May 2021, which required Noel to complete community service and cooperate with investigations. As a condition of bail, Noel had surrendered a firearm and other property to the NYPD, which was later ordered returned by Judge Analisa Torres.
Contradictions(1)
Prison logs signed by Noel and Thomas indicated that required 30-minute inmate checks were performed throughout the night of August 9-10, 2019.
Surveillance footage and the officers' own admissions showed that no such checks were conducted; the logs were falsified. Both officers appeared to be sleeping and browsing the internet rather than performing rounds.
Key Relationships(3)
Michael Thomas was the other staff member (Material Handler) assigned to the SHU overnight shift with Noel on August 9-10, 2019. Both were co-defendants in case 19-cr-830 and both received deferred prosecution agreements.
Noel was the correctional officer assigned to monitor the SHU unit where Jeffrey Epstein was housed on the night of his death. She was responsible for conducting mandatory welfare checks on Epstein.
Nicholas Tartaglione was another inmate at MCC whose pending prosecution was referenced alongside the Noel/Thomas prosecution in FOIA litigation by the New York Times against BOP.
Timeline(14 events)
Noel began her overnight shift at the MCC SHU alongside Michael Thomas, responsible for monitoring the unit where Epstein was housed.
At approximately 10:30 p.m., Noel was seen on surveillance video walking up to each tier in the SHU.
Noel and Thomas failed to conduct required 12 a.m., 3 a.m., and 5 a.m. institutional counts, and instead created and submitted false count slips.
At approximately 6:30 a.m., Noel and Thomas began delivering breakfast to SHU inmates. Thomas unlocked Epstein's cell door, discovered Epstein hanged, and yelled for Noel to get help and call for a medical emergency.
BOP Office of Internal Affairs referred the matter involving Noel and Thomas to the DOJ Office of the Inspector General.
Public Corruption Unit update noted that neither Noel nor Thomas performed the scheduled counts on the night of Epstein's death.
Grand jury proceedings held in the case of United States v. Tova Noel and Michael Thomas (2019R01089).
Indictment unsealed charging Noel and Thomas with making false records and conspiring to make false records. Announced by U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman, DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz, and FBI Assistant Director William F. Sweeney Jr.
Defense counsel for Noel sent discovery requests to prosecutors regarding the MCC surveillance system.
Defense counsel requested Noel's complete personnel and training file from prosecutors pursuant to Fed. R. Crim. P. 16.
Prosecutors provided additional discovery materials to Noel's defense counsel in United States v. Tova Noel, No. 19 Cr. 830.
Defense attorney Jason E. Foy submitted a letter to prosecutors regarding collateral consequences of a felony conviction for Noel, noting she had been on administrative leave and had applied for other employment.
USAO-SDNY reported plans to offer deferred prosecution agreements to Noel and Thomas, requiring community service and cooperation with investigations.
Court granted order for release of firearm and other property surrendered by Noel to NYPD as a condition of bail, signed by Judge Analisa Torres.
At a Glance
Click values for sourcesSources
6 sources for document mentions
USA v. Thomas and Noel - Guard Misconduct Charges
2019-11-19
“Federal charges against MCC New York corrections officers Tova Noel and Michael Thomas for falsifyin”
FBI FD-302 - Investigation into Epstein Death (2019)
2019-08-15
“FBI interview summaries from the investigation into Epstein's death at MCC New York. Agents intervie”
The indictment charges TOVA NOEL and MICHAEL THOMAS with creating and submitting false count slips f...
“The indictment charges TOVA NOEL and MICHAEL THOMAS with creating and submitting false count slips f”
The indictment charges two correctional officers, TOVA NOEL and MICHAEL THOMAS, with conspiracy and ...
“The indictment charges two correctional officers, TOVA NOEL and MICHAEL THOMAS, with conspiracy and ”
The court grants an order for the release of a firearm and other property surrendered by defendant T...
“The court grants an order for the release of a firearm and other property surrendered by defendant T”
Sources
1 source for known connections
Co-Document Mentions
“Named alongside other network members in 7 documents”
Known Connections (2)
External Cross-Check
Search ICIJ Offshore Leaks, OFAC Sanctions, SEC EDGAR, and Federal Courts
Document Mentions
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