Editor’s note: This article cites several emails with spelling and grammatical errors, as well as some that contain profanity. These emails are quoted verbatim, with [sic] inserted to indicate that the error belongs to the source.
This article is part of a series on Jeffrey Epstein’s connections to Cornell University. Find the other pieces here.
Real estate developer and School of Industrial and Labor Relations alumnus Russell Hernandez ’88 was hired by convicted child sex offender and financier Jeffrey Epstein in 2018 to oversee development and renovation projects on Epstein’s private island, Little St. James, and his Manhattan residences, according to files released by the Department of Justice on Jan. 30.
Hernandez appears hundreds of times in the files, all after Epstein’s 2008 conviction of child prostitution, but seems to have corresponded with Epstein only in a professional capacity.
According to the first correspondence between the two in a January 2018 email, Hernandez and his company, Atlantic State Consultants, appeared to be hired by Epstein to oversee renovation projects.. Emails show that Hernandez traveled one time in January 2018 to Epstein’s island and visited Epstein’s Manhattan residence multiple times in his capacity as a consultant on construction projects .
In the 2018 email to Epstein, Hernandez stated that Atlantic State Consultants would oversee the architects, consultants, contractors and planners involved in the project from “pre-construction through its completion.” The email stated that the company charged a “pre-construction monthly fee” of $35,000 plus reimbursement for travel expenses such as airfare, car rentals, lodging and meals.
Hernandez ended the email to Epstein stating, “Jeffrey, please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or comments, without the ‘formalities’ we will do whatever we need to do to get your project built.”
Emails between Hernandez and Epstein show that projects on the island included installing a pool and replacing floor tiles. In Epstein’s Manhattan residence, Hernandez oversaw projects including renovating a steam room, a bathroom and a master bedroom.
Files also show that around one month into Hernandez’ professional engagement with Epstein, Epstein expressed frustrations with Hernandez’ apparent lack of progress on his projects.
In a Feb. 27, 2018 email, Epstein wrote to Hernandez “you have not even been able to ge us a bid to fix a generator… though you have touted y=ur connections, and promised to deliver last friday. I am an=accountant. there are either results or not results , someone t=lling me they spend 100 hours and didnt deliveer anything they promised is the way lawyers work. :) [sic].”
Epstein and Hernandez appear to have stopped corresponding in April 2018. Epstein died by suicide in August 2019.
In April 2022, Hernandez received the Jerome Alpern Award, an ILR alumni award, “in recognition of his success and longtime dedication to the ILR School.” The press release stated that Hernandez has maintained a strong connection to the ILR school, serving on the Dean’s Advisory Council, the Development/Campaign Committee and making yearly calls to solicit gifts.
According to the ILR school’s website, “The Jerome Alpern Award was established in 1997 and named in honor of Jerome Alpern ’49, whose contributions of outstanding service and support to the ILR School, its students, and its alumni, combined with his professional accomplishments outside the field of industrial and labor relations, embody the essence and spirit of the Alpern Award.”
The Sun was unable to reach Hernandez for comment after attempts were made through contacting his firm, Atlantic State Consultants. A University Spokesperson declined to comment on this story.
