Jennifer Percival, director of Florida Atlantic University's autism center, pleaded guilty to wire fraud after admitting she altered a rejection letter from one Epstein compensation program to obtain $750,000 from a separate JPMorgan-funded settlement. Prosecutors say she falsely claimed a prior $500,000 payment and submitted fabricated documents; investigators later obtained the authentic denial. Percival has paid $776,031 in restitution, was released on a $50,000 bond, and faces an advisory sentencing range of 37 to 46 months.
Florida Academic Pleads Guilty After Altering Epstein Fund Letter to Secure $750,000
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Jennifer Percival, a 46-year-old director at Florida Atlantic University's Center for Autism and Related Disabilities, pleaded guilty in federal court to wire fraud after admitting she altered a rejection letter from one Jeffrey Epstein compensation program and used the falsified document to obtain $750,000 from a separate settlement fund.
Percival entered her plea on Sept. 14 in U.S. District Court in Manhattan, the same day she was charged. Court records state she originally applied to the Epstein Victims' Compensation Program funded by Epstein's estate and was found ineligible; those records do not disclose why that first claim was denied.
When Percival later applied to a separate $290 million settlement fund tied to litigation against JPMorgan Chase, she represented that the estate-backed program had approved her claim and paid roughly $500,000. Prosecutors say she achieved this by altering the original rejection letter and submitting that falsified document to the JPMorgan settlement administrators. The administrators relied on the information and wired $750,000 to Percival in May 2024.
Investigation and Plea
Federal agents obtained the genuine decision from the estate-backed program and interviewed Percival voluntarily in November 2025. According to court filings, when shown the authentic rejection letter she falsely told agents she had successfully appealed and been approved. Prosecutors also say she provided fabricated emails and replacement correspondence to a lawyer during efforts to negotiate a deferred prosecution agreement.
Evidence that would have been presented at trial included bank records, materials seized under a search warrant for Percival's email account, and testimony from an administrator connected to the two compensation programs, prosecutors said.
Restitution, Bond and Sentencing Range
Percival arrived at her plea hearing with a check for $776,031, the restitution amount she was ordered to repay. She told the court she understood her conduct was wrongful and accepted responsibility. She was released on a $50,000 personal recognizance bond while awaiting sentencing; no sentencing date had been set when the plea became public.
Under the plea agreement, the advisory federal sentencing range is calculated at 37 to 46 months in prison. That range is advisory, and the sentencing judge is not required to impose a sentence within it.
Context and Takeaways for Claimants
The $290 million settlement with JPMorgan Chase resulted from litigation alleging the bank failed to act on warning signs about Epstein while providing him banking services. That settlement fund was separate from the compensation program financed by Epstein's estate, which had already ruled on Percival's earlier application.
Claimants should submit original or accurate copies of requested documents and describe prior decisions or payments truthfully. If an error is discovered after filing, notify the settlement administrator or counsel to correct the record. Altering documents, fabricating emails, or creating replacement correspondence can expose an applicant to criminal charges in addition to civil denial.
People contacted about a settlement should confirm they are dealing with the official, court-appointed administrator before sharing sensitive personal or financial information. Administrator details, court records and filing deadlines can usually be verified through official court filings or settlement notices.
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