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A chef with deep roots in the Long Island dining scene is among the individuals listed in email correspondence with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein in documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Francis Derby’s name appears in at least 1,321 documents contained in the federal release — a collection Greater Long Island is continuing to review. The Justice Department documents reviewed do not contain allegations of criminal wrongdoing against Derby.
Derby confirmed to Greater Long Island on Wednesday that he worked for Epstein in 2012 and said his role was limited to kitchen duties. He stated that when he was hired as a cook for Epstein in May 2012, he “had no knowledge of who Mr. Epstein was and was unaware of any allegations of misconduct.”
“My role was to procure food, plan meals, and provide culinary service. My responsibilities were in the kitchen,” Derby, 48, said in a written statement. “My only time outside the kitchen was serving meals in the dining room and staff quarters, and I was directed to avoid common areas.”
The Bellport native said he stopped working for Epstein on his own accord in November 2012.
Derby began his culinary career as a teenager, working the line in a family member’s restaurant in Suffolk County. He later expanded his experience overseas, spending time cooking in Spain before returning to New York to continue building out an impressive résumé in high-profile Manhattan kitchens.
Over the years, he worked in prominent restaurants on Long Island’s North and South Shores. His New York City experience includes time at The Cannibal, a Murray Hill neighborhood restaurant that was known for its whole-animal butchery program and craft beer focus.
What the documents show
Emails from 2012 included in the federal release show Derby corresponding about meal planning, travel scheduling and operational matters connected to Epstein’s properties in Palm Beach, Florida; New Mexico; and Little Saint James, a private island in the U.S. Virgin Islands that was owned by Epstein.
In a July 18, 2012, email Derby sent to Epstein, the chef discusses the benefit of planting sea grape trees on “the island.”
“Ok spoke to her about the sea grapes. She has lots of sea grapes. She recommends we put them all over the island to help cool down the earth,” Derby wrote to Epstein, according to Justice Department documents. “My impression is this will help the soil from drying out and allow the other plants to flourish.”
Later that year, in an Oct. 16 email to Epstein, Derby asks for a Sunday off in order to celebrate his engagement with his fiancé and family in New York.
“I would like to request a sunday off in November either 4,11,18 or 25th which ever sunday would work best for your schedule. Me and my new fiance are trying to plan a small family engagement party to celebrate the good news,” he wrote, according to the Justice Department documents. “Any sunday in november would be great, if not perhaps we can work out one if the first sundays in december… 2nd or 9th. again whenever you know, and whenever its best for you.
“Thank you and I look foward to cooking for you again soon, hopefully some stews and chocolate cream pie,” Derby concluded the correspondence.
Additional emails from that period show Derby discussing menus, ingredient sourcing and kitchen logistics tied to Epstein’s residences. The correspondence includes references to travel planning and scheduling around those properties, as well as operational communications typical of a private chef role.
Among the records is a garden and landscaping proposal for Little Saint James submitted by Josephine Roller of Coral Bay Garden Center. The documents show Derby forwarding proposals and communicating about plant selections and materials, including references to pineapples, sea grapes and compost.
The Justice Department documents reviewed reflect Derby relaying proposals and communicating about related logistics during his employment. They do not indicate he designed the landscaping plan or supervised construction.
A November 2012 email from Epstein associate Richard Kahn referencing COBRA, health insurance and petty cash aligns with Derby’s statement that his employment ended that month.
Earlier that fall, several email exchanges between Derby and Epstein or between the chef and Epstein’s associates suggest there was tension at work.
“I dont know what to say… I’ve been there for 3 days preparing for JEs arrival and now im in the dog house because he didnt know I was there,” Derby wrote in an Oct. 20 email with the subject line, “Re: Je’ s return,” according to the document released by the Justice Department.
“I have snacks made in the fridge and all kinds of food ready to cook for him upon his return… Steak, beef stew, chicken soup, chocolate cream pie,” he added.
2016 contact with Epstein’s team
An email exchange from late 2016 and early 2017 between Kahn and Derby — and forwarded to Epstein — suggests the chef had later contact with Epstein’s team.
“Hope all your holidays went well. I’ve just returned from traveling and im back in NYC. I have given a lot of thought to returning. I believe I can commit 5 months to start and we can review after month 3 or 4 and see if there will be a possiblity of my staying a bit longer given what happens in that time,” Derby wrote in a Dec. 26, 2012, note to Kahn. “WE can also discuss finding a replacement towards the end of my time there that i can train for the position. If we decide to go through I will need to give at least 4-6 weeks notice with my present job. I’m happy to meet with you or je and discuss this further.”
Kahn wrote separately to Epstein on Nov. 18, 2012, about Derby’s employment status.
“i spoke with him yesterday he is working at restaurant cannibal but wants to leave as he asked for =quity in biz and they said no he ultimately wants to open his open restaurant but wants to take off =-12 months to clear his head during that time off he said he would be available if you were =nterested please advise thank you.”
The documents reviewed do not show that Derby returned to work for Epstein after that email. They came as part of Congress’s passage of the Epstein Files Transparency Act in November 2025. The bipartisan bill compelled the DOJ to publicly release documents and records related to Epstein investigation.
Epstein was arrested in 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges and died in jail while awaiting trial.
The DOJ records do not suggest any allegations against Derby or indicate that he is under investigation.
Top: Francis Derby, a Bellport native and chef, in a Long Island kitchen in 2024. (Credit: GLI file photo)
