Three Colorado-based YouTubers say their latest shoot nearly turned into a real one after they jumped a fence at Jeffrey Epstein's former Zorro Ranch - now operating as San Rafael Ranch - outside Stanley, New Mexico. The men admit they trespassed to film content, were detained by ranch staff, and ultimately cited on petty-misdemeanor trespassing charges. Prosecutors reviewed an aggravated-assault referral tied to the encounter but did not file charges against the property manager, the visitors said.
What the visitors say happened
Ali Atfi, Mercius Louis and David Nguyen told a local station they climbed over a clearly posted fence and walked up toward the 13,000-square-foot hilltop house while recording on their phones. They say trucks pulled up, the group got separated, and one of them saw someone raise a handgun and fire. All three say they were then detained by ranch staff and handed over to Santa Fe County deputies, according to KOAT. The station's account says the men had no weapons and that the ranch later cited them for trespass.
Why this ranch is back in the spotlight
The episode comes amid fresh scrutiny of Epstein's New Mexico property after the U.S. Department of Justice released millions of related files and state officials reopened inquiries. New Mexico's attorney general ordered a new review and agents recently searched the ranch, according to AP. Local reporting has also followed the 2023 sale and rebranding of Zorro Ranch as San Rafael Ranch, tracing the new ownership to a holding company linked to a Texas family, The Santa Fe New Mexican found.
Prosecutor review and what did - and did not - happen next
Sheriff's deputies briefly investigated aggravated-assault allegations against the property's manager, but the district attorney's office later concluded there was not enough probable cause to pursue those charges, KOAT reports. The same police report says the manager acknowledged shooting and killing a rattlesnake that morning and refused to say whether he had fired at the men, telling investigators he would "lawyer up."
What New Mexico law actually allows
Under New Mexico law, deadly force is allowed only in narrow situations, chiefly when a person reasonably believes it is necessary to defend life or to stop a felony. Courts have repeatedly warned that using lethal force to protect property alone is not justified. The rule appears in NMSA §30-2-7 and in related jury instructions; the statute text is available at Justia.
For anyone tempted to treat the Zorro compound as a dark-history tourist stop, this incident is a blunt reminder that it is still a working, private ranch. Jumping posted fences can bring criminal penalties and real danger. The three men were cited for petty-misdemeanor trespassing - a charge that can carry fines and, in some cases, jail - and local officials continue to urge people to respect private-property warnings.
