Ghislaine Maxwell's 'lieutenant' who 'recruited' girls for Epstein is fighting with neighbors who are furious over construction at her $10m NYC penthouse

  • Sarah Kellen, 41, and husband Brian Vickers are in Manhattan neighbor dispute
  • Kellen was accused of helping Gislaine Maxwell recruit girls for Jeffrey Epstein
  • She denies the claims and says she was a victim of the sex predator's abuse
  • Now Kellen's neighbors at NYC condo are complaining of constant construction
  • Vickers, a NASCAR driver, also sits on the condo building's five-member board
  • Residents of the building are complaining about massive fee assessments
  • Lawyer for the board say no fees have been improperly assessed

A woman accused of helping Ghislaine Maxwell recruit 'sex slaves' for Jeffrey Epstein is now in a squabble with neighbors at the ritzy Manhattan condo where she lives with her NASCAR-driver husband.

Sarah Kellen, 41, and her husband Brian Vickers, 37, are the subject of ire among neighbors at the SoHo condo building on Greene Street, where Vickers leads the condo board, the New York Post reported on Saturday.

Neighbors told the Post they are fed up with the couple's constant noisy renovations in their $10 million penthouse, as well as massive fee assessments imposed by Vickers and the other board members.

Kellen met Epstein when she was 18, and spent around a decade working as his personal assistant. She was named in court documents a 'potential co-conspirator' in the late financier's sex trafficking plots, but has always insisted vehemently that she was a victim of his sick abuse, and not a participant. 

Sarah Kellen, 41, and her husband Brian Vickers, 37, (together above) are the subject of ire among neighbors at the SoHo condo building on Greene Street

Sarah Kellen, 41, and her husband Brian Vickers, 37, (together above) are the subject of ire among neighbors at the SoHo condo building on Greene Street

Jeffrey Epstein is seen walking with Sarah Kellen along Madison Avenue in New York City in 2012. Kellen was named in court documents a 'potential co-conspirator' in the late financier's sex trafficking plots, but has always insisted vehemently that she was a victim of his sick abuse

Jeffrey Epstein is seen walking with Sarah Kellen along Madison Avenue in New York City in 2012. Kellen was named in court documents a 'potential co-conspirator' in the late financier's sex trafficking plots, but has always insisted vehemently that she was a victim of his sick abuse

Neighbors at Kellen and Vicker's Greene Street condo say they are fed up with the couple's constant noisy renovations in their $10 million penthouse, as well as massive fee assessments imposed by Vickers and the other board members

Neighbors at Kellen and Vicker's Greene Street condo say they are fed up with the couple's constant noisy renovations in their $10 million penthouse, as well as massive fee assessments imposed by Vickers and the other board members

Kellen reportedly cut ties with Epstein after his first arrest in Florida in 2008, and gained immunity through the deal he struck with prosecutors. In 2013 she married her longtime boyfriend Vickers.

Little has been seen of Kellen over the years, but she and Vickers reappeared in New York after Maxwell was arrested in July. 

It has led to speculation that Kellen might testify against Maxwell, who is charged with enticement of minors, sex trafficking of children, and perjury. Maxwell has pleaded not guilty.

Meanwhile, neighbors at the 14-unit Mercer Greene condo building, where Lindsay Lohan once live, tell the Post that they are fed up with the construction racket from Kellen and Vickers' penthouse.

'It's the other homeowners that have to put up with it,' one condo owner complained, noting that the couple are rarely in town.  

According to a lawsuit from one renovation firm alleging unpaid bills, the work on the couple's penthouse included a 'shoe pullout wardrobe cabinet' and teak adornments to the shower door. 

In 2013 Kellen married her longtime boyfriend Vickers, after cutting ties with Epstein following his initial arrest in 2008

In 2013 Kellen married her longtime boyfriend Vickers, after cutting ties with Epstein following his initial arrest in 2008

Little has been seen of Kellen over the years, but she and Vickers reappeared in New York after Maxwell was arrested in July, leading to speculation she might testify against Maxwell

Little has been seen of Kellen over the years, but she and Vickers reappeared in New York after Maxwell was arrested in July, leading to speculation she might testify against Maxwell

The entire building has also been plagued with constant construction work for years, dating back to before Vickers became board president in 2015, leading to inconvenience and high fees for owners.

One condo owner told the Post that they've been charged $100,000 in assessments in the last five years. 

A lawyer acting on behalf of Mercer Greene Condominium and the board said that its members have never 'improperly caused an assessment to be imposed on all owners for personal gain,' or 'engaged in executing improper contracts for construction work.' 

Vickers did not respond to an inquiry from the Post and could not be reached by DailyMail.com. He last raced NASCAR in 2016, stepping back due to heath issues, and it's unclear whether he intends to return to the sport.

Epstein's controversial 2008 federal non-prosecution agreement extended immunity to four 'potential co-conspirators' including Sarah Kellen and fellow executive assistants Adriana Ross, Lesley Groff and Nadia Marcinkova.

It meant Kellen could not face federal charges, despite multiple girls describing how she would book them for massages and greet them they as arrived at Epstein's Palm Beach mansion before escorting them upstairs and laying out massage oils.

According to police reports, one victim recalled Kellen and Maxwell instructing her on how to please their depraved boss. Others claimed the pair had warned them not to speak out about what was happening.

In the subsequent slew of civil lawsuits, Kellen (left) was referred to 'an assistant to Ghislaine', her second in command and even the socialite's 'lieutenant'. They are seen together in 2005

In the subsequent slew of civil lawsuits, Kellen (left) was referred to 'an assistant to Ghislaine', her second in command and even the socialite's 'lieutenant'. They are seen together in 2005

Maxwell, seen in a court sketch, is currently being held without bail and faces trial in July

Maxwell, seen in a court sketch, is currently being held without bail and faces trial in July

In the subsequent slew of civil lawsuits, Kellen was referred to 'an assistant to Ghislaine', her second in command and even the socialite's 'lieutenant'.

'Sarah was really running that organization, bringing girls and getting them in and out of the Palm Beach home,' Spencer T. Kuvin, a lawyer representing several accusers, told the New York Times.

She was also well compensated: Epstein divulged in a 2005 interview that he paid his closest assistants $200,000 a year.

Epstein died behind bars in 2019 in what authorities ruled a suicide. Maxwell is currently being held without bail and faces trial in July, and speculation has swirled that federal investigators will target other assistants in Epstein's orbit. 

But Kellen has spoken out to vehemently deny the allegations that she aided in Epstein's devious sex schemes.

'I've been made out to be such a monster — but it's not true. I'm a victim of Jeffrey Epstein. I was raped and abused weekly,' she told the Sun last month.

Kellen's devoutly religious parents Thomas and Mary Kellen told DailyMail.com in July that their daughter was naive and vulnerable when she met Epstein.

'What happened to all those girls is horrendous but I do feel that Sarah was also a victim. I'm not a psychologist or a psychiatrist but I can see she was maneuvered or brainwashed,' said Mary.

Thomas and Mary expressed fear that after Maxwell's arrest, their daughter would be next - a fate they insist she does not deserve. 

'I just hope someone doesn't go and kill her,' Mary said. 'There are a lot of prominent, powerful people out there that don't want anything said.' 

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