Charles Fontanelli

Charles Fontanelli testified for the prosecution on Day 7 and Day 8 about investigative locations and evidence recovered from Nancy Salzman's residence. A New York State Police investigator serving as an FBI task force officer, he used maps and photographs to describe NXIVM-related properties, including 17 properties within a 1.3-mile radius.

On direct examination, Fontanelli authenticated two email-account search warrant returns and described photographing the March 27, 2018 search at 3 Oregon Trail. He identified a seized Apple laptop, linked seven already-admitted document exhibits to it, and identified an already-admitted box of files recovered from the lower floor. He read folder labels but said his examination of the box had been cursory rather than an in-depth review.

Fontanelli also described cash recovered from a crawl space and a bedroom closet, explaining how investigators sealed, transported, secured, and counted it. He reported a three-deposit total of $515,577. His testimony gave conflicting amounts for one shoebox, evidence item 64: $50,637 from the count form and $15,670 from deposit records. The difference was not explained. He acknowledged that he had not personally deposited the money.

Under cross-examination by Teny Geragos, Fontanelli confirmed that the FBI computer evidence team, not he, had processed the seized devices. He agreed that investigators recovered more devices than expected and that possessing cash was not itself illegal. When Geragos sought to question him about the contents of the recovered files, the court limited the inquiry to the box and names he had observed, explaining that another witness would address the contents. Cross-examination concluded with handwritten folder labels, and there was no redirect.