Day 8 - May 17, 2019

Charles Fontanelli completed testimony about cash and other items seized from Nancy Salzman’s house. He described evidence handling and reported a total of $515,577. For item 64, however, he gave a count of $50,637 and identified deposit records showing $15,670; the difference was not explained. He acknowledged that he had not personally deposited the money or processed the seized electronic devices. On cross-examination, he agreed that possessing cash was not itself illegal. The court limited questioning about a box’s contents to what he had observed, leaving further examination for another witness. Sean Welch authenticated ExtremeRestraints.com purchase records and product descriptions. A May 26, 2017 order shipped; a May 28 order was canceled without shipment. Welch attributed the cancellation to a likely billing-and-shipping mismatch but said further information was unavailable. On cross-examination, he agreed that selling the products was legal and, to his knowledge, buying them was legal. Further questioning addressed consent and safe words. His answers about consensual adult activity did not establish any particular person’s consent. Lauren Salzman began direct testimony, disclosing her guilty plea to racketeering and racketeering conspiracy. She admitted participating with Keith Raniere and others in Daniela’s confinement under threat of return to Mexico and in obtaining and extorting DOS property through false pretenses, including concealing Raniere’s involvement. She described secret DOS meetings, required nude group photographs, her relationship with Raniere, promises of children, and reliance on his approval. She also acknowledged persuading unhappy women to stay. The court admitted her ethical-breach plan and charts depicting Raniere’s inner circle and DOS first-line members.