Founder of Nardello & Co. LLC, a private investigation firm. Former Assistant US Attorney in the SDNY who was responsible for the criminal investigation of the Towers Financial fraud case, the $475M Ponzi scheme involving Steven Hoffenberg (Jeffrey Epstein's business partner). Later hired by Paul Weiss (Karp/Reisner) to conduct one-party-consent recordings of Leon Black's meetings with women at NYC restaurants in 2015. Transcripts were sent to Karp and Reisner, who forwarded them to Jeffrey Epstein. Jeffrey Epstein asked for surveillance reports and bills, indicating involvement in the operation. JPMorgan records show Jeffrey Epstein paid Nardello a $150,000 retainer (Oct 2007). In direct iMessage contact with Jeffrey Epstein in June 2019, coordinating a connection with Kathy Ruemmler. Karp recommended Nardello in March 2019: 'I use Nardello, who I think is better at these types of matters.' 29 documents in EFTA releases.
Key Findings
- EFTA00182748: As AUSA, Nardello was 'responsible for the criminal investigation surrounding the affairs of Towers' - the Hoffenberg/Towers Financial fraud ($475M Ponzi scheme). Hoffenberg was Jeffrey Epstein's business partner
- EFTA00590667 (Aug 14, 2015): Nardello & Co. memo to Karp and Reisner, transcript of covertly recorded lunch at Le Bernardin between 'JD' (Leon Black) and a woman. Recording 'made with the consent of JD'
- EFTA01128746 (Aug 13, 2015): Nardello & Co. transcript of recorded lunch at Four Seasons between 'JD' and 'GG' (Guzel Ganieva), Ganieva demanded $100M, Black offered $15M, threatened criminal prosecution
- EFTA02488776 (Aug 25, 2015): Tara MacMillan sent transcript to Karp/Reisner on behalf of 'Dan and Jim' - Karp forwarded to Jeffrey Epstein with 'Just in, Jeffrey.' Jeffrey Epstein replied: 'sureveillance? report also bill to date?'
- EFTA00483495 / EFTA02716245 (Oct 19, 2015): Jim Nauwens (Nardello MD) sent transcript to Karp and Reisner, cc'ing Dan Nardello, Michael Ramos, Tara MacMillan. Karp forwarded to Jeffrey Epstein: 'Very good meeting'
- EFTA01482878 (Oct 2007): JPMorgan bank statement, $150,000 payment from Jeffrey Epstein's account to 'Nardello And CO Llc' described as 'Retainer Agreement'
- EFTA01482884 (Nov 2007): $99,182.94 wire FROM Nardello TO Jeffrey Epstein's JPMorgan account, unusual reverse payment (refund or reimbursement)
- EFTA01612358 (June 2-18, 2019): Direct iMessage thread between Jeffrey Epstein and Nardello, 'Dan, jeff Epstein, when would be convenient to speak.' Jeffrey Epstein: 'Kathy will make contact over the weekend.' Nardello: 'Never eats from her.' Later: 'I did and she will fill you in'
- EFTA01612486 (June 4, 2019): SMS from Nardello: 'I never heard from Kathy Rummler' - confirming the 'Kathy' was Kathy Ruemmler
- EFTA00508003 (June 1, 2019): Jeffrey Epstein's phone, someone texts 'DAN NARDELLO / Text him tomorrow morning for a time to talk'
- EFTA02637332 (March 30, 2019): Karp told someone 'I use Nardello, who I think is better at these types of matters' - email in Jeffrey Epstein's corpus