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Dan Markel— Case Archive
personpersonBrian KendallBrian KendallFormer City of Plantation police officer assigned to a federal task force who placed the covert recording device during the 2016 Matsuri restaurant surveillance operation and testified to authenticate that recording.← All People
Law enforcementCity of Plantation Police Department

Brian Kendall

Courtroom still of Brian Kendall.

Former City of Plantation police officer assigned to a federal task force who placed the covert recording device during the 2016 Matsuri restaurant surveillance operation and testified to authenticate that recording.

AppearedCharlie AdelsonDonna Adelson
58 lines·6 proceedings·1 mention·2 trials

About

Brian Kendall was a Plantation Police Department officer assigned to the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force when he participated in a 2016 surveillance operation involving Charles and Harvey Adelson. Using a concealed audio-video device at the Matsuri restaurant in Miami, he recorded the two men and later authenticated the recording in both proceedings. The recording was admitted without objection as State's Exhibit 112 in the 2023 trial and State's Exhibit 131 in the 2025 trial. Kendall said he could not personally hear the conversation at the restaurant, and later explained that his review of the recording was limited to authentication and did not include audio clarification. He also acknowledged that his conduct while making the recording was probably suspicious to those being recorded.

Trial Record (6)

CACharlie AdelsonOct 26, 2023 – Nov 6, 2023Called by prosecution

On Day 4, Brian Kendall described a 2016 surveillance operation and authenticated a covert Matsuri recording admitted as State's Exhibit 112.

Day 4

DirectBrian Kendall - DirectBrian KendallGeorgia Cappleman2highlightsMentioned19lines spoken

Summary

Brian Kendall described and authenticated an undercover Matsuri restaurant recording of Charles and Harvey Adelson; the court admitted State's Exhibit 112 without objection.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Highlights (2)

DADonna AdelsonAug 22, 2025 – Sep 4, 2025Called by prosecution

On Day 4, Brian Kendall authenticated the concealed Matsuri restaurant recording admitted as State's Exhibit 131. The defense waived cross-examination.

Day 4

DirectBrian Kendall - DirectBrian KendallGeorgia Cappleman4highlights18lines spoken

Summary

Brian Kendall described covertly recording Charles and Harvey Adelson at a Miami restaurant, and the court admitted State's Exhibit 131 without objection.

Highlights (4)

Quote“Yeah. So when I entered the restaurant, I saw Mr. Charles Adelson and Mr. Harvey Adelson sitting at the sushi bar. There was an unoccupied stool next to Mr. Harvey Adelson. So I took a position directly next to Mr. Harvey Adelson because it was extremely loud in the restaurant. I put the bag directly on the sushi bar between myself and Mr. Harvey Adelson.”— Brian KendallKendall described how he positioned the concealed recording device during the surveillance.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
Quote“I think it was pretty obvious that my actions were probably a little suspicious to them; correct.”— Brian KendallKendall acknowledged that he believed the surveillance effort may have drawn suspicion.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶