Law enforcementFBI

Oscar Jimenez Jr.

Retired FBI special agent who conducted the April 19, 2016 undercover street approach to Donna Adelson in Miami.

AppearedGarcia–Magbanua Magbanua Retrial Charlie Adelson Donna Adelson

625 lines·19 proceedings·2 mentions·4 trials

About

Retired FBI Special Agent Oscar Jimenez Jr. testified about an April 2016 undercover operation in which he posed as a gang member, approached Donna Adelson near her Miami-area residence, and gave her a flyer bearing a covert telephone number and a $5,000 figure. He said the operation was designed to generate information and conversation that investigators could record through an intercepted telephone line. His testimony authenticated or established the foundation for the flyer, audio and video of the encounter, and recordings or other materials connected to calls made after the contact. He also testified in the 2019 trial that Charles Adelson later called the covert number. Defense questioning examined the operation's planning and tactics, Jimenez's knowledge of gangs, the absence of any payment, his limited recollection of some later contacts, and the FBI's failure to retain an exact copy of the flyer.

Trial Record (19)

GMGarcia–MagbanuaSep 26, 2019 – Oct 11, 2019Called by prosecution

During Day 6 testimony, retired FBI Special Agent Oscar Jimenez Jr. described an April 2016 undercover contact with Donna Adelson and authenticated related recordings. Cross-examination tested the operation's design, his knowledge, and his memory of the flyer used in the contact.

Day 6

Oct 4, 2019

DirectOscar Jimenez Jr. - DirectOscar Jimenez Jr.Georgia Cappleman3highlights76lines spoken

Summary

FBI agent Oscar Jimenez Jr. authenticated recordings of a 2016 undercover contact with Donna Adelson and testified that Charles Adelson later called the covert number.

Highlights (3)

evidence eventJimenez authenticated and the court admitted recordings of the April 2016 undercover contact and follow-up call; the recordings were then published to the jury.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

Quote“Well, the purpose of a bump is to approach the target or the individual and try to start a conversation or elicit some type of information or give some type of information.”— Oscar Jimenez Jr.Jimenez explained the stated purpose of the undercover operation.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

testimony highlightJimenez testified that Charles Adelson called the covert number provided during the undercover operation on April 28, 2016.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

CrossOscar Jimenez Jr. - CrossOscar Jimenez Jr.Saam Zangeneh2highlightsMentioned41lines spoken

Summary

Garcia's counsel challenged the undercover bump's preparation and scope; Jimenez described his instructions and limits on his knowledge.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Highlights (2)

testimony highlightJimenez acknowledged he had no direct knowledge of how Miami gangs operate, despite his general undercover gang experience.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

Quote“I've had gang experience working as an undercover, not necessarily directly with the Latin Kings so -- but I do know how gangs operate and work.”— Oscar Jimenez Jr.Jimenez qualified his experience by distinguishing general undercover gang work from direct experience with the Latin Kings.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

CrossOscar Jimenez Jr. - CrossOscar Jimenez Jr.Christopher DeCoste2highlights52lines spoken

Summary

Defense counsel tested the undercover bump's planning, Jimenez's memory of the flyer, and the absence of the original flyer.

Highlights (2)

impeachmentJimenez acknowledged that his deposition testimony said he could not recall exactly how the note was written, while testifying that he remembered a phone number and a $5,000 amount.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

Quote“Look, I've been in the undercover -- I've been doing undercover for over 20 years, and that doesn't happen every time. So no, it -- it all depends on the situation.”— Oscar Jimenez Jr.Jimenez rejected the suggestion that aerial surveillance was a standard feature of every undercover operation.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

KMMagbanua RetrialMay 18, 2022 – May 27, 2022Called by prosecution

Retired FBI Special Agent Oscar Jimenez Jr. described an undercover contact with Donna Adelson, the flyer he gave her, and related recordings and calls. Questioning also addressed the FBI's failure to preserve an exact copy of the flyer and details recorded in his FBI 302 report.

Day 5

May 24, 2022

DirectOscar Jimenez Jr. - DirectOscar Jimenez Jr.Georgia Cappleman5highlights57lines spoken

Summary

FBI agent Oscar Jimenez Jr. described an undercover encounter with Donna Adelson; the court admitted the flyer and recordings of that encounter.

Highlights (5)

testimony highlightJimenez explained that he portrayed a Latin King member in an undercover operation and was assigned to approach Donna Adelson with a flyer.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

Quote“In this operation I was portraying myself as a Latin King member, and my job was to initiate a bump.”— Oscar Jimenez Jr.Explains Jimenez's assigned undercover role.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

rulingOver a best-evidence objection, the court admitted State's Exhibit 83, the substantially similar flyer Jimenez said he handed Donna Adelson.Open in transcript →

testimony highlightJimenez testified that he later called the Adelson Institute in an additional effort to prompt conversation on the wire.Open in transcript →

Show all 5 highlights

Quote“I was trying to get Mrs. Adelson on the phone and also the purpose -- to tickle the wire.”— Oscar Jimenez Jr.States the stated purpose of the call to the Adelson Institute.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

CrossOscar Jimenez Jr. - CrossOscar Jimenez Jr.Christopher DeCoste3highlights32lines spoken

Summary

Jimenez agreed the FBI did not preserve an exact copy of the document given to Donna Adelson and said the undercover bump was designed to activate the wire.

Highlights (3)

testimony highlightJimenez explained that, in this operation, the bump was intended to activate or “tickle” the wire and observe what followed.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

Quote“The purpose of the bump was to activate or tickle the wire.”— Oscar Jimenez Jr.Jimenez described the stated investigative purpose of the undercover contact.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

Quote“I just did as I was instructed.”— Oscar Jimenez Jr.Jimenez said his use of names during the contact followed instructions rather than his own decision.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

RedirectOscar Jimenez Jr. - RedirectOscar Jimenez Jr.Georgia Cappleman1highlight4lines spoken

Summary

Jimenez confirmed his FBI report recorded the undercover phone number and, he believed, the $5,000 amount on the paper.

Highlights (1)

testimony highlightJimenez confirmed that his 302 report contained the undercover phone number previously read to the jury and, to his belief, the $5,000 amount written on the paper.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

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

FBI Special Agent Oscar Jimenez Jr. described an undercover contact intended to generate conversation on a wiretap and authenticated related flyer, recording, and call materials. Cross-examination addressed the operation's result and his limited recollection of later contacts.

Day 4

Oct 31, 2023

DirectOscar Jimenez Jr. - DirectOscar Jimenez Jr.Georgia Cappleman4highlights37lines spoken

Summary

FBI agent Oscar Jimenez Jr. authenticated the undercover contact, recordings, and call materials involving Donna Adelson; the court admitted the related State exhibits.

Highlights (4)

testimony highlightJimenez explained that he portrayed a Latin King gang member during an undercover contact intended to generate conversation on a wiretap.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

Quote“My role in that operation, I was portraying a Latin King gang member, and I was instructed to conduct the bump.”— Oscar Jimenez Jr.Jimenez described his assigned role in the undercover operation.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

evidence eventThe court admitted State's Exhibit 78, which Jimenez identified as a fair and accurate copy of the flyer given to Donna Adelson, and State's Exhibit 105, the audio-and-video recording of the contact.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

Quote“So the cell number right there is my undercover or covert phone number, and the $5,000 was what was expected to be received from Ms. Donna Adelson.”— Oscar Jimenez Jr.Jimenez identified the contact number and requested amount appearing on the flyer.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

CrossOscar Jimenez Jr. - CrossOscar Jimenez Jr.Dan Rashbaum4highlights67lines spoken

Summary

Defense counsel questioned FBI agent Oscar Jimenez Jr. about the undercover operation, an unretained flyer, and his limited recollection of later calls and messages.

Highlights (4)

testimony highlightJimenez said he later learned that no copy of the flyer provided during the undercover contact had been kept.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

testimony highlightJimenez testified that the operation was intended to prompt activity on the wire and said, to his knowledge, no money was paid.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

Quote“That was the intention, to stimulate or tickle the wire.”— Oscar Jimenez Jr.The agent described the intended purpose of the undercover contact.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

Quote“I was. And, quite frankly, I was instructed to be not so gang-like with Donna Adelson.”— Oscar Jimenez Jr.The agent described instructions governing his undercover approach to Donna Adelson.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

DirectPatrick Sanford - Direct (Recall)Patrick SanfordGeorgia Cappleman3lines spoken

Summary

Sanford authenticated wiretap and undercover recordings, described the 2016 bump and ensuing calls, and helped introduce related exhibits.

Day 5

Nov 1, 2023

DirectPatrick Sanford - Direct (Recall, Continued)Patrick SanfordGeorgia Cappleman52lines spoken

Summary

Sanford continued explaining undercover recordings and call sequences; the court admitted key exhibits, addressed a foundation objection, and replayed audio to clarify a disputed reference.

Day 6

Nov 2, 2023

DirectCharlie Adelson - Direct (Part 5)Charlie AdelsonDan Rashbaum11lines spoken

Summary

Charlie Adelson said he viewed the threatening calls and letter as a claimed extortion, not evidence of involvement in Dan Markel's murder.

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

Testifying on Day 4, former FBI agent Oscar Jimenez Jr. described the recorded 2016 undercover contact with Donna Adelson and established the foundation for the flyer, encounter recordings, and associated-call recordings introduced by the State.

Day 4

Aug 27, 2025

DirectOscar Jimenez Jr. - DirectOscar Jimenez Jr.Georgia Cappleman4highlights41lines spoken

Summary

Former FBI agent Oscar Jimenez Jr. described an undercover contact with Donna Adelson and authenticated the flyer, recordings, and related calls admitted as State's Exhibits 83, 112, and 117.

Highlights (4)

testimony highlightJimenez described his role in the FBI undercover operation: posing as a gang member to contact Donna Adelson and prompt activity on an intercepted phone line.Open in transcript →

Quote“Yes. So my role in the operation was of a gang member. And what I was instructed to do was to contact and bump Donna Adelson.”— Oscar Jimenez Jr.Jimenez directly described the assigned purpose of the undercover contact.Open in transcript →

evidence eventThe court admitted State's Exhibit 83, the flyer Jimenez said he handed to Donna Adelson during the operation.Open in transcript →

Quote“It was audio and video recorded, yes.”— Oscar Jimenez Jr.Jimenez confirmed that the undercover contact was recorded.Open in transcript →

sidebarGang Portrayal Testimony LimitsDuring Oscar Jimenez Jr. - Direct2lines spoken

Summary

The sidebar addressed the permissible scope of testimony about the witness's gang-member portrayal during an operation.

CrossOscar Jimenez Jr. - CrossOscar Jimenez Jr.Jackie L. Fulford4highlights67lines spoken

Summary

Jimenez said the flyer, follow-up text, and calls were part of the undercover effort, but no $5,000 payment was made.

Highlights (4)

testimony highlightJimenez said the $5,000 amount appeared on the flyer but that he did not state a dollar amount aloud during the encounter.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

testimony highlightJimenez testified that the investigative team instructed him to write the May 4 text and described its more aggressive language as consistent with an extortion-style message.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

Quote“That's what I was told to write, yes.”— Oscar Jimenez Jr.Jimenez said the investigative team directed the wording of the May 4 text message.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

Quote“I'm just looking for her to send the money.”— Oscar Jimenez Jr.Jimenez described the stated objective of the undercover contact.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

RedirectOscar Jimenez Jr. - RedirectOscar Jimenez Jr.Georgia Cappleman1line spoken

Summary

Jimenez said Donna Adelson was alone during the undercover approach, and the defense retained the option to recall him.

DirectPatrick Sanford - Direct (Part 1)Patrick SanfordGeorgia Cappleman3lines spoken

Summary

FBI agent Patrick Sanford described Prius corroboration, authenticated wiretap and undercover-contact evidence, and recounted the calls and surveillance that followed the contact.

Day 5

Aug 28, 2025

DirectPatrick Sanford - Direct (Part 2)Patrick SanfordGeorgia CapplemanMentioned52lines spoken

Summary

Sanford presented wiretap and undercover-operation recordings, including the bump contacts and later calls among the Adelsons, Magbanua, and Garcia.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Day 9

Sep 4, 2025

ClosingClosing Argument - Jackie L. FulfordJackie L. Fulford3lines spoken

Summary

Fulford urged jurors to find that the State's case against Donna Adelson relied on disputed inferences, not proof beyond a reasonable doubt.

ClosingClosing Argument - Jackie L. Fulford (Resumed)Jackie L. Fulford23lines spoken

Summary

Fulford argued that the undercover call, travel evidence, and circumstantial record did not prove Donna Adelson's involvement beyond a reasonable doubt.