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personpersonRichard ShagranRichard ShagranLongtime Adelson family friend who helped Donna Adelson obtain a Vietnam visa and arrange travel.← All People
Witness

Richard Shagran

Courtroom still of Richard Shagran.

Longtime Adelson family friend who helped Donna Adelson obtain a Vietnam visa and arrange travel.

AppearedDonna Adelson
53 lines·3 proceedings

About

Richard Shagran, a longtime friend of Donna and Harvey Adelson, testified for the defense on Day 7 about helping them after Charlie Adelson's conviction. He said Donna was distraught and Harvey appeared to be in shock when he visited them.

Shagran testified that he helped Donna with a visa and discussed travel reservations with Harvey. He said he suggested a one-way ticket because the trip's duration was unknown, described concern about media attention at the Adelsons' building, and said they intended to return for a bar mitzvah.

On cross-examination, the prosecutor compared Shagran's role in suggesting the one-way flight with his earlier description of himself as a technology conduit. Shagran said the suggestion was part of serving as a conduit, then clarified on redirect that he made travel suggestions rather than travel decisions.

Trial Record (3)

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

Richard Shagran testified for the defense on Day 7 about helping Donna and Harvey Adelson plan travel and their intention to return. The prosecutor challenged whether his one-way-flight suggestion fit his earlier description of himself as a technology conduit.

Day 7

DirectRichard Shagran - DirectRichard ShagranJoshua D. Zelman5highlights33lines spoken

Summary

A longtime friend described the Adelsons' distress after Charlie's conviction and said he helped explain their November 2023 travel planning.

Highlights (5)

testimony highlightShagran testified that he and his wife visited Donna and Harvey the day after Charlie's conviction; he described Donna as distraught and Harvey as in shock.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
testimony highlightShagran described helping Donna with a visa and discussing travel reservations with Harvey. He said he suggested a one-way ticket because they did not know how long they would be away, and that Harvey booked the flight.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
Quote“The ironic thing was that the round trip was a fraction more than one way, and I suggested, since you don't know when you're coming back until sometime in January, you know, book a one-way.”— Richard ShagranShagran attributed the one-way-ticket suggestion to himself and tied it to uncertainty about the return date.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
Quote“well, unfortunately, they were berated and barraged by the media. And fortunately, they lived in a condo, so they didn't let them in. And they were just -- they were afraid to leave the building.”— Richard ShagranShagran gave his account of why the Adelsons wanted to leave town.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
Show all 5 highlights
Quote“well, Donna was the ultimate Jewish mother, not unlike my wife, that was very involved in their children and grandchildren's lives. I think Donna maybe was a little more involved with her grandchildren because of the situation of the grandsons losing their father, wendi working, and also they lived close by Donna and Harvey in South Beach.”— Richard ShagranShagran offered character testimony about Donna's involvement with her family, while qualifying part of the account as his view.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
CrossRichard Shagran - CrossRichard ShagranGeorgia Cappleman1highlight10lines spoken

Summary

Cappleman tested Shagran's account of suggesting a one-way flight against his prior deposition description of his role as a technology conduit.

Highlights (1)

impeachmentThe court overruled a defense objection and allowed the prosecutor to question Shagran about the difference between his deposition description of himself as a technology conduit and his trial testimony that he suggested a one-way flight.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶