NCIS Los Angeles
Page 19
“I’ll talk,” he said, his words muffled by his shirtsleeves. “I’ll talk.”
Status:
SEALED/CLASSIFIED/TOP SECRET
Videorecorded Statement Of Isaak Ismael Dorani Taken 10:45Pm (Pacific) by Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Office of Special Projects, Los Angeles Station.
Location Withheld
Interrogated By:
Kensi Blye, Special Agent, Ncis Los Angeles Martin Deeks, Detective, Lapd (Liaison Ncis) Henrietta Lange, Operations Manager
Attorney For Mr. Dorani:
Lauren Scardella, Esq., Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office
Q&A
(KENSI BLYE principal interrogator)
KB: Mr. Dorani… that’s spelled D-o-r-a-n-i, is that right?
ID: Right. But Isaak’s fine. No need to get formal all of a sudden.
KB: Isaak… I’d like to direct your attention to yesterday afternoon, the twenty-second of April, at around three o’clock, and ask your whereabouts at that time.
ID: Three o’clock, um, I was at old man Sutton’s place.
KB: The home of Elias P. Sutton? In Santa Barbara?
ID: That’s right.
KB: And how did you enter the property?
ID: I went through the side door.
KB: Were you invited into the house?
ID: Well… no.
KB: So you forced your way into Mr. Sutton’s home.
ID: It sounds violent when you put it that way. I didn’t do nothing violent.
KB: Is it accurate you picked the lock to gain entry?
ID: Yeah.
KB: And was this after disabling the burglar alarm system?
ID: Yeah. But I didn’t hurt nobody.
KB: You’ve made that point, Isaak. Now can you tell me how you took out the alarm?
ID: I used a jackrabbit.
KB: What’s that?
ID: One of Erasmo’s gizmos.
KB: An electronic device of some sort, in other words.
ID: Yeah.
KB: And who gave it the name “jackrabbit”?
ID: Not me. Erasmo called it that.
KB: For the record, you’re referring to Erasmo Greer. A suspected hacker.
ID: Right. May the poor jerk rest in peace.
KB: Isaak… can you tell me if this device was a software-defined radio transmitter?
ID: Huh? A software whatsis?
KB: I’ll repeat that for you. A software-defined—
LS: Agent Blye, my client isn’t a technical wizard. He already told you the late Mr. Greer provided him with this jackrabbit. And admitted using it to gain entry to Sutton’s home. What more do you want?
KB: Well, how about he describes it for starters?
LS: Is that really germane—?
HL: If I may interject, counselor… hackers use SDR transceivers to intercept burglar alarm signals running from the sensors to their control panels. We believe the same sort of device put the alarms at Theodore Holloway’s condominium out of commission when he was kidnapped. And your client now admits he was involved in both crimes.
LS: I understand. But Mr. Dorani admits he used the jackrabbit. Why do you need him to paint pretty word pictures of it?
HL: Because we’ve had four apparently connected murders in two days. Because we suspect whoever’s behind them plans to kill a great many more people. Because we need all the information we can get to stop that from happening. And finally, because your client, who claims he’s never harmed a fly, but can be tied to each of the homicide victims, has agreed to share whatever he knows with us.
ID: Look. I got no problem describing the contraption if it’s so important to you.
LS: As long as everyone’s clear it was Erasmo Greer who programmed the device. And instructed my client in its operation.
HL: I don’t think anyone in this room is under the impression he’s capable of doing it on his own, counselor.
KB: Isaak…?
ID: It’s black and round. Like a weight. With an antenna sticking up outta the middle.
KB: And exactly how was it used to disable the alarms?
ID: I just brought it with me and turned it on. Erasmo did the rest with his laptop.
KB: You mean he programmed it to monitor signals from the alarm system?
ID: That’s right.
KB: And was Erasmo present at the Sutton and Holloway burglaries?
ID: No, he was in a car a few blocks away with some of the crazies.
KB: Both times?
ID: Yeah. Well, at the old codgers’ home they were parked outside the gate. I was carrying a few jackrabbits that day.
KB: What do you mean by a few?
ID: I must’ve had four, five of ’em when we got outta the car.
KB: “We” meaning…?
ID: Me and the two crazies who kidnapped him.
KB: Isaak, I’ll be asking some questions about the people you call crazies in a minute.
ID: Sure.
KB: But about the jackrabbit… why carry so many with you?
ID: That first time?
KB: Yes. At the Bel Air Palms Senior Living facility.
ID: There’s a gate where you drive in. And a uniformed hump.
KB: You mean the guard by the visitor entrance.
ID: Ain’t that what I just told you?
KB: Not quite, Isaak. It helps us when you’re specific.
ID: Okay, gotcha. The hump was a security guard.
KB: Now if you’ll explain why you used… did you say four or five jackrabbits?
ID: Right. The easiest way to get Holloway out was through the bushes behind his condo—
KB: Because of the guard out front…?
ID: Right. We figured we couldn’t sneak Holloway past him. But they have motion sensors all around the grounds so the fogies don’t wander off between diaper changes. Erasmo said he could take ’em offline by laying some jackrabbits in those hedges…
KB: The hedges bordering the village’s grounds.
ID: Yup.
KB: And that’s how you managed to bypass the sensors.
ID: Right.
KB: Okay, Isaak. I want to get back to yesterday at Mr. Sutton’s home. Please tell me what happened there.
ID: My job was to let in the crazies and grab some stuff from his bedroom.
KB: Again, it helps if you’re specific.
ID: About the stuff I was supposed to glom? Or we talking about the stupid-ass guard again?
KB: The data storage material, Isaak.
ID: They wanted the computer’s hard drive. Plus CDs, memory sticks, anything like that.
KB: And by “crazies”… how about telling me who you mean.
ID: I mean the Armenian whackadoos. Specifically.
KB: Are these people affiliated with a group called the Justice Commandos of the Armenian Genocide? Or the Suicide Commandos?
ID: I got no idea what they call themselves.
KB: How about the Armenian Secret Army?
ID: I told you. I ain’t never heard’a no Armenian Nutjob Brigade or whatever.
KB: Never heard them mention any organization…
LS: Agent Blye, I object to this line of questioning. My client’s no more an expert on political action groups than he is on the latest hacking technology.
KB: They’re global terrorist groups according to the State Department.
LS: I’ll take your word for it, Agent. But Mr. Dorani just stated he didn’t know whether the people who hired him are connected to any of those organizations.
KB: Actually that isn’t quite what he said. But I’ll rephrase my question. Isaak, were you aware the people that hired you belonged to a gang or ring engaged in illegal activities?
ID: Lemme put it this way… I knew they weren’t the Boys and Girls Club of America.
KB: And did you know why they wanted Mr. Sutton’s data storage materials? And Mr. Holloway’s for that matter?
ID: Um… ahh… I’m kinda confused.
ID: (inaudible)
KB: I’m sorry, I missed that. What did you say?
ID: (Mr. Dorani begins to cry)
KB: Would you like a drink of water, Isaak?
ID: No… why…?
KB: Because you seem upset by my question.
LS: My client hasn’t said why he’s upset, Agent.
KB: How about you let him tell us, counselor?
LS: I believe this might be a good time for a break.
KB: First, I’d like him to answer my question.
LS: Which one? You’ve asked several…
KB: About whether he knows why his employers wanted data storage add-ons from the Sutton home.
LS: Well, he’ll be more able to do that when he isn’t choking on his tears. Furthermore, I’m not sure he’s capable of reading minds.
KB: I don’t remember saying that.
LS: You asked him to characterize his employers’ motives.
KB: I asked if he knows why they wanted the computer hardware. If he doesn’t know, he can tell me. But a man was killed so they could get hold of it. A former United States senator…
LS: My client isn’t a murderer.
KB: You’re putting words in my mouth again.
LS: Say what you will, we can’t continue if you’re going to talk about a crime he didn’t commit.
HL: All right, everyone. Perhaps it might be beneficial if we did take a few minutes to regroup.
Questioning resumed 11:05 P.M. (PACIFIC) aforesaid date. Det. Martin Deeks now in the room.
KB: Isaak, I want to get back to why you were in Mr. Sutton’s house.
ID: I’ll talk about what I was doing for the crazies. But I won’t talk about why the crazies wanted me to do it.
KB: Is that how your lawyer told you to respond?
LS: I strongly advise you don’t go there. Our attorney-client conversations are out of bounds.
KB: Thanks for the reminder, Ms. Scardella.
LS: You’re so welcome, Agent Blye.
KB: (Indicating) I have on this screen a diagram of the home’s interior. Can you show me where you entered?
ID: Sure… right here.
KB: That’s the east side of the house. Where the driveway’s located.
ID: Yeah.
KB: (Indicating) And the pergola here…
ID: The what?
KB: The carport… it’s at the head of the driveway. And the east door leads between it and the house, is that right?
ID: Right.
KB: Is there a reason you chose this particular entrance?
ID: Well, it’s a long driveway, so it’s hard for people on the street to see all the way up to the house. And the carport gave me cover.
KB: From potential eyewitnesses.
ID: Right.
KB: And were you alone when you went into the house?
ID: No.
KB: Who accompanied you?
ID: Two of the crazies.
KB: Can you give me their names?
ID: One of ’em was Matous.
KB: Do you know his second name?
ID: Nope. No clue.
KB: You’re sure?
ID: Positive.
KB: And what about the other man?
ID: His name, you mean?
KB: Yes.
ID: I think it’s something like David.
KB: Something…
ID: Right. It’s got some kind of foreign pronunciation.
KB: And would you recognize these men if you saw them again?
ID: Well, what do you think?
KB: I don’t know. You tell me.
ID: I would recognize them. It ain’t like I got no brain in my head.
KB: Okay, Isaak. Looking at the layout of the house. When you get through the door, you’re in the living room.
ID: Yeah. That’s a nice diagram, incidentally.
KB: Thank you, Isaak. Now to the right, there are glass doors leading out to the patio. The dining room and kitchen are on the left, correct?
ID: Exactly.
KB: And beyond them there’s a hallway running all the way to the back of the house. With three bedrooms aligned.
ID: Right.
KB: Do you recall which one was Mr. Sutton’s?
ID: It’s the last room down the hall.
KB: Thank you. Now… can you tell me if anyone was home when you entered?
ID: No.
KB: “No” you can’t tell me, or “no” nobody was home?
ID: Nobody was home.
KB: Tell me what you did after entering the property.
ID: I went straight to the bedroom.
KB: Were Matous and the other man with you?
ID: Matous’s pal hung back to stand lookout.
KB: Can you show me where on the diagram?
ID: (Indicating) He stayed right about here.
KB: That’s in the entry between the dining room and hallway.
ID: Yeah, he could see the doors from there.
KB: The front and side doors to the house.
ID: That’s right.
KB: And Matous?
ID: He waited outside the bedroom.
KB: To stand watch for you.
ID: Right.
KB: And what happened next?
ID: I did what I was supposed to do.
KB: Went about stealing the computer hardware…
ID: You could say that, yeah.
KB: Isaak… were any members of your team in contact with Mr. Greer? While you were burglarizing the house, that is?
LS: I think the word “team” is somewhat misleading, Agent.
KB: Really? Does “boy band” work better? Or is “partners-in-crime” more your speed?
LS: Isaak, I prefer you don’t speak unless asked a direct question. As for your terminology, Agent, I’ll let it stand. But let’s state for the record that my client was doing work for hire, and had no philosophical or political affiliation with this group.
KB: To the best of our knowledge. Happy, counselor?
LS: I think we can live with that. In the interest of getting out of here before dawn.
KB: That’s very considerate of you. Now once again, Isaak, were any of you in contact with Mr. Greer?
ID: We all were.
KB: All? Can you explain that to me?
ID: We had headsets so we could talk to each other over the Internet. I think Erasmo called it a rope connection…
KB: Rope or RoIP? That’s Radio over an Internet Protocol.
ID: If you say so.
KB: But you’re saying it was a wireless two-way radio of some kind.
ID: Yeah.
KB: And while in the bedroom, did you receive any instructions from Mr. Greer?
ID: Yeah. He reminded me what to look for. And, like, if I wasn’t sure where to find something, or what it was, I could ask him over the radio.
KB: Okay, Isaak. Tell me what you did in the bedroom.
ID: I took everything Erasmo wanted off the desk, outta the drawers… wherever he told me to look. Then I was supposed to open up Sutton’s PC and pull out the hard drive. So I opened up its case… used these tools he gave me…
KB: Is something wrong?
ID: No, nothing. It’s just, ah… I…
KB: Yes?
ID: Well… what else you wanna know?
KB: The rest of what happened in the house, Isaak.
ID: Can I have a drink of water first? I’m kind of thirsty.
KB: Yes, go ahead.
ID: (Drinks) That’s better. Thanks.
KB: You’re welcome. So, back to yesterday afternoon. You’re in the bedroom opening the CPU…
ID: Right. I lift it off, start unscrewing the drive… and that’s when Matous’s friend David warns us somebody’s coming in the front door.
KB: Did he say who it was?
ID: He didn’t know right off. Just heard somebody opening the door. Then Matous
told him to hide, and I guess he kind of backed into the hall.
KB: And then what?
ID: Everything stopped. I… I can hardly even describe it. It’s like the air around me froze solid… I swear to God, I couldn’t move a muscle. I dunno how long I stood there, by the desk. It felt like an hour, but it couldn’t’ve been more than a minute or so. And then… I remember hearing a lady. A lady’s voice…
KB: Angelica DeFalco. The housekeeper.
ID: Yeah. She… she wasn’t supposed to be there.
KB: How did you know?
ID: That was the information I got. That’s all. I just knew.
KB: And was she alone when she came in?
ID: Yeah. Well, she had the old man’s dog with her. At first I thought she was talking to a little kid. Colin this, Colin that, c’mere Colin. Her voice all lively and cheerful…
KB: What happened then?
ID: She started to do things around the house. I heard her open the sliding doors…
KB: The doors to the veranda?
ID: Yeah. I guess she was letting the dog out in the yard. Then she went into the dining room, I figured maybe she was setting the table, putting out dishes or glasses. And then…
KB: Go on, Isaak.
ID: She must’ve heard Matous’s pal. Or seen him. They never told me. But she hollered really loud… I’m pretty sure she asked who was there. And the next thing I know, she’s saying… begging him… it was something like, “Please don’t do it.” I’ll never forget, she told him… told him she had kids. Two young kids. And then… ah God… I couldn’t believe it…
KB: Isaak…?
ID: Then the gun went off. I remember… there was one shot. And I didn’t hear her anymore…
LS: Agent Blye, I think we could all use a little break.
KB: Counselor, for once I’m in total agreement with you.
Questioning resumed 12:O5 A.M. (Pacific) April 24
KB: Isaak, now that everyone’s back, would you please tell me what happened in the moments after Angelica DeFalco was shot.
ID: I heard the dog out in the yard. Not really barking… it was more like a howl, went right to my bones. And then there was another gunshot. I could tell it was outside.
KB: And then?
ID: The dog stopped making a noise.
KB: Okay, Isaak. What did you do next?
ID: I wanted to leave the place. Just get the hell out. I was scared, but it wasn’t really about being scared. The wanting to get out, I mean. I swear to you, I couldn’t feel my hands. That poor lady begging… I never in a million years thought anything like that would go down…