Summary
Overview
In this episode, journalist M. Gessen attends the federal trial of their cousin Alan Gessen, who was arrested for hiring someone to kill his ex-wife Priscilla. Through surveillance recordings and FBI testimony, the prosecution reveals how Alan negotiated with an undercover agent to have Priscilla murdered for $50,000. The episode explores the family's struggle to reconcile their memories of Alan with the damning evidence, while M. Gessen wrestles with their own unexpected desire for justice despite typically opposing harsh sentencing.
The Trial Begins: A Family Confrontation
M. Gessen arrives at the San Francisco federal courthouse to witness cousin Alan's trial for hiring a hitman to kill his ex-wife Priscilla. The journalist describes Alan's physical transformation from a flashy, overweight businessman to a thin, stooped man with a long gray beard—a calculated appearance meant to evoke sympathy. Family members desperately search for ways to believe Alan might be innocent, while M. Gessen comes prepared to watch the prosecution make their case and bring the truth back to the family.
- Alan Gessen is on trial for hiring someone to kill his ex-wife Priscilla, with the undercover FBI agent working from San Francisco
- Alan has physically transformed in the nine months since arrest, appearing thin and aged with a long gray beard—possibly mimicking their great-grandfather's courtroom strategy in Stalin's Russia
- The family had learned about all the things that happened to Priscilla during separation: eviction, beatings by hired thugs, and two arrests held for two weeks
- Family members convinced themselves Alan had been entrapped, comparing it to finding a wallet on the sidewalk
" Well played, Alan, I thought. We both grew up with stories of our very talented, very entrepreneurial, and somewhat famous great-grandfather. When he was arrested in Stalin's Russia, he grew a long gray beard to make sure he was perceived as an old man by the court. "
" The mind kept looking for a way to make what Alan did seem maybe a little less bad "
" My mind was at peace. In my mind, I had already tried and convicted Alan. My motivation for attending the trial was to watch the prosecution lay out the case so I could bring it back to my family. "
The FBI Investigation: From Money Laundering to Murder
The undercover FBI agent known as "David" testifies about how the investigation began with a different Russian speaker, Alexei Kiselyov, who was suspected of money laundering for pro-Russian Ukrainian politicians. During conversations about bulletproof vests for Ukraine, Kiselyov pivots to mention his friend Alan needs help with his ex-wife. David seizes the opportunity, offering a range of options from deportation to something more permanent, quickly transforming a bribery case into a murder-for-hire investigation.
- The investigation started with Alexei Kiselyov, suspected of laundering billions for pro-Russian Ukrainian politicians, not with Alan
- Kiselyov introduces Alan's problem: his ex from Africa who 'took his kids' and is making hell out of his life
- David improvises a $100,000 price tag for deportation through a bribed government official
- The FBI now had a new angle beyond money laundering: a potential bribery scheme involving Alan
" And really, basically, if anybody would look into really the reasons for her being in the U.S., there is none. "
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