Daniel Siad: The Brunel Scout Who Used South Africa as a Recruitment Ground

In July 2005, a man named Daniel Amar Siad emailed Epstein from Sao Paulo with the subject "hello from Sao-Paulo." Earlier that month he had written from Stockholm. Over the next thirteen years, Siad would send hundreds of emails from Paris, Brussels, Bangkok, Ibiza, Sofia, Costa Rica, Dubai, and Cape Town. The subject lines tell the story: "other pics," "Fwd: pictures," "latest pictures done last week," "Here is one of the girls" (vol00009-efta00774129-pdf-0).

Siad's connection to Epstein ran through Jean-Luc Brunel, the French modeling agent later charged with sex trafficking. In January 2010, Siad sent Brunel a SWIFT bank record (EFTA02430885-0). Three days later, he emailed both Brunel and Epstein about "Scouting fees." Brunel replied to both: the payment structure was explicit, with Siad scouting, Brunel placing, and Epstein funding (EFTA02431781-0). In October 2011, Siad wrote directly to Brunel with the subject "Commition de mes 2 filles Chez toi," commission for my two girls at your place. Brunel's associate Dominique Nameche replied, then someone forwarded the chain to Epstein (EFTA01986452-0).

The financial trail ran through Epstein's staff. In January 2010, Siad sent Epstein a document titled "Refference bancaire" (vol00009-efta00765388-pdf-0). In November 2010, he sent "Bank references" (EFTA01360070-0). In January 2017, he sent his Dubai account number; Epstein forwarded it to Richard Kahn, his financial manager (EFTA02664596-0). In May 2017, Siad sent "BANK DETAILS" to Bella Klein, Epstein's assistant, who forwarded them to Marjorie Flash (EFTA01411969-0). In March 2018, Siad sent bank details to Klein again. Klein forwarded them to Epstein directly (EFTA02486549-0). In June 2017, Siad emailed Klein about a wire transfer. Klein forwarded it to Kahn, who forwarded it to Epstein (EFTA00711038).

South Africa became Siad's primary territory by 2013. In January, he wrote "Hello from Capetown." In February 2014, Epstein asked "any luck" and Siad replied: "Yes I am back to Paris I meet Su and meet several models I did introduce some of them I will follow up to put all the pictures together. The most beautiful girls in the world are there" (EFTA01933167-0). In March 2014, he forwarded a portfolio from Lianne Ready at Pure Management Cape Town for a 20-year-old model. Siad wrote: "the potential of girls is huge and great people" and "I d like to go back to south Africa to scout" (vol00009-efta01196801-pdf-0). Epstein replied "very intersitng" (EFTA01928581-0). Siad offered: "I can organize for New York or Paris ,!"

The scouting continued after Cape Town. In March 2015, Siad wrote: "Hello Jeffrey one of my new model that Id like to send to New York." In August 2016: "a girl I found here 20 years old she is just not from this world." In July 2018, Siad forwarded "Hostesses. Part 1" (EFTA02494826-1).

In May 2016, Stan Pottinger, a former Assistant Attorney General, forwarded an email titled "Contact Info Daniel Siad (from Brunel)" to Amanda Kramer at the Southern District of New York. In December 2018, Kramer forwarded it to prosecutors Alison Moe and Alexander Rossmiller, the team building the case against Epstein (EFTA01324971-0). Siad had been flagged.