![]() Hunt and Pittman now face trial next fall in a second 1984 murder, that of wealthy Iranian Hedayat Eslaminia in Belmont, Calif. When the verdict came in, the defense was still evaluating whether to seek to reopen the case. And City News Service police reporter Robbie Robinson stepped forward only last week to say he had chatted with Levin last June while waiting in a Westwood movie theater line. A 23-year-old Arizona woman testified that she saw a sketch of Levin in a magazine and recognized him as the man who had flirted with her boyfriend in a Tucson gas station last September.Ī Chicago law firm secretary who knew Levin also claimed to have seen him recently, but never testified. Defense attorney Barens suggested that Hunt may simply have been trying to hold the group together by seeming to let them in on an awful secret and persuade them that money was on the way.Īt least five people claimed to have seen Levin alive since his disappearance. However, the defense insisted that Levin had pulled off “the ultimate con” by disappearing because he was facing criminal and civil prosecution for grand theft and fraud. Its chief evidence against Hunt was a chilling seven-page list of items, which the prosecution called “a recipe for murder.” On the first sheet of yellow legal pad pages, under the heading, “At Levin’s TO DO,” were listed 15 numbered items, including: “close blinds, scan for tape recorder, tape mouth, handcuff, put gloves on, explain situation, kill dog.” The government maintained that Hunt killed Levin to avenge the commodities trading swindle. Dean Karny, Hunt’s best friend who became the government’s star witness, admitted that he had helped plan Levin’s murder and participated in the Northern California murder, and was granted immunity from prosecution in exchange for his testimony. Only then was he told it had all been a game.Ī few months later, when Levin disappeared, Hunt boasted that he had killed him after forcing him to sign a Swiss bank check for $1.5 million, which later bounced, several BBC members testified.ĭespite alleged threats from Hunt that anyone who informed authorities would end up as “fish bait in the outer Adirondacks,” several members, fearing that they might be prosecuted, went to the police. He turned the supposed $5 million into $13 million and then asked for his share of the profit-$4 million. Hunt apparently made the right decisions. Hunt was not to be let in on the secret so that he would make “real” decisions. Levin persuaded the brokerage company that he was doing a television documentary about commodities trading and that none of Hunt’s buy or sell orders should be acted upon. But the group’s investments failed and its business ventures foundered, culminating in a money-making scheme that involved millions of dollars and two mysterious deaths.īy early 1984, after the BBC, which at times had up to 30 members, had lost nearly $1 million in bad investments and high living, along came Levin, who agreed to place $5 million in a brokerage house account and to let Hunt trade it. The charismatic Hunt, often described as a boy genius and Svengali, had linked up with former classmates at the exclusive private Harvard School and other young men from prominent Los Angeles families to form a business and social group called BBC Consolidated of North America.ĭubbed the “Billionaire Boys Club,” they drove high-performance cars, wore designer suits and frequented Los Angeles’ trendiest night spots-and dreamed of becoming richer and more successful than their parents. His bodyguard, Jim Pittman, was arrested while trying to impersonate Ron Levin in New York, using bad credit cards. Hunt was arrested more than two years ago after other BBC members told police that he had bragged of committing “the perfect crime” in killing Levin. After Brooke Roberts bolted from the courthouse, sobbing, “Oh my God, oh my God,” Hunt was escorted through a rear door by four bailiffs for transport to Los Angeles County Men’s Central Jail, where he will be held without bail. He then stripped off his striped tie, watch and other valuables to give them for safekeeping. He pulled a chair close to where his girlfriend, Brooke Roberts, and her mother, Lynne Roberts, were seated, bent over the railing and pulled their hands to his lips. He also ordered jurors not to discuss their decision.īefore being remanded to custody, Hunt hugged his attorneys and patted friends’ hands. Fred Wapner, who prosecuted the case, said he was relieved and pleased and called it a “just verdict.”īoth sides declined further comment, citing a gag order imposed by Judge Laurence Rittenband. ![]() Hunt’s lead defense attorney, Arthur Barens, told reporters that he was “extremely disappointed” by the verdict and is still weighing what to do next.
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