Billionaire Boys Club
Encyclopedia
The Billionaire Boys Club (BBC) was an investment-and-social club organized by Joseph Gamsky, also known as "Joe Hunt", in southern California
in 1983. The club enticed with get-rich-quick schemes the sons of wealthy families from the Harvard School for Boys (now Harvard-Westlake School
) in the Los Angeles
area.
, and money contributed by investors was spent on supporting lavish lifestyles for young members of the club. When funds ran short in 1984, Hunt and other club members turned to murder
, and at least two people were killed as Hunt tried to raise more money.
When authorities began to investigate the murders, Dean Karny, the club's second-in-command and Hunt's best friend, turned state's evidence in return for immunity from prosecution. Hunt and club-security director Jim Pittman were charged with the murder of Ron Levin, a con artist who had allegedly swindled the BBC out of over $4 million. Hunt, Pittman, club member Arben Dosti, and Reza Eslaminia were charged with the murder of Hedayat Eslaminia, Reza's father, allegedly to acquire his fortune which was reputed to be $35 million.
In 1987, Hunt was found guilty of the 1984 murder of Ron Levin and sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole
. Pittman had two trials, and both ended in hung juries
. He later pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact.
Dosti and Reza Eslaminia were later convicted of murdering Hedayat Eslaminia and sentenced to life without parole. Hunt acted as his own attorney during his trial for the Eslaminia murder and contended that star witness Karny had killed Eslaminia. The result was a hung jury, 8-4, in favor of Hunt's acquittal
. Joe Hunt is the only person in California
's legal history to represent himself in a capital case and not receive the death penalty. The convictions of Dosti and Reza Eslaminia were later overturned. Hunt remains behind bars for the Levin murder but maintains his innocence.
based on the story of the BBC, starring Judd Nelson
as Joe Hunt, Brian McNamara
as Dean Karny, and Ron Silver
as Ron Levin. This movie inspired Lyle and Erik Menendez
to murder their own parents for money a few years later.
Hunt was the basis for Philip Swann, a character in the Law & Order
Season 4 episode "American Dream," which was subsequently adapted into the Law & Order: UK episode, "Unsafe". The Billionaire Boys Club is also the topic of two books: The Billionaire Boys Club by Sue Horton and The Price of Experience by Randall Sullivan. The murders are also the subject of the song "Things to Do Today" by Chicago band Big Black
.
On July 17, 2002, TruTV aired an episode of "Dominick Dunne's Power, Privilege and Justice" entitled "Billionaire Boys Club", which summarized the events surrounding the "club" and the kidnapping, murders, and trials.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in 1983. The club enticed with get-rich-quick schemes the sons of wealthy families from the Harvard School for Boys (now Harvard-Westlake School
Harvard-Westlake School
Harvard-Westlake School is an independent, co-educational university preparatory day school consisting of two campuses located in Los Angeles, California with approximately 1,600 students enrolled in grades 7 through 12....
) in the Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
area.
Crime
The organization was run as a Ponzi schemePonzi scheme
A Ponzi scheme is a fraudulent investment operation that pays returns to its investors from their own money or the money paid by subsequent investors, rather than from any actual profit earned by the individual or organization running the operation...
, and money contributed by investors was spent on supporting lavish lifestyles for young members of the club. When funds ran short in 1984, Hunt and other club members turned to murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
, and at least two people were killed as Hunt tried to raise more money.
When authorities began to investigate the murders, Dean Karny, the club's second-in-command and Hunt's best friend, turned state's evidence in return for immunity from prosecution. Hunt and club-security director Jim Pittman were charged with the murder of Ron Levin, a con artist who had allegedly swindled the BBC out of over $4 million. Hunt, Pittman, club member Arben Dosti, and Reza Eslaminia were charged with the murder of Hedayat Eslaminia, Reza's father, allegedly to acquire his fortune which was reputed to be $35 million.
In 1987, Hunt was found guilty of the 1984 murder of Ron Levin and sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole
Parole
Parole may have different meanings depending on the field and judiciary system. All of the meanings originated from the French parole . Following its use in late-resurrected Anglo-French chivalric practice, the term became associated with the release of prisoners based on prisoners giving their...
. Pittman had two trials, and both ended in hung juries
Hung jury
A hung jury or deadlocked jury is a jury that cannot, by the required voting threshold, agree upon a verdict after an extended period of deliberation and is unable to change its votes due to severe differences of opinion.- England and Wales :...
. He later pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact.
Dosti and Reza Eslaminia were later convicted of murdering Hedayat Eslaminia and sentenced to life without parole. Hunt acted as his own attorney during his trial for the Eslaminia murder and contended that star witness Karny had killed Eslaminia. The result was a hung jury, 8-4, in favor of Hunt's acquittal
Acquittal
In the common law tradition, an acquittal formally certifies the accused is free from the charge of an offense, as far as the criminal law is concerned. This is so even where the prosecution is abandoned nolle prosequi...
. Joe Hunt is the only person in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
's legal history to represent himself in a capital case and not receive the death penalty. The convictions of Dosti and Reza Eslaminia were later overturned. Hunt remains behind bars for the Levin murder but maintains his innocence.
Alleged Ron Levin sightings
Several witnesses testified that they saw Ron Levin in 1986 and 1987 in Greece, Beverly Hills, and Los Angeles. On the basis of the witnesses' statements, Hunt sought to have his murder conviction overturned and get a new trial. His appeal was denied on July 12, 1996In popular culture
In 1987, NBC aired a miniseriesMiniseries
A miniseries , in a serial storytelling medium, is a television show production which tells a story in a limited number of episodes. The exact number is open to interpretation; however, they are usually limited to fewer than a whole season. The term "miniseries" is generally a North American term...
based on the story of the BBC, starring Judd Nelson
Judd Nelson
Judd Asher Nelson is an American actor. He is best known for being a member of the "Brat Pack" in the mid-1980s; and for his roles as John Bender in The Breakfast Club, Alec Newbary in St...
as Joe Hunt, Brian McNamara
Brian McNamara
Brian McNamara is an American actor, known for his portrayal of Dean Karny in the TV Movie Billionaire Boys Club for which he was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a supporting role.-Biography:...
as Dean Karny, and Ron Silver
Ron Silver
Ronald Arthur "Ron" Silver was an American actor, director, producer, radio host and political activist.-Early life:...
as Ron Levin. This movie inspired Lyle and Erik Menendez
Lyle and Erik Menendez
Joseph Lyle Menendez and Erik Galen Menendez are brothers who are known for their conviction in a highly publicized trial for the shotgun murders in 1989 of their wealthy parents, entertainment executive Jose Menendez and his wife Mary "Kitty" Menendez , residents of Beverly Hills, California...
to murder their own parents for money a few years later.
Hunt was the basis for Philip Swann, a character in the Law & Order
Law & Order
Law & Order is an American police procedural and legal drama television series, created by Dick Wolf and part of the Law & Order franchise. It aired on NBC, and in syndication on various cable networks. Law & Order premiered on September 13, 1990, and completed its 20th and final season on May 24,...
Season 4 episode "American Dream," which was subsequently adapted into the Law & Order: UK episode, "Unsafe". The Billionaire Boys Club is also the topic of two books: The Billionaire Boys Club by Sue Horton and The Price of Experience by Randall Sullivan. The murders are also the subject of the song "Things to Do Today" by Chicago band Big Black
Big Black
Big Black was an American punk rock band from Evanston, Illinois, active from 1981 to 1987. Founded by singer and guitarist Steve Albini, the band's initial lineup also included guitarist Santiago Durango and bassist Jeff Pezzati, both of Naked Raygun...
.
On July 17, 2002, TruTV aired an episode of "Dominick Dunne's Power, Privilege and Justice" entitled "Billionaire Boys Club", which summarized the events surrounding the "club" and the kidnapping, murders, and trials.
Books
- Horton, Sue. The Billionaire Boys Club. New York: St. Martin's Paperbacks, 1990.
- Sullivan, Randall. The Price of Experience: Money, Power, Image, and Murder in Los Angeles. New York: Atlantic Montly Press, 1996.