Hunt Used Fear to Control Billionaire Boys Club, Jurors in Murder Trial Told

Two Billionaire Boys Club members charged with the bungled kidnap-death of a wealthy Iranian exile opened their defense Thursday with testimony that charismatic leader Joe Hunt used fear to control his rich club associates.

Reza Eslaminia, 26, and Arben (Ben) Dosti, 26, are charged with murder, kidnaping and conspiracy in the death of Eslaminia’s father, Hedayat Eslaminia, 56.

The elder Eslaminia, a former Iranian Parliament member and close associate of the former Shah of Iran, fled to the United States after the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini rose to power. Prosecutors say he was abducted from his Belmont, Calif., condominium in 1984 by Billionaire Boys Club members in an effort to force him to sign over part of his $30-million fortune to his son.

Members of the Beverly Hills-based Billionaire Boys Club planned and carried out the scheme because their organization was in desperate need of capital, prosecutors said.

Hunt, sentenced July 6 to life in prison for the murder of Ron Levin--a Southern California con man whom Billionaire Boys Club members had hoped would invest with them--faces trial in the Eslaminia slaying at a later date, along with James Pittman, his bodyguard. Pittman pleaded guilty to reduced accessory-to-murder charges in the Levin case after two trials ended in hung juries.

The defense opened its case in San Mateo County Superior Court after a two-week recess, with testimony from Tom May, 27, a former club member.

He was so fearful of club leader Hunt that he and his brother fled to the mountains after going to police about the death of Levin, May testified.

Hunt had threatened to kill anyone who told authorities about his involvement in the death of Levin, May told the jury.

“He said that if any one of us talked about this . . . we would end up as fish bait in the East River,” May said. “It was a pretty intense moment.”

Under questioning from defense attorney Gary Merritt, May said Hunt, 27, exerted a powerful influence over the club.

“I am still to this day a little bewildered by it all,” he said in describing Hunt’s financial dealings.

Hunt, a former “boy wonder” in commodities trading, founded the Billionaire Boys Club investment and social fraternity, luring the sons of dozens of Southern California’s wealthiest families. They were among his school chums at the exclusive Harvard Academy.

The case has recently received a lot of publicity, including the airing of a television miniseries about the club.

Judge Robert Miller asked jurors if they could still serve as an impartial panel after the lengthy recess. All the jurors agreed, indicating that they had not seen or been influenced by news media stories regarding the Billionaire Boys Club.

But defense attorney Tom Nolan said outside the courtroom that the jurors should have been asked what they heard and not if it affected them.

“It was totally inadequate,” Nolan charged. “I hope it doesn’t cause--if there is an adverse ruling--a retrial.”