Porsche hit-and-run killer is back in jail

After 11 years, rich driver accused of violating probation

Ryan LeVin is back in a Broward jail cell, and his checkbook may not be enough to keep him out of a cell this time.

The wealthy Porsche driver killed two British tourists in a 2009 hit-andrun case but was spared a prison sentence in exchange for paying the victims’ widows an undisclosed sum. The killings drew international attention, sparking an outcry over what was publicly criticized as checkbook justice.

At the time, he was sentenced to house arrest and probation. Now, LeVin, 45, stands accused of cyberstalking a Michigan man who runs a company that buys and sells high-end automobiles — much like the Porsche 911 Turbo that LeVin was driving when he ran over Craig Elford, 39, and Kenneth Watkinson, 48, in Fort Lauderdale.

The stalking allegation isn’t enough to guarantee prison time on its own. But as a violation of probation, it could land LeVin in prison for up to 30 years.

The hit-and-run case drew outrage when it was originally resolved with a sweetheart deal — in exchange for an undisclosed settlement with the victims’ families, LeVin got two years of house arrest followed by 10 years of

probation.

The money wasn’t hard to come by. LeVin was the son of the founders of Jewels by Park Lane, a direct sales costume-jewelry company that had sales of more than $150 million a year as recently as five years ago.

By his own admission, LeVin reveled in his wealth and lived recklessly, alienating himself from his family.

“When they saw me they would cringe,” he said in a 2015 interview with the South Florida Sun Sentinel. “They didn’t know what to expect. I wasn’t consistent. I wasn’t sober.”

Then came the crash. Elford and Watkinson were in Fort Lauderdale for a business conference on Feb. 13, 2009.

Elford had recently celebrated the birth of his second daughter. Watkinson was a father of three.

Both men worked in the pharmaceutical industry. They were on their way to their hotel after 2 a.m. when LeVin jumped a curb in his $120,000 Porsche, struck the pair, and continued driving.

LeVin abandoned the vehicle and stonewalled investigators, never confirming that he was behind the wheel until after he was charged with vehicular homicide.

Prosecutors sought a 10-year sentence, but Broward Circuit Judge Barbara McCarthy granted leniency because restitution served the interest of justice more than incarceration would have, said defense lawyer David Bogenschutz.

British newspapers called it a “blood money” deal.

“It was the most brazen bought justice I have ever seen,” Broward Public Defender Howard Finkelstein said Tuesday. “Shameful that the judge and the state attorney allowed it to happen. That said, he should not now be punished more harshly to make up for the system’s failure in his exceedingly light sentence.”

LeVin used the opportunity to clean up his act, attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, working with Habitat for Humanity and giving DUI lectures to warn others of the consequences of driving drunk.

“He’s been doing what he’s supposed to be doing and on track,” prosecutor Stefanie Newman said in 2015. “Hopefully this was an awakening for him.”

Jose Rada, executive director of the Broward-Dade Safety Council that presents classes to DUI offenders, said he lost contact with LeVin a few years ago.

He said in 2015 that LeVin was an inspiring guest speaker, but it’s not uncommon for people to lose interest when they aren’t required to talk as part of their probation.

“Sometimes they don’t feel like sharing the stories anymore,” Rada said Tuesday.

It’s not clear from court records why LeVin might have contacted the Michigan car dealer on March 7 — LeVin had never done business with him before he sent an innocuous email asking about a Pagani Huayra Roadster.

That’s despite the fact that LeVin is not permitted to have a driver’s license anywhere as a condition of his probation.

A half-hour later, according to a violation of probation warrant, LeVin’s tone with the businessman changed abruptly. “Listen here, you piece of [expletive] … You like [expletive] around with minors. Enjoy federal prison.”

The business owner, who asked not to be identified, said he had no idea why he was hearing at all from LeVin. But his friends in law enforcement encouraged him to file a report.

The email came from Ryanlvn1@gmail.com. Authorities in Auburn Hill, Michigan, traced the email to LeVin and his iPhone, according to the warrant. A photo of Levin was included as an attachment on a later email.

At a bond hearing Tuesday morning, LeVin sounded confused about why he was there.

“I didn’t stalk,” he said. He is being held without bond at the Broward Main Jail and is due to appear before Broward Circuit Judge Michael Usan on July 7.

LeVin