Member of Billionaire Boys Club in court for drug-related charges

Eslaminia was one of five men charged in the alleged extortion and murder scheme. He was convicted but the ruling was ultimately reversed in federal court and later dismissed in 1998. Since then, Eslamania has maintained his innocence and a rather low criminal profile.

However, he found his way back into the judicial system in July 2002 after police reported finding cocaine, heroin and a hypodermic syringe in his possession during a traffic stop.

For the last two years, Eslamania has repeatedly delayed trial on the drug charges even though he is eligible for Proposition 36 treatment. Last Tuesday, Eslaminia didn't show up at a scheduled court hearing to set a trial date and a $50,000 bench warrant was issued. Eslamania didn't stay gone for long; yesterday, Eslamania appeared before Judge James Ellis and had his bail re-instated. He returns to court Sept. 14 to reset a trial date.

If convicted of the drug charges, Eslaminia will likely go to rehab rather than prison, said Chief Deputy District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe.

Conviction on any charges other than drugs might not have left Eslaminia so lucky. He was driving on a suspended license when he was arrested and has two attempted burglary convictions from 1981. A third conviction means a third strike with a mandatory 25 years to life in prison sentence.

Proposition 36 crimes trump three strikes, Wagstaffe said.

Eslamania is no stranger to a San Mateo County courtroom. In the case of his father's death, he stood trial with Joe Hunt and three others - the so-called "Billionaire Boys Club." The club was an investment group run by Hunt, a charismatic commodities trader. Reza Eslamania told the others his father took $30 million from Iran when he fled.

Eslamania was convicted of murder and kidnapping in 1987 but it was overturned when a judge found the jury heard a taped interview that was inadmissible. Two other co-conspirators made plea bargains; Eslamania fought the charges which were dismissed a decade later after the prosecution's main witness was placed in the witness protection program.

Hunt defended himself in his 1992 trial and the jury hung 8-4 after nine months. He is the only defendant in county history to represent himself in a capital murder trial and not receive the death penalty. He was sentenced to prison for the 1984 murder of alleged con man Ron Levin.

Eslaminia has said he bragged about his family's wealth to the other members of the club which is what led to his kidnapping and death. He claims no other responsibility.

Michelle Durand can be reached by e-mail: michelle@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 104. What do you think of this story? Send a letter to the editor: letters@smdailyjournal.com.