Kramer, Benjamin Barry - "Helicopter Escape Att...

Helicopter Escape Attempt Adds 10 Years To Boat Racer's Sentence

Miami Herald, The (FL) - April 14, 1990
MIKE McQUEEN

Former champion race boat driver Benjamin Barry Kramer was sentenced to 10 years and five months in federal prison for a spectacular but unsuccessful helicopter escape from Metropolitan Correctional Center a year ago.

Kramer, 34, quietly stroked his goatee and declined an offer to speak on his own behalf during proceedings before U.S. District Judge James Kehoe.

The sentence was the maximum penalty Kramer could have received. He pleaded guilty last November to conspiring to escape, attempted escape and bringing a helicopter into the South Dade prison. "We urge the court to send a message to this defendant, and to this community, that these types of things will not be permitted," said Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Bondi.

Catherine Bonner, Kramer's attorney, told the judge it's pointless to give Kramer a harsh sentence -- he's already been sentenced to a life term for an unrelated conviction.

"Mr. Kramer has been through this criminal justice system for several years -- and he still has several more years in front of him," Bonner said.

After the speeches from the lawyers, Kehoe also ordered that Kramer pay a $100,000 fine. Friday's sentence was just one more for Kramer:

* He was sentenced in 1986 to life in prison in Illinois on a drug-smuggling conviction.

* Last December, U.S. District Judge Sidney Aronovitz sentenced him to five years for possession of a weapon by a convicted felon.

* On March 28, Kramer was convicted in federal court in Fort Lauderdale of masterminding a worldwide marijuana smuggling and money laundering network. The conviction on 30 counts came after a three-month trial.

He has not yet been sentenced. Kramer lived high and mighty.

His drug organization owned a fleet of boats, a corporate jet, condos and a $20 million poker club in California, according to testimony at his Fort Lauderdale racketeering trial.

He conducted business in South Florida, Los Angeles, London and Liechtenstein.

Kramer's attempt to escape from MCC last April 17 was high drama.

The pilot gently positioned the Bell 47-D copter over the exercise yard at the prison. Kramer dashed across the yard and leaped aboard.

As he did, his foot hit a control pedal, throwing the copter into a spin and into the fence.

Kramer, the boat racer, tried to take the controls from Charles Stevens, the pilot, and take off anyway.

The aircraft flipped over.

Kramer suffered a broken leg, and in the courtroom Friday he carried a crutch.

Kramer is still in prison serving a life sentence at a federal prison in Terre Haute, Indiana.

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