'Seeking Robert Levinson, the C.I.A. Consultant Who Vanished' diff viewer (0/1)

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~~Seeking the C.I.A. Consultant Who Vanished~~	Seeking Robert Levinson, the C.I.A. Consultant Who Vanished
2016-05-13 21:45:07 UTC	2016-05-13 22:20:05 UTC (35 minutes later)
In early March, a small group of private investigators, including two former F.B.I. agents, gathered for a meal at Old Tbilisi Garden, a restaurant in Greenwich Village that specializes in Georgian food.	In early March, a small group of private investigators, including two former F.B.I. agents, gathered for a meal at Old Tbilisi Garden, a restaurant in Greenwich Village that specializes in Georgian food.
It was a somber occasion. Two months earlier, the United States and Iran had exchanged prisoners, including several Americans held in Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison. Another American, Robert A. Levinson, long missing in Iran and a friend of those present, was not part of the deal. Mr. Levinson, a former F.B.I. agent who became a private investigator, also had another life: as a consultant for the C.I.A.	It was a somber occasion. Two months earlier, the United States and Iran had exchanged prisoners, including several Americans held in Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison. Another American, Robert A. Levinson, long missing in Iran and a friend of those present, was not part of the deal. Mr. Levinson, a former F.B.I. agent who became a private investigator, also had another life: as a consultant for the C.I.A.
In March 2007, Mr. Levinson, then 59, disappeared on Kish Island, in the Persian Gulf off the coast of Iran, while trying to recruit a fugitive American-born assassin as a C.I.A. source inside Iran. He was last seen alive in 2010 in a hostage video pleading for help and in photographs wearing a Guantánamo-style jumpsuit. The images did not disclose who was holding him. It is not known whether Mr. Levinson, who was eager to expand his role at the C.I.A. and who apparently decided on his own to go to Iran, is still alive.	In March 2007, Mr. Levinson, then 59, disappeared on Kish Island, in the Persian Gulf off the coast of Iran, while trying to recruit a fugitive American-born assassin as a C.I.A. source inside Iran. He was last seen alive in 2010 in a hostage video pleading for help and in photographs wearing a Guantánamo-style jumpsuit. The images did not disclose who was holding him. It is not known whether Mr. Levinson, who was eager to expand his role at the C.I.A. and who apparently decided on his own to go to Iran, is still alive.
The event at Old Tbilisi was held to observe the ninth anniversary of his disappearance. Former colleagues toasted him and traded stories. Mr. Levinson, like those present, had spent his career in a shadow land, one where spies, agents and private eyes persuade informants to spill secrets in exchange for money or a deal. It is a risky game that can pay off big or that can go very wrong, as Mr. Levinson’s trip to Iran did.	The event at Old Tbilisi was held to observe the ninth anniversary of his disappearance. Former colleagues toasted him and traded stories. Mr. Levinson, like those present, had spent his career in a shadow land, one where spies, agents and private eyes persuade informants to spill secrets in exchange for money or a deal. It is a risky game that can pay off big or that can go very wrong, as Mr. Levinson’s trip to Iran did.
The two former F.B.I. agents at the dinner, Joseph F. O’Brien and Andris Kurins, were familiar with that terrain. Mr. O’Brien had spearheaded the F.B.I.’s investigation in the mid-1980s of Paul Castellano, the reputed head of the Gambino crime family who was gunned down outside Sparks Steak House on East 46th Street.	The two former F.B.I. agents at the dinner, Joseph F. O’Brien and Andris Kurins, were familiar with that terrain. Mr. O’Brien had spearheaded the F.B.I.’s investigation in the mid-1980s of Paul Castellano, the reputed head of the Gambino crime family who was gunned down outside Sparks Steak House on East 46th Street.
After Mr. Levinson’s disappearance, the former agents had tried to help the F.B.I. find their missing friend. Mr. O’Brien recruited a former Iranian army general to go to Tehran to seek out information. But as with other investigators who knew Mr. Levinson, their offers were rebuffed by the F.B.I.	After Mr. Levinson’s disappearance, the former agents had tried to help the F.B.I. find their missing friend. Mr. O’Brien recruited a former Iranian army general to go to Tehran to seek out information. But as with other investigators who knew Mr. Levinson, their offers were rebuffed by the F.B.I.
“I was told, Why don’t you mind your business?” recalled Mr. Kurins, who worked with Mr. O’Brien on the Castellano case.	“I was told, Why don’t you mind your business?” recalled Mr. Kurins, who worked with Mr. O’Brien on the Castellano case.
Mr. Levinson and his wife, Christine, lived for years in Coral Springs, Fla., and raised their seven children there, but he was a New Yorker in every other way. He grew up on Long Island, attended City College, met his future wife at a quintessential Manhattan singles bar, T.G.I. Friday’s, and worked in New York on celebrated cases both as an F.B.I. agent and as a private investigator.	Mr. Levinson and his wife, Christine, lived for years in Coral Springs, Fla., and raised their seven children there, but he was a New Yorker in every other way. He grew up on Long Island, attended City College, met his future wife at a quintessential Manhattan singles bar, T.G.I. Friday’s, and worked in New York on celebrated cases both as an F.B.I. agent and as a private investigator.
Before his disappearance, Mr. Levinson also frequently came to New York to meet with clients or to try to hustle up new assignments. James Mintz, who heads a private investigation firm, said Mr. Levinson came by his Manhattan office not long before he vanished to see if he had any cases involving criminals trafficking in counterfeit cigarettes, an area in which he specialized. Mr. Levinson also worked for a major corporate investigation firm, SafirRosetti, whose clients included The New York Times.	Before his disappearance, Mr. Levinson also frequently came to New York to meet with clients or to try to hustle up new assignments. James Mintz, who heads a private investigation firm, said Mr. Levinson came by his Manhattan office not long before he vanished to see if he had any cases involving criminals trafficking in counterfeit cigarettes, an area in which he specialized. Mr. Levinson also worked for a major corporate investigation firm, SafirRosetti, whose clients included The New York Times.
Mr. Levinson, known to his friends as Bob, liked to swap information with journalists interested in espionage and intrigue. Some of his tips paid off; others were wild goose chases. Brian Ross, the chief investigative correspondent for ABC News, who knew Mr. Levinson for decades, said he turned up at ABC headquarters before his disappearance with what sounded like a major scoop.	Mr. Levinson, known to his friends as Bob, liked to swap information with journalists interested in espionage and intrigue. Some of his tips paid off; others were wild goose chases. Brian Ross, the chief investigative correspondent for ABC News, who knew Mr. Levinson for decades, said he turned up at ABC headquarters before his disappearance with what sounded like a major scoop.
Mr. Levinson told him his sources had located a major Qaeda operative in Venezuela and were observing the man going into a local mosque twice a day. ABC News dispatched an employee to Venezuela, where he rented a room at a hotel across the street from the mosque and waited for the terrorist to appear.	Mr. Levinson told him his sources had located a major Qaeda operative in Venezuela and were observing the man going into a local mosque twice a day. ABC News dispatched an employee to Venezuela, where he rented a room at a hotel across the street from the mosque and waited for the terrorist to appear.
“We spent a week there staking it out,” Mr. Ross said not long ago. “Nothing happened.”	“We spent a week there staking it out,” Mr. Ross said not long ago. “Nothing happened.”
Mr. Levinson told his children that he knew from the age of 8 that he wanted to be an F.B.I. agent. His epiphany came, he said, while watching a movie called “The House on 92nd Street,” a low-budget thriller about a college student who goes undercover for the F.B.I. during World War II to break up a Nazi spy ring.	Mr. Levinson told his children that he knew from the age of 8 that he wanted to be an F.B.I. agent. His epiphany came, he said, while watching a movie called “The House on 92nd Street,” a low-budget thriller about a college student who goes undercover for the F.B.I. during World War II to break up a Nazi spy ring.
As a teenager, Mr. Levinson liked to hang out with friends in the attic of his family’s home in New Hyde Park acting out courtroom dramas. For dialogue, they used transcripts from real trials typed up by his mother, who was a part-time court stenographer.	As a teenager, Mr. Levinson liked to hang out with friends in the attic of his family’s home in New Hyde Park acting out courtroom dramas. For dialogue, they used transcripts from real trials typed up by his mother, who was a part-time court stenographer.
From the start of his career, Mr. Levinson saw himself as a collector of informants, someone skilled in extracting information from people eager to catch a break from the law or in need of a favor, like a United States visa. By the late 1970s, he had his dream job, working in the F.B.I.’s New York office, helping to coordinate intelligence about the Mafia gathered by agents in the metropolitan area.	From the start of his career, Mr. Levinson saw himself as a collector of informants, someone skilled in extracting information from people eager to catch a break from the law or in need of a favor, like a United States visa. By the late 1970s, he had his dream job, working in the F.B.I.’s New York office, helping to coordinate intelligence about the Mafia gathered by agents in the metropolitan area.
Mr. O’Brien, who also wanted to investigate the mob, knew he had found his mentor when he first met with Mr. Levinson. His office, Mr. O’Brien recalled, was lined with photos of gangsters and charts showing the hierarchies of New York’s major crime families. “He was a master, and he taught me a lot,” Mr. O’Brien said.	Mr. O’Brien, who also wanted to investigate the mob, knew he had found his mentor when he first met with Mr. Levinson. His office, Mr. O’Brien recalled, was lined with photos of gangsters and charts showing the hierarchies of New York’s major crime families. “He was a master, and he taught me a lot,” Mr. O’Brien said.
In 1983, the two men shared an F.B.I. achievement award, and not long afterward Mr. O’Brien arrested Mr. Castellano. But Mr. Levinson’s F.B.I. career nearly ended over his handling of an informant in another big Mafia case — one that would eventually involve President Reagan’s secretary of labor, Raymond J. Donovan.	In 1983, the two men shared an F.B.I. achievement award, and not long afterward Mr. O’Brien arrested Mr. Castellano. But Mr. Levinson’s F.B.I. career nearly ended over his handling of an informant in another big Mafia case — one that would eventually involve President Reagan’s secretary of labor, Raymond J. Donovan.
His source was a onetime schoolteacher named Michael Orlando, who had turned to robbery. When faced with the prospect of more jail time, he agreed to cooperate with the F.B.I. as a paid informant on another local crime family, the Genoveses.	His source was a onetime schoolteacher named Michael Orlando, who had turned to robbery. When faced with the prospect of more jail time, he agreed to cooperate with the F.B.I. as a paid informant on another local crime family, the Genoveses.
Mr. Levinson believed that Mr. Orlando was critical to building a sweeping case that would result in indictments against politicians, labor leaders and police officers. But some bureau officials suspected that the F.B.I. agent had fallen into the classic informant’s trap, with Mr. Orlando feeding him tidbits of information while using his protected status to carry out crimes. One member of the Genovese family was even heard on an F.B.I. wiretap discussing how Mr. Orlando had become a contract killer.	Mr. Levinson believed that Mr. Orlando was critical to building a sweeping case that would result in indictments against politicians, labor leaders and police officers. But some bureau officials suspected that the F.B.I. agent had fallen into the classic informant’s trap, with Mr. Orlando feeding him tidbits of information while using his protected status to carry out crimes. One member of the Genovese family was even heard on an F.B.I. wiretap discussing how Mr. Orlando had become a contract killer.
Mr. Levinson and other agents fought to keep using Mr. Orlando. But when F.B.I. supervisors decided to arrest him and end the investigation, a bitter dispute broke out inside the F.B.I. that cost Mr. Levinson his position in New York and led to his decision to move to Florida.	Mr. Levinson and other agents fought to keep using Mr. Orlando. But when F.B.I. supervisors decided to arrest him and end the investigation, a bitter dispute broke out inside the F.B.I. that cost Mr. Levinson his position in New York and led to his decision to move to Florida.
There, he became an expert in the F.B.I.’s Miami office on Colombian drug cartels and Russian organized crime. After his retirement in 1998, he took a familiar path, followed by many former agents, into the private sector, working for corporate investigation firms and setting up his own one-man shop.	There, he became an expert in the F.B.I.’s Miami office on Colombian drug cartels and Russian organized crime. After his retirement in 1998, he took a familiar path, followed by many former agents, into the private sector, working for corporate investigation firms and setting up his own one-man shop.
The private investigator who arranged the March dinner in New York said she had attended a luncheon many years ago with Mr. Levinson and a C.I.A. analyst who specialized in Russian organized crime. That C.I.A. analyst would help get Mr. Levinson his work with the spy agency.	The private investigator who arranged the March dinner in New York said she had attended a luncheon many years ago with Mr. Levinson and a C.I.A. analyst who specialized in Russian organized crime. That C.I.A. analyst would help get Mr. Levinson his work with the spy agency.
When Mr. Levinson vanished, theories spread among his friends about what had happened to him. Some of them thought that Russian gangsters had grabbed him. Others believed that cigarette smugglers had killed him. Still others sensed that the man he went to Iran to meet, Dawud Salahuddin (or Teddy Belfield, as he was once known), had lured him into a trap.	When Mr. Levinson vanished, theories spread among his friends about what had happened to him. Some of them thought that Russian gangsters had grabbed him. Others believed that cigarette smugglers had killed him. Still others sensed that the man he went to Iran to meet, Dawud Salahuddin (or Teddy Belfield, as he was once known), had lured him into a trap.
Investigators like Mr. Kurins said they did not believe the story that the American government had put out to explain why Mr. Levinson was in Iran — that he had gone there to track counterfeit cigarettes. “It was impossible that he would go to Kish Island on a cigarette case,” Mr. Kurins said.	Investigators like Mr. Kurins said they did not believe the story that the American government had put out to explain why Mr. Levinson was in Iran — that he had gone there to track counterfeit cigarettes. “It was impossible that he would go to Kish Island on a cigarette case,” Mr. Kurins said.
Several months after Mr. Levinson’s disappearance, another of his acquaintances in New York, John Moscow, a lawyer, checked his email and found what appeared to be a clue. Mr. Moscow, a former top prosecutor in the Manhattan district attorney’s office, was one of several people copied on an email in which Mr. Levinson, or someone pretending to be him, pleaded for help from American officials.	Several months after Mr. Levinson’s disappearance, another of his acquaintances in New York, John Moscow, a lawyer, checked his email and found what appeared to be a clue. Mr. Moscow, a former top prosecutor in the Manhattan district attorney’s office, was one of several people copied on an email in which Mr. Levinson, or someone pretending to be him, pleaded for help from American officials.
Mr. Moscow said he had turned the email over to the F.B.I., adding that he had never heard back from bureau officials. “They told me they would handle it,” he said.	Mr. Moscow said he had turned the email over to the F.B.I., adding that he had never heard back from bureau officials. “They told me they would handle it,” he said.
F.B.I. officials told Mr. Levinson’s family that they thought the email was a fake. But three years later, when an email arrived containing a video showing him as a hostage, it seemed that the bureau may have made a critical mistake. The 2007 email received by Mr. Moscow and the 2010 message with the video were sent from Gmail accounts bearing nearly identical names, according to a new book about Mr. Levinson and the search for him.	F.B.I. officials told Mr. Levinson’s family that they thought the email was a fake. But three years later, when an email arrived containing a video showing him as a hostage, it seemed that the bureau may have made a critical mistake. The 2007 email received by Mr. Moscow and the 2010 message with the video were sent from Gmail accounts bearing nearly identical names, according to a new book about Mr. Levinson and the search for him.
A spokeswoman for the F.B.I., Lindsay Ram, declined to comment.	A spokeswoman for the F.B.I., Lindsay Ram, declined to comment.
Over time, the F.B.I. employed an unusual cast of characters to search for Mr. Levinson, including a billionaire Russian oligarch, Oleg Deripaska. Frustrated by the lack of progress, Mr. O’Brien decided to take action.	Over time, the F.B.I. employed an unusual cast of characters to search for Mr. Levinson, including a billionaire Russian oligarch, Oleg Deripaska. Frustrated by the lack of progress, Mr. O’Brien decided to take action.
He first tried to hire a researcher in Tehran to search through newspapers and public records for any mention of Mr. Levinson. That approach never got off the ground. In 2009, two F.B.I. agents based in Washington called and said they wanted to see him.	He first tried to hire a researcher in Tehran to search through newspapers and public records for any mention of Mr. Levinson. That approach never got off the ground. In 2009, two F.B.I. agents based in Washington called and said they wanted to see him.
Mr. O’Brien said he met the agents at the Gracie Mews Diner on the Upper East Side. The men initially stood by the government’s explanation for Mr. Levinson’s presence in Iran. But when Mr. O’Brien pressed his visitors, they began to open up to him.	Mr. O’Brien said he met the agents at the Gracie Mews Diner on the Upper East Side. The men initially stood by the government’s explanation for Mr. Levinson’s presence in Iran. But when Mr. O’Brien pressed his visitors, they began to open up to him.
The F.B.I. agents told him there was infighting at the C.I.A. about how to react publicly and privately to Mr. Levinson’s disappearance. “This was going to embarrass the C.I.A.,” he said, “and these agents didn’t feel like the agency was telling them the truth.”	The F.B.I. agents told him there was infighting at the C.I.A. about how to react publicly and privately to Mr. Levinson’s disappearance. “This was going to embarrass the C.I.A.,” he said, “and these agents didn’t feel like the agency was telling them the truth.”
The agents also told him, he added, that the National Security Council was considering issuing an official protest accusing Iran of holding Mr. Levinson as a hostage, a step the Obama administration never took. Ms. Ram, the F.B.I. spokeswoman, declined to comment, as did a spokeswoman for the security council, Dew Tiantawach.	The agents also told him, he added, that the National Security Council was considering issuing an official protest accusing Iran of holding Mr. Levinson as a hostage, a step the Obama administration never took. Ms. Ram, the F.B.I. spokeswoman, declined to comment, as did a spokeswoman for the security council, Dew Tiantawach.
In 2012, however, Mr. O’Brien saw an opening. Earlier, he had urged one of his neighbors at his weekend place in the Poconos, a former Iranian army general, to ask about Mr. Levinson during a trip home. The man had reported back that his best friend there, a well-connected Iranian general, had been afraid to talk. But Mr. O’Brien was soon able to use a tactic familiar to Mr. Levinson: turning a source’s misfortune to his favor.	In 2012, however, Mr. O’Brien saw an opening. Earlier, he had urged one of his neighbors at his weekend place in the Poconos, a former Iranian army general, to ask about Mr. Levinson during a trip home. The man had reported back that his best friend there, a well-connected Iranian general, had been afraid to talk. But Mr. O’Brien was soon able to use a tactic familiar to Mr. Levinson: turning a source’s misfortune to his favor.
When Mr. O’Brien visited his Iranian-American friend to wish him a happy Father’s Day, he found the man distraught because the F.B.I. had just arrested his son on fraud charges. Sensing a deal, Mr. O’Brien offered to seek a reduced sentence for his son from the Justice Department if he went back to Iran and told his former colleague there that he needed information about Mr. Levinson to save his child.	When Mr. O’Brien visited his Iranian-American friend to wish him a happy Father’s Day, he found the man distraught because the F.B.I. had just arrested his son on fraud charges. Sensing a deal, Mr. O’Brien offered to seek a reduced sentence for his son from the Justice Department if he went back to Iran and told his former colleague there that he needed information about Mr. Levinson to save his child.
The man agreed and went back to Iran, where he awaited a green light, telling him a deal had been struck. But he never got that signal, because Mr. O’Brien said that everyone he contacted at the Justice Department and the F.B.I. threw up a roadblock.	The man agreed and went back to Iran, where he awaited a green light, telling him a deal had been struck. But he never got that signal, because Mr. O’Brien said that everyone he contacted at the Justice Department and the F.B.I. threw up a roadblock.
“We have tried to make deals, and they have not produced anything credible,” one F.B.I. official told him, he said.	“We have tried to make deals, and they have not produced anything credible,” one F.B.I. official told him, he said.
When Mr. Levinson’s friends left Old Tbilisi Garden, it was with a sense of sadness and regret. Many of his former colleagues and acquaintances remain angry with the way federal officials have handled his case.	When Mr. Levinson’s friends left Old Tbilisi Garden, it was with a sense of sadness and regret. Many of his former colleagues and acquaintances remain angry with the way federal officials have handled his case.