Narcotics Operation and Murder of Nicholas Markowitz
Benjamin Markowitz had been one of the schoolmates that dispensed drugs for Hollywood. Jesse James started a successful auto insurance-scam where he would report one of the many cars that were registered to him stolen and collect the money. This scam was later found out by Benjamin, which irritated Hollywood. At nineteen years old, Jesse's drug operation proved so successful that he was able to afford a three-story white stucco home for $200,000, situated a few blocks away from the Markowitz household. Apart from hosting barbecues, he rarely talked to his neighbors, always having his head down and remaining silent. His everyday wardrobe consisted of blue jeans and tank tops. He kept two pitbulls tied to an elm tree in the backyard. Despite his thriving drug operation, he had no drug convictions except for being charged as a minor for possession of alcohol and resisting arrest. He supplied drugs to Ryan Hoyt, the man who would later be convicted for the murder of Nicholas Markowitz, and co-conspirators Jesse Rugge, William Skidmore, and Graham Pressley.
The feud between Benjamin Markowitz, Nicholas Markowitz's older half-brother, and Jesse James Hollywood, began over the alleged debt to Hollywood incurred by Ben Markowitz in the amount of $1,200. On August 6, 2000, Hollywood, Rugge, and Skidmore decided to confront Benjamin. On their way to see him, however, they saw Nicholas Markowitz walking on the side of the road, having run away from home. Hollywood, Rugge, and Skidmore decided to abduct Nicholas in broad daylight in order to hold him for ransom in lieu of Benjamin Markowitz's debt. They chased, assaulted, and abducted Nicholas, then escaped in a van. Hollywood then returned the van to the owner—his dad's friend John Roberts.
They drove up to Richard Hoeflinger's house, a friend of Rugge's. The crew bound Nick with duct tape, wrapping it around his mouth, wrists, and legs. Hollywood was being hostile with several guests, while trying to get hold of Ben Markowitz. Hollywood was unable to contact Ben. While Hoeflinger had a party, Hollywood warned several party-goers not to say anything about Nick's kidnapping. Hollywood untaped Markowitz and everyone was smoking weed, drinking, listening to rap music, and playing video games.
Hollywood convinced Rugge, who owed Hollywood a $2,000 drug debt, to hold onto Nick Markowitz for a couple of days until Hollywood contacted Ben. Hollywood deducted $300 from Rugge's debt for watching Nick.
On August 7, 2000, Hollywood went to Rugge's house. Some court records indicate that Rugge and Hollywood went to a restaurant along with Hollywood's girlfriend, while some indicate that Hollywood and his girlfriend went to Rugge's house to talk about Nick. Either way, no one was there with Rugge and Hollywood, regarding Hollywood's girlfriend. Discussing their options, Hollywood suggested to Rugge that they can't let Nick go, and to avoid jail time, they would have to kill him. Hollywood then offers Rugge between $2,000 and $2,500, plus erasing his drug debt, to kill Nick, which Rugge angrily refused. Rugge told Hollywood they should give Nick money as a bribe to keep his mouth shut. Hollywood was hesitant.
On August 8, 2000, Hollywood spoke to his attorney, Stephen Hogg, about the penalties for kidnapping that included ransom, which carries a mandatory life sentence in California. Hollywood was spooked and ran out of his attorney's house. Hollywood led everyone to believe that Nick was heading home soon, but he secretly hired Ryan Hoyt, a crew-member of Jesse's gang who was also $1,200 in debt to him, to kill Nick. Hollywood gave Hoyt a Tec-9. Hoyt decided to commit the murder in the Goleta Hills north of Santa Barbara, California. Hoyt held Graham at gunpoint and the two dug a shallow grave. Hoyt and Graham then returned to the hotel to pick up Nicholas and Rugge, and they drove to the mountains. Before Hoyt headed up to Lemon Tree Inn, Hollywood borrowed a vehicle that belonged to the mother of a friend, claiming he needed it to help him move; he really used it, however, as transportation to the murder scene. Hollywood let Hoyt drive the borrowed car, and Hollywood drove his girlfriend's car to celebrate her birthday at the Outback Steakhouse while Hoyt and the crew killed Nick Markowitz.
Within a few days, police began arresting the crew members based on tips.
Read more about this topic: Jesse James Hollywood
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