Sean Ludwick: Difference between revisions

Ludwick is from [[Manhattan]], in New York City, was raised in [[Nassau County, New York]], and split his time between a townhouse on [[Sutton Place, Manhattan|Sutton Place]] in Manhattan and a house in [[Bridgehampton, New York]].<ref name=gans/><ref name=paint/><ref>{{cite web | url=https://therealdeal.com/new-york/2015/09/03/son-of-anarchy-sean-ludwicks-destructive-journey/ | title=Son of anarchy: Sean Ludwick's destructive journey; BlackHouse Development chief's career marked by controversies, both personal and professional|work=The Real Deal|author=Mark Maurer| date=3 September 2015 }}</ref> His father is from [[Flatbush]] in [[Brooklyn, New York]], his mother is from Peru, and he speaks Spanish.<ref name=hot>Jason Sheftell (April 29, 2010).[https://reuveni.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/04.29.10-NY-Daily-News-News-Hottest-in-town-Park-Slope-gets-dose-of-cool-modern-architecture.pdf "Hottest in town! Park Slope gets dose of cool modern architecture with 580 Carroll by Enrique Norten,"] ''The New York Daily News''.</ref> He is six feet (183&nbsp;cm) tall and weighs 230 pounds (104&nbsp;kg).<ref name=violent>{{cite news | url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-most-violent-man-in-the-hamptons | title=The Most Violent Man in the Hamptons?; Hamptons Menace; Before leaving a friend for dead in his Porsche, real estate mogul Sean Ludwick was arrested for drunk driving and allegedly beat his girlfriend.| newspaper=The Daily Beast | date=September 3, 2015 | last1=Daly | first1=Michael }}</ref>

He married Pamela Ludwick and has two sons.<ref name=years/><ref name=mogul>{{cite web | url=https://www.easthamptonstar.com/archive/real-estate-mogul-held-500000-bail|date=August 31, 2015|author=Taylor K. Vecsey| title=Real Estate Mogul Held on $500,000 Bail|work=The East Hampton Star }}</ref> His wife filed for divorce in 2016.<ref name=violent>{{cite news | url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-most-violent-man-in-the-hamptons | title=The Most Violent Man in the Hamptons?; Hamptons Menace; Before leaving a friend for dead in his Porsche, real estate mogul Sean Ludwick was arrested for drunk driving and allegedly beat his girlfriend.| newspaper=The Daily Beast | date=September 3, 2015 | last1=Daly | first1=Michael }}</ref> He enjoys painting as a hobby, including painting murals.<ref name=day>{{cite web | url=https://therealdeal.com/magazine/new-york-october-2014/day-in-the-life-of-2/ | title=Day in the life of; The BlackHouse chief talks about Chinese salutations, painting murals and late-night fried chicken|work=The Real Deal|author=Mark Maurer|date=October 1, 2014 }}</ref><ref name=paint/> On September 9, 2015, 10 days after he crashed his car in a hit-and-run in which his passenger died, he put his Bridgehampton property, as well as his Manhattan Sutton Place townhouse, into the names of limited liability corporations.<ref name=years/> He reportedly had assets of $20 million when he entered prison.<ref name=years/> In 2021 his wife Pamela sold the Sutton Place townhouse.<ref name=years/> He lives in Bridgehampton, New York, in a 5,884-square-foot (547 meters squared){{convert|5884|sqft|adj=on}} home.<ref name=years/>

The residential development firm has built a number of luxury condos and hotels. Included among them are the 56-room Hotel Americano overlooking the [[High Line]] in Manhattan, and a residential tower near the High Line in which every unit would havehas 20-foot (6 meter) ceilings, outsize windows, and a private swimming pool.<ref name=violent/><ref name=years/><ref name=go>{{cite web | url=https://gothamist.com/news/real-estate-agent-dead-after-allegedly-drunk-developer-crashes-porsche-in-the-hamptons | title=Real Estate Agent Dead After Allegedly Drunk Developer Crashes Porsche in the Hamptons|work=Gothamist|author=John Del Signore | date=31 August 2015 }}</ref><ref name=rise>Daniel Geiger (April 10, 2014). [https://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20140410/REAL_ESTATE/140419984/700-foot-condo-hotel-to-rise-on-west-38th-street "700-foot condo/hotel to rise on West 38th Street,"] ''Crains New York''.</ref>

In 2010 he developed 580 Carroll Street in the [[Park Slope]] neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, of which the architect was [[Enrique Norten]], a 17-unit five-story building thatdesigned Ludwickby describedarchitect as[[Enrique "starkly modern and coolNorten]]."<ref>{{cite web | url=https://ny.curbed.com/2010/6/22/10511176/exploring-the-green-grass-and-shiny-glass-of-580-carroll|author= Joey Arak|work=New York Curbed| title=Exploring the Green Grass and Shiny Glass of 580 Carroll | date=22 June 2010 }}</ref><ref name=hot/>

In 2013, discussing two new luxury buildings Black House was planning to build two luxury buildings on [[29th Street (Manhattan)|West 29th Street]] in the West [[Chelsea, Manhattan|Chelsea]] neighborhood in Manhattan, he said: "Blackhouse collaborates with world-class architects and innovative designers to offer a distinctive portfolio of properties that change the narrative of real estate development in New York."<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20130729/chelsea/ultra-luxe-apartments-with-private-pools-coming-west-chelsea/ | title=Ultra-Luxe Apartments with Private Pools Coming to West Chelsea | author=Mathew Katz | date=July 29, 2013 | work=DNA Info | access-date=July 18, 2024 | archive-date=January 29, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230129221011/https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20130729/chelsea/ultra-luxe-apartments-with-private-pools-coming-west-chelsea/ | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=violent/>

In September 2014, Ludwick's Black House made a filingfiled for a [[mixed-use]] building, the Hudson Rise Hotel, at 462-470 11th Avenue.<ref name=permits>{{cite web | url=https://newyorkyimby.com/2014/09/permits-filed-700-foot-hudson-rise-hotel-462-470-11th-avenue.html | author=Stephen Smith|title=Permits Filed: 700-Foot Hudson Rise Hotel, 462-470 11th Avenue | date=September 22, 2014 |work=New York YIMBY}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.6sqft.com/person/sean-ludwick/ | title=Sean Ludwick; New Renderings for Chinese Lantern-Inspired Skyscraper at 470 Eleventh Avenue|date=January 2, 2016|author=Ondel Hylton|work= 6sqft }}</ref> It was to include 242 hotel rooms, 108 condo hotel rooms, and 47 regular condominiums.<ref name=permits/> It was planned to be 700 feet (213 meters) tall, and have 47 stories with average floor-to-floor heights of approximately 15 feet (5 meters).<ref name=permits/> In October 2014, it was reported that Ludwick was buying a Hudson Yards [[strip club]] for $40 million, with the purchase expected to close in December 2015.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://therealdeal.com/new-york/2014/10/02/blackhouses-sean-ludwick-to-buy-hudson-yards-strip-club-for-40m-sources/ | title=BlackHouse's Sean Ludwick to buy Hudson Yards strip club for $40M: Sources|author=Mark Maurer |work=The Real Deal| date=October 2, 2014 }}</ref>

Ludwick sued his partners for trying to force him out, and in response they said in a motion to have Ludwick's complaint dismissed: they stated "Plaintiff's behavior became erratic. He was arrested multiple times, including for assault and battery with a deadly weapon, and breaking into and painting penises in his girlfriend's apartment. The publicity surrounding his arrests damaged the business ... by, among other things, causing lenders to withdraw their financing offers or change the terms under which they would provide financing."<ref name=violent/> Ludwick then dropped his lawsuit.<ref name=violent/>

In 2009, Ludwick was convicted and found guilty of [[driving while impaired]].<ref name=yahoo>{{cite web | url=https://ca.news.yahoo.com/2015-08-31-real-estate-developer-allegedly-left-friend-to-die-after-drunken-21229810.html | title=Real-estate developer allegedly left friend to die after drunken Hamptons car crash | date=September 2015|work=Yahoo|author=Brittany Vanbibber}}</ref><ref name=ford>[https://ir.lawnet.fordham.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2304&context=aad "Statement of Appeals Unit Findings & Recommendation; Inmate Name: LUDWICK, SEAN; Facility: Gowanda Correctional Facility,"] State of New York Board of Parole, December 28, 2018.</ref>

In February 2014 when, Ludwick was 41 years of age he was arrested on charges, which he admitted to, that he brokehad broken into a former mistress's New York City apartment and, in a rage, drawn penises on artwork which he had originally painted and given to her, knifed the words "Studio Art" onto two stools, and dumped a large amount of paint on the floor.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://issuu.com/trdpages/docs/036trd0414 | title=In their words ... |page=36|work=The Real Deal| date=28 March 2014 }}</ref><ref name=man>[https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2014/02/25/Man-went-to-exs-painted-penis-on-own-artwork/87351393356496/ "Odd news: Man went to ex's, painted penis on own artwork,"] UPI, February 25, 2014.</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://tribecacitizen.com/2014/02/26/in-the-news-penis-painting-revenge-plot/|date=February 26, 2014|work=Tribeca Citizen| title= In the News: Penis-Painting Revenge Plot }}</ref><ref name=gans/><ref name=yahoo/><ref>{{cite web | url=https://ny.curbed.com/2014/2/25/10139584/oh-developers | title=Oh, Developers |author= Jeremiah Budin |work=Curbed | date=25 February 2014 }}</ref> Ludwick also allegedly used his ex's computer to send lewd emails to executives at her company, posing as her, saying she had engaged in relationships with married men, including her then-current supervisor.<ref name=man/><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/sean-ludwick-paints-penises_n_4868521 | title=Real Estate Mogul Sean Ludwick Allegedly Paints Penises In Ex's Home|author=David Moye|work=The Huffington Post | date=27 February 2014 }}</ref> He was furious that his mistress might be cheating on him, while he was cheating with her on his wife.<ref name=violent/> The ''[[Gothamist]]'' wrote: "When the going gets tough, the tough draw penises."<ref>{{cite web |author=Lauren Evans| url=https://gothamist.com/news/jilted-real-estate-exec-retaliates-with-penis-drawings | title=Jilted Real Estate Exec Retaliates with Penis Drawings|work=Gothamist | date=February 25, 2014 }}</ref> He was charged with computer [[trespassing]], aggravated [[harassment]], [[criminal mischief]], [[stalking]] and [[Identity fraud|impersonation]].<ref name=man/><ref name=ford/> He pleaded guilty to harassment, was given a [[conditional discharge]], and was ordered to undergo [[anger management therapy]].<ref name=violent/>

In March 2014, he was arrested for, and ultimately admitted to, [[assault]] and [[battery (crime)|battery]] and [[property destruction]] after Ludwickhe had had a fight with a girlfriend.<ref name=awful>{{cite web | url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2015/08/developer-left-friend-to-die-after-drunken-crash.html|work=New York Magazine|author= Caroline Bankoff | title=Awful things: Real-Estate Developer Allegedly Left Friend to die After Drunken Hamptons Car Crash | date=August 31, 2015 }}</ref><ref name=yahoo/><ref name=ford/><ref>{{cite web | url=https://therealdeal.com/new-york/2015/03/03/blackhouses-sean-ludwick-pleaded-guilty-to-assault-and-battery/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter | title=BlackHouse's Sean Ludwick admitted to assault, battery|work=The Real Deal | date=March 3, 2015 }}</ref>

On August 30, 2015, when he was 42 years old, Ludwick was arrested by Southampton Town police.<ref name=yahoo/><ref name=years/><ref name=sues>{{cite web | url=https://www.easthamptonstar.com/archive/hansen-family-sues-alleged-drunken-driver | title=Hansen Family Sues Alleged Drunken Driver|work=The East Hampton Star|date=November 12, 2015|author=Taylor K. Vecsey }}</ref> He had drunkenly crashed his silver 2013 [[Porsche 911 (991)|Porsche Carrera]] at high speed into a telephone pole in the village of [[Sag Harbor]] in Long Island, New York, at around 2:30&nbsp;a.m.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QYLUDAAAQBAJ&dq=%22Sean+Ludwick%22%5C&pg=PT148 | isbn=978-0-316-46528-1 | title=Monsters of the Ivy League | date= 2017|author= Ellis Weiner and Steve Radlauer| publisher=Little, Brown }}</ref><ref name=noyaccrash/><ref name=years/><ref name=violent/><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/real-estate-executive-arrest-dwi-death-hamptons-new-york-city-sean-ludwick/2009741/ | title=New York City Real Estate Executive Arrested in Deadly Hamptons DWI Crash|work=NBC New York | date=31 August 2015 }}</ref><ref name=ford/> He then allegedly then dragged the body of his critically injured passenger and friend, 53-year-old Paul Hansen, from his damaged car, dumped the body and left it lying in the street—on the block and 100 feet from where Hansen lived with his wife and sons ages 11 and 13, and where Ludwick's son was for a sleepover—and threw Hansen's wallet into the woods, and then drove away.<ref name=violent/><ref name=paper>{{cite web | url=https://www.danspapers.com/2016/01/heres-what-sean-ludwick-may-have-read-on-google/ | title=Here's What Sean Ludwick May Have Read on Google|work= Dan's Papers | date=29 January 2016 }}</ref><ref name=years/><ref name=go/><ref name=yahoo/><ref name=speaks>{{cite web | url=https://behindthehedges.com/sean-ludwick-hansen-family-prison-release/ | title=Hansen Family Speaks Out on Sean Ludwick's Release from Prison|author= Taylor K. Vecsey|work=Behind the Hedges | date=February 22, 2022 }}</ref> Hansen was pronounced dead at the scene.<ref name=yahoo/>

Given Ludwick's refusal to take a breathalyzer test, the police ultimately obtained a court order to takefor a blood test.<ref name=violent/> Ludwick's blood was drawn five hours after the crash, and his level of intoxication ([[Bloodblood alcohol content|BAC]]) was over twice the New York State legal limit at .18 of 1 percent%.<ref name=noyaccrash/><ref name=years/><ref name=ford/><ref name=charged/>

Ludwick was charged in Southampton Town Justice Court with [[driving while intoxicated]] and [[leaving the scene of an accident|leaving the scene of a fatal accident]] (a [[felony]]), and Ludwick's wife attended the hearing.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://patch.com/new-york/easthampton/sean-ludwick-indicted-13-charges-week|author= Priscila Korb| title=Sean Ludwick Indicted on 13 Charges This Week; Ludwick could possibly face up to a total of over 30 years in prison if he is found guilty.|work=Patch| date=December 18, 2015 }}</ref><ref name=violent/> His lawyer argued that Ludwick was unlikely to seek to flee, as he was "a major real estate developer in the United States and across the world, quite frankly.".<ref name=violent/> However, Southampton town justice Deborah Kooperstein insisted on a high $1 million bond because, she said, his previous "behaviors indicate a risk" that he would flee, and also suspended his driving privileges, calling him "a dangerous driver.".<ref name=years/><ref name=mogul/> In December 2015 he was indicted by a [[grand jury]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.danspapers.com/2015/12/sean-ludwick-indicted-on-vehicular-homicide-charges/ | title=Sean Ludwick Indicted on Vehicular Homicide Charges |work= Dan's Papers |date=22 December 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.newsday.com/long-island/crime/sean-ludwick-manhattan-developer-indicted-in-friend-s-death-from-crash-records-show-n57726 |title=Sean Ludwick, Manhattan developer, indicted in friend's death from crash, records show|work=Newsday |date=December 23, 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.27east.com/southampton-press/sean-ludwick-indicted-on-13-charges-including-vehicular-homicide-in-fatal-crash-716351/ | title=Sean Ludwick Indicted on 13 Charges Including Vehicular Homicide in Fatal Crash|author=Alisha Steindecker|work=The Southampton Press| date=December 17, 2015 }}</ref> He faced 32 years in prison on the 13-count indictment.<ref name=years/>

AsWhile he was free on $1 million bond, Ludwick allegedly made plans to skip bail and flee the country.<ref name=years/><ref name=charged/><ref name=paper/> He traveled to Puerto Rico, where he took sailing lessons, tried to buy withoffered $400,000 in cash for a large boat capable of taking him to South America (and wired $385,000 to Puerto Rico to complete the purchase), and searched the internet for countries that did not have [[extradition treaties]] with the United States.<ref name=sea>{{cite web | url=https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/ny-executive-held-after-alleged-bid-to-flee-to-south-america/ | title=NY executive held after alleged bid to flee to South America|work=The Seattle Times|author= Frank Eltman | date=January 26, 2016 }}</ref><ref name=seven>{{cite web | url=https://abc7ny.com/sean-ludwick-paul-hansen-crash-hampsons/2314721/ | title=New York developer who plotted South America escape pleads guilty|work=ABC7|date= August 16, 2017}}</ref><ref name=no>{{cite web | url=https://www.easthamptonstar.com/archive/no-parole-sean-ludwick | title=No Parole for Sean Ludwick; Denial cites 'lack of empathy' after fatal D.W.I.|work=The East Hampton Star|date=September 20, 2018|author=Taylor K. Vecsey }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/prosecutor-exec-charged-in-fatal-crash-tried-to-flee-us/ | title=Prosecutor: Exec charged in fatal crash tried to flee United States| website=[[CBS News]] | date=January 20, 2016 }}</ref> He also searched the internet for, among other things, "10 secrets to being a good liar,", "Why do fugitives get caught?", "Percentage of bail jumpers caught," and "Does Venezuela extradite to the U.S.?", it was revealed at a bail hearing.<ref name=paper/><ref name=complex>{{cite web | url=https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/a/debbie-encalada/man-facing-fatal-dui-charge-planned-to-escape-caught-google-history | title=Man Accused of Deadly DUI Planned to Flee the Country, Caught Because of Google Search History |author=Debbie Encalada|date=January 26, 2016| website=[[Complex Networks]] }}</ref>

An [[FBI agent]] moonlighting as a sailing instructor became suspicious of Ludwick, who had asked him questions about the ability of the boat to make it to South America and about extradition laws, and contacted authorities.<ref name=sea/><ref name=seven/> Ludwick was tracked via his cell phone and apprehended by local authorities and the [[U.S. Marshals Service]].<ref name=charged/> A prosecutor said that Ludwick had tried to flee to South America.<ref name=charged/> In February 2016, in light of that, a judge deemed him a flight risk, ordered that he be held without bail, and sent him to prison at the Suffolk County Correctional Facility.<ref name=boys/><ref name=years/><ref name=paper/><ref name=complex/> The judge said: "I don't think any amount of bail would assure his return to court. He's remanded."<ref name=sea/>

In August 2017, Ludwick pleaded guilty to and was convicted of aggravated [[vehicular homicide]] and [[leaving the scene of an accident]] that resulted in a death, as well as aggravated [[driving while intoxicated]], in the [[Central Islip]] courtroom of [[New York State Supreme Court]] Justice Fernando Camacho; in January 2016 he had initially pled not guilty.<ref name=noyaccrash/><ref name=years/><ref name=charged/> He was sentenced to three to nine years in a [[plea deal]], less than the five to 15 years the prosecution had requested, and in return Ludwick waived any right to appeal.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nydailynews.com/2017/08/15/nyc-real-estate-developer-pleads-guilty-in-long-island-crash-that-killed-his-pal/ | title=NYC real estate developer pleads guilty in Long Island crash that killed his pal|author=Larry McShane| website=[[New York Daily News]] | date=August 15, 2017 }}</ref><ref name=noyaccrash/><ref name=years/><ref name=ford/><ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.nydailynews.com/2017/10/18/nyc-real-estate-developer-who-killed-friend-by-crashing-porsche-while-boozed-up-gets-3-to-9-years-in-prison/ | title=NYC real estate developer who killed friend by crashing Porsche while boozed up gets 3 to 9 years in prison | website=[[New York Daily News]]|author=Reuven Blau | date=October 18, 2017 }}</ref> The sentencing judge said: "if it was a crime to be a coward and a horrible human being, you would be guilty on all counts and deserve a sentence of life imprisonment."<ref name=ford/>

Ludwick was released from New York State prison in Otisville, where he washad been inmate number 17A4448, on January 12, 2022.<ref name=speaks/> He was 49 years of age.<ref name=years/> Ludwick had to be released from custody by law, due to the fact that he had served five years in prison in total.<ref name=years/><ref name=speaks/>

*[[Darion Conner]], sentenced to and serving 15 years in prison for vehicular homicide with a BAC (blood alcohol content) of .27