Eric Benjamin Harlem’s Downfall

In December 2021, Eric Benjamin Harlem seemed to be thriving. He was not only an LAPD officer but also had several lucrative side ventures, according to business records and court documents.

His endeavors included personal security services, an app designed for actors seeking auditions, and an exotic car rental business called Drycruising, which was gaining traction with rappers, influencers, and executives.

However, Harlem’s seemingly stable life began to fall apart. Records related to an ongoing lawsuit indicate he left his LAPD position after being subjected to an internal investigation. Earlier this year, state authorities accused him of insurance fraud.

Recently, Los Angeles County prosecutors charged him with orchestrating a home invasion robbery alongside an associate with deep ties to Israel’s underworld. The details of how Harlem became involved with his alleged co-conspirator remain unclear.

This associate, known as Ben, has a history of fraud convictions and was a business partner of someone referred to as “religious Moshe.” Authorities label them as leaders in the underground Israeli crime scene connected to gangs operating out of the San Fernando Valley.

On December 28, 2024, Harlem, Ben, and another individual named Mishael Mann allegedly targeted an apartment in Koreatown, according to a declaration by Guillermo de La Riva opposing Harlem’s bail. Pierre Louis, aged 26, arranged a meeting with the victims under the pretense of a “digital currency transaction,” which enabled three accomplices to enter the building and lay in wait for the victims.

Once inside, the perpetrators reportedly handcuffed the victims and forced one at gunpoint to transfer funds from a cryptocurrency account, fleeing with about $300,000 in cash, cryptocurrency, and jewelry. De La Riva expressed a belief that more victims might come forward as a result of Harlem’s arrest.

LAPD detectives apprehended Harlem earlier this month and obtained a search warrant for a $2.1 million home he had moved into in Porter Ranch, a picturesque area in the Santa Susana Mountains. At this residence, they recovered at least one firearm belonging to Harlem’s former police partner.

Harlem, 37, who had been involved with Ben, pleaded not guilty to charges of robbery and conspiracy after the judge denied his bail request, leading to his detention at Men’s Central Prison. His attorney, George G. Magdeshuan, refrained from commenting, stating he had yet to examine the evidence against his client.

Harlem also pleaded not guilty in the state insurance fraud case, while Ben, now 51, faces federal immigration hold in Florida.

Louis, Mann, and another defendant, Louis Banueros, have pleaded not guilty to felony charges as well. Their lawyers have chosen not to make statements regarding the case.

In the course of investigating the robbery, LAPD detectives also scrutinized Harlem’s side businesses to determine if any criminal elements had financed them or if his ventures were linked to money laundering, according to anonymous sources familiar with the ongoing investigation.

Recently, Drycruising has found success, renting out an exclusive fleet of luxury cars, including a Bentley Continental GT and a Lamborghini Urus, gaining nearly 60,000 followers on Instagram. Harlem even co-hosted a podcast appealing to car enthusiasts and was reportedly in talks for a reality show centered around his lifestyle. On social media, he cultivated an image of a carefree entrepreneur, sharing photos of himself on private jets and sitting courtside at NBA games.

The app he launched in 2017, Kaypr, connected aspiring actors with available roles, allowing them to audition remotely. His security business catered to events, with prominent figures like film producer Randall Emmett as clients, despite Emmett facing allegations of fraud himself.

In an online blog post, Harlem described himself as a thrill-seeker, drawn to “speed, accuracy, and calculated chaos.”

Originating from Los Angeles, Harlem attended UC Riverside before joining the LAPD. He dedicated nearly 13 years to serving as a training officer and was recognized as a sharpshooter. His final posting was within the West Valley Division, an area dealing with crimes often linked to Israeli organized crime.

A serious incident in 2014 left Harlem injured when a suspect attacked him in his apartment. The LAPD Review Board later determined that his use of a beanbag shotgun during the confrontation aligned with department policies.

By his departure from the LAPD in 2022, Harlem’s earnings amounted to $188,500 in salary and benefits, though his side businesses evidently proved more lucrative. During an internal investigation, he allegedly claimed yearly profits exceeding $1 million from Drive-LA.

Harlem faced numerous litigations, including one where WhatsApp conversations indicated some LAPD officers might have been implicated in his business dealings. The sergeant involved expressed concerns about the potential consequences for any officers involved in his activities.

Whether the LAPD investigated further connections remains unclear. Though the department cleared Harlem of direct insurance fraud accusations, the state Department of Insurance has since accused him and his brother Jacob of misrepresenting details in a $200,000 insurance claim related to a Bentley crash in January 2023.

Following his resignation from the LAPD, Harlem continued working as an unpaid reserve officer, but in March, he lost his police authority amidst fraud charges.

Ben, having migrated from Israel to the San Fernando Valley, previously delved into real estate and assisted at his late mother’s restaurant. He has been characterized by federal prosecutors as a flashy individual drawn to luxury watches. Allegations suggest his connections with the Israeli mafia facilitated money laundering through Jewish-owned businesses.

After each fraud conviction, Ben faced deportation. Prosecutors have claimed he utilized a scheme in which individuals would open bank accounts on his behalf for a token sum. Along with his brother Amin, he has been accused of duping elderly individuals while posing as an HVAC technician.

Wiretaps indicated that federal agents believed the brothers could navigate travel restrictions due to their ties with the Israeli Consulate, which purportedly provided travel documents. There are also allegations that the brothers threatened the families of LAPD detectives involved in their cases.

In a court document submitted by a leading LAPD detective, Ben’s business dealings with Matsuri were identified as central to the purported fraud scheme. They allegedly utilized their phone credit card authorization for the purchase of over 230 tickets valued at more than $600,000, which were resold locally at discounted prices.

When Ben and Matsuri were arrested in October 2010, law enforcement seized numerous luxury watches and firearms from Ben’s residence.

In 2015, Matsuri received a 32-year sentence tied to drug trafficking and money laundering efforts.

Property records show that Ben resided in an extravagant Hollywood Hills mansion until a lawsuit was filed against him for unpaid rent after five months, leading to a substantial financial claim. He remained at the residence until moving out in March.