The 5 Shocking Truths About Benjamin Barry Kramer’s Current Status (Is The 'Speedboat King' Still Alive?)
The question of whether Benjamin Barry Kramer is still alive remains one of the most frequently searched queries related to the notorious figures of the 1980s South Florida drug trade. As of December 24, 2025, the definitive answer is yes: the former offshore powerboat champion and convicted criminal is still alive and remains in federal custody, serving a life sentence for his involvement in a massive Continuing Criminal Enterprise (CCE) and a concurrent sentence for the notorious murder of powerboat mogul Don Aronow. His life story reads like a Hollywood script, filled with world-class racing, extravagant wealth, drug smuggling, and a spectacular, failed prison escape attempt.
The saga of Benjamin "Barry" Kramer is a deep dive into the high-stakes world of the "Cocaine Cowboys" era, where fast boats, fast money, and a violent end were common. This article cuts through the rumors to reveal the five most shocking truths about the man once known as the "Speedboat King" and his current status within the U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP).
Benjamin Barry Kramer: A Brief Profile and Biography
Born in the mid-1950s, Benjamin Barry Kramer rose to prominence in the 1980s as a flamboyant figure in the world of high-performance offshore powerboat racing. His public life was marked by extreme wealth, high-speed competition, and a jet-setter lifestyle. However, his success in racing was merely a front for a massive international marijuana smuggling operation that generated hundreds of millions of dollars.
- Full Name: Benjamin Barry Kramer
- Nickname: "Speedboat King," "Ben Kramer"
- Date of Birth: Mid-1950s (Exact date often unconfirmed in public records)
- Place of Birth: Likely Hollywood, Florida, USA
- Primary Occupation (Public): Offshore Powerboat Racing Champion (U.S. Open Class)
- Criminal Convictions: Continuing Criminal Enterprise (CCE) for marijuana smuggling, Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana, Manslaughter (plea deal in Don Aronow murder case), Attempted Prison Escape.
- Sentences: Mandatory Life Imprisonment without parole (CCE), plus a concurrent 19-year sentence (Manslaughter).
- Last Known Location (2015): United States Penitentiary (USP) Coleman, Florida.
- Marital Status: Unknown (details of personal life are scarce post-incarceration).
- Notorious Assets: Owned a $150-million casino, raced a famous Apache 47 powerboat.
1. The Definitive Answer: Kramer is Still Alive and Imprisoned
The most pressing question, "is Benjamin Barry Kramer still alive," can be answered with certainty: Yes, he is. There are no credible, recent obituaries for the infamous race boat driver. All public records, including legal filings from 2015, confirm his status as an active federal inmate.
Kramer is currently serving his decades-long sentence within the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) system. His incarceration is primarily due to a mandatory life sentence handed down for operating a massive drug smuggling ring, categorized as a Continuing Criminal Enterprise (CCE).
While the exact facility may change over time, legal documents have previously placed him at the United States Penitentiary (USP) Coleman in Florida. Given his life sentence, his status as a federal prisoner is expected to remain unchanged.
2. His Connection to the Notorious Don Aronow Murder
Benjamin Barry Kramer's name is inextricably linked to one of the most infamous crimes in South Florida history: the 1987 assassination of powerboat legend and rival Don Aronow. Aronow, the founder of iconic boat brands like Cigarette and Formula, was gunned down in his car on Thunderboat Row.
Kramer was eventually convicted of ordering the hit on Aronow. The motive was reportedly a business dispute over a boat deal. In 1996, Kramer pleaded no contest to a manslaughter charge in state court. He agreed to a 19-year sentence to run concurrently with his existing federal life sentence for drug trafficking.
This plea deal was a strategic move, as it allowed him to avoid a state murder trial where jailhouse snitches were prepared to testify that Kramer had implicated himself in the killing. His conviction for ordering the assassination remains a key, dark chapter in his legacy.
3. The Spectacular, Failed Helicopter Escape Attempt
Kramer’s notoriety reached a fever pitch in 1990 when he orchestrated one of the most audacious prison escape attempts in U.S. history. While awaiting trial at the Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) near Miami, Kramer arranged for a helicopter to pluck him from the prison yard.
The escape failed spectacularly. A Bell helicopter descended into the recreation area, but as Kramer attempted to climb aboard, the helicopter crashed. The crash seriously injured Kramer and the pilot, ultimately foiling the jailbreak.
This attempt added an additional layer of criminal charges and cemented his reputation as a volatile, desperate, and high-risk inmate. The incident is a prime example of the extreme measures Kramer would take to avoid his life sentence.
4. The Rise and Fall of the Offshore Powerboat Champion
Before his life of crime fully consumed him, Benjamin Barry Kramer was a legitimate force in the world of high-speed offshore powerboat racing. He was the reigning U.S. Open Class Offshore Powerboat Champion, a title that came with significant fame and prestige in the 1980s.
Kramer's racing vessel, an iconic Apache 47 named "Apache Warpath," was a symbol of his wealth and his aggressive, risk-taking personality. The sport of offshore racing in that era was closely intertwined with the drug trade, as the powerful, fast boats were perfectly suited for smuggling operations. Kramer was a millionaire jet-setter who raced titanic ocean racers, but this glamorous facade was built on the illicit profits of massive marijuana trafficking.
The contrast between his life as a champion athlete and his conviction as a Continuing Criminal Enterprise (CCE) leader highlights the dramatic corruption of South Florida's '80s drug culture.
5. Why He is Serving a Life Sentence Without Parole
The primary reason Benjamin Barry Kramer is still incarcerated, despite the 19-year manslaughter sentence being concurrent, is his conviction under the Continuing Criminal Enterprise (CCE) statute. This federal charge is often referred to as the "Kingpin" statute, reserved for those who organize, supervise, or manage a large-scale criminal operation.
Kramer was found guilty of leading a massive marijuana smuggling ring. For crimes committed before a certain date, the CCE conviction carried a mandatory term of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. While he has launched numerous legal challenges from prison—including a motion filed as recently as 2015—his conviction and mandatory life sentence have been upheld by the courts.
His attempts to secure release, often citing legal technicalities or changes in sentencing guidelines, have been consistently denied. Therefore, Benjamin Barry Kramer’s current status is that of a federal prisoner serving a life sentence, a stark and permanent end to the glamorous life of the "Speedboat King."
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