Law&Crime Sidebar - Judge Slams ‘Monster’ Hockey Doctor for Sexually Assaulting Young Players

Episode Date: May 1, 2025

Dr. Zvi Levran, 68, will spend at least the next decade behind bars after he was convicted of committing criminal sexual misconduct under the guise of medical exams and treatment. Levran, a prominent doctor who specialized in urology, worked closely with youth hockey players in the Detroit area. Law&Crime’s Jesse Weber discusses the judge’s takedown of Levran in court with retired NYPD detective Tom Smith.PLEASE SUPPORT THE SHOW:Check out Odoo for a true customer-centric tool for your sales needs with a free 15-day trial today at www.odoo.com/sidebarsalesHOST:Jesse Weber: https://twitter.com/jessecordweberLAW&CRIME SIDEBAR PRODUCTION:YouTube Management - Bobby SzokeVideo Editing - Michael Deininger, Christina O'Shea & Jay CruzScript Writing & Producing - Savannah Williamson & Juliana BattagliaGuest Booking - Alyssa Fisher & Diane KayeSocial Media Management - Vanessa BeinSTAY UP-TO-DATE WITH THE LAW&CRIME NETWORK:Watch Law&Crime Network on YouTubeTV: https://bit.ly/3td2e3yWhere To Watch Law&Crime Network: https://bit.ly/3akxLK5Sign Up For Law&Crime's Daily Newsletter: https://bit.ly/LawandCrimeNewsletterRead Fascinating Articles From Law&Crime Network: https://bit.ly/3td2IqoLAW&CRIME NETWORK SOCIAL MEDIA:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawandcrime/Twitter: https://twitter.com/LawCrimeNetworkFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/lawandcrimeTwitch: https://www.twitch.tv/lawandcrimenetworkTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lawandcrimeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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keep you on the edge of your seat. Don't let your fears take hold of you as you dive into this addictive series. Love thrillers with a paranormal twist? The entire Oracle trilogy is available on Audible. Listen now on Audible. You are the reason parents lie awake and night. You are the monster among us in society. You walk away here, a predator, and pedophile, and a disgrace to the medical profession. Those were the words of a Michigan judge to Dr. Zvi LeVron, a once trusted youth hockey doctor, now convicted of sexually abusing boys and young men. I'm going to break down how a respected physician used his position to hide as a predator in plain sight and how he was finally stopped.

We bring on Tom Smith in studio to talk more about it. Welcome to Sidebar, presented by Law and Crime, Jesse Weber. This all began when a 19-year-old came forward to the Farmington Hills Police Department with a very disturbing allegation, and it's one that's centered around Dr. Zvi Levran, a former board-certified urologist specializing in the urinary tract and genitalia. Yes, that is according to his own website in case you can believe me what a urologist is. But that's the point. If you haven't guessed where this is going yet, well, this young man described a horrifying

encounter during what was supposed to be a medical exam, one that allegedly took place in Dr. LeVron's home. And there, he claimed the doctor sexually assaulted him. The date was October 18, 22. Now, LeVron, a 68-year-old, well-known urologist with a home office in Farmington Hills and working out of a preparatory school in the West Bloomfield area of Michigan, was no ordinary physician. No, for two decades. He was known as the hockey dock providing medical care to youth hockey teams in Michigan and Minnesota. Parents trusted him. Kids looked up to him. But it was that trust that was shattered when police arrested LeBron in October 22 and charged him with four counts of third degree criminal sexual conduct and three counts of fourth degree criminal

sexual conduct. He ended up pleading not guilty to those charges, was released on bond with strict conditions, no contact with the minors, hockey players, staff, no more treating patients in his home. Now, that didn't last very long. We'll talk about it. But before we go any further into this, I want to bring on a special guest with me here in studio. We're joined by retired NYPD detective and co-host of the Gold Shield show. Tom Smith, Tom, good to see you. Thanks for coming in. Good to see you again, Jess. So somebody comes in with an allegation of sexual abuse, sexual assault against a very well-known figure. What do police departments do? You take your time. You know, you just methodically go through his story.

You get a sense of his emotions. And you need to be technically sound on this because you have to match up what he's telling you with maybe what evidence you can collect. If you have a victim saying it happened 25 times and then you further the investigation and he's only been there four times, that has to, you know, match up. So the gathering of the pinpoint precision you need to get the evidence against a. person has to be correct. The first thing I thought about was Larry Nassar, right? Absolutely. First thing I think about, and I think about this idea of the allegations where somebody uses their profession to commit the abuse, that's very common, right? Oh, it is, and that's the most evil part of it, because you're praying on people who are going

to come to you. You know, you're not going out looking for victims as other predators do. They're coming to you, and then you're, you know, manipulating what you do to create victims. and the trust there of not only the kids, but the parents and the community, you're using that as well. Can we talk about that because coaches, doctors, certain adults, you place trust in these people to take care of your children, to take care of yourself, right? What do you say about red flags? What do you, what do parents tell their children about red flags? What do they tell about themselves?

You expect to go in to be treated. How do you know if something's on the up and up or you're not going to be abused? I mean, it's a scary situation. What are the red flags to maybe look out for? That's the tough part, Jess, because no one talks about it. Because the kids are embarrassed, so they're not going to tell their parents or their parents aren't going to be able to tell anybody else. That is the most difficult part about this.

And with this case, you finally have one brave person, like the Larry Nassar case. Yeah. You know, you have that one person that just steps up and then it snowballs. And that's what you're hoping for because all of these, whenever you hear these stories, and we've talked about it before, there's never one victim. It's always just getting that first one out so the rest can come forward. Hey, so I know you all might be true crime fans, but are you also in a business? If so, let me tell you about our sponsor, Odu.

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It depends on his setup of his practice. You know, some, there are doctors, there are PT. know, persons who have, you know, offices in their house. So it depends on what this practice is like. So now I have to get into a little bit more details, unfortunately, about what this all is about and how it all unfolded. So as we mentioned earlier, that after his initial arrest, LeBron was out on bond. That arrangement didn't last very long. Why? Take a look. The Farmington Hills Police Department has received 33 additional tips from the public reporting similar, suspicious, or potentially criminal acts.

So just weeks later, LeVron ended up right back in custody because tips began pouring in that led to even more charges, 10 more to be exact. Those tips, according to police, poured in from California, Georgia, North Carolina, Minnesota, Arizona, even Canada. Investigators soon uncovered this pattern within the allegations. LeVron was allegedly sexually assaulting mostly young men and boys, even some as young as 14 during these medical exams. In November 2022, LeBron was arrested again, this time on a $1 million bond. Additional charges, including one count of second degree criminal sexual conduct, one count of

third degree criminal sexual conduct, and eight counts of fourth degree criminal sexual conduct. And the allegations were all eerily similar. Unnecessary nudity, inappropriate touching, even showering with players after workouts. One victim, a 30-year-old man said, LeVron assaulted him in December of 2020. Another, a 14-year-old accused the doctor of abuse dating back even further to January of 2018. So you're seeing quite a time span. Now, in April of 2023, multiple witnesses testified to a pattern of behavior that included physical touching, naked yoga sessions and even massages. He told me that he practices. He hosts private yoga sessions for small groups of people at his home. Only caveat being that it's naked yoga just kind

of became progressively more like groin oriented than that with that massage phase. Another victim who saw LeVron as an adult for a medical issue said the doctor watched him urinate and then I'm sorry to say this and I don't mean to get graphic but he accused him of inserting an ungloved finger into his behind without consent. It was taking a while to try to pee because I'd gone to the bathroom before I went there. So I was just kind of standing there not peeing. And that's when he was like,

you just, he goes, I'll hold the cup. And he held a, like, I was like, you just focus on peeing and I'll make sure everything goes in the cup and you don't have to worry about it. Now, defense attorney, Jonathan Jones, argued, that merely touching a patient's genitals in a medical setting, that doesn't constitute a crime. This was according to the Detroit news.

But prosecutors alleged that LeVron's actions went far beyond just legitimate treatment. The Farmington District Court judge who was overseeing this also disagreed with Jones' assessment, saying, your argument suggests then that the doctors and yoga teachers get a free pass, that I just have to accept that they didn't do it for a sexual purpose. Well, in July of 2023, Judge Brady ruled that there was enough evidence for LeVron to stand trial, sending the charges to circuit court. And in his ruling, he said all of these incidents had one purpose. Quote, to satisfy the sexual desire of the defendant.

In August of 2023, during another hearing, a judge read a statement from one victim, a woman who said that she had a procedure done that resulted in non-consensual touching. She said that she felt completely violated. Afterwards, she indicated that she called her parents. After she left the office, she called the experience creepy. She said she was crying in her car. Okay, so Tom, after his release on mom, you see this flood of tips. Is that typically how it works? 100%. And like I said before, it takes that one person to make everyone feel at ease that they're not the only ones.

How do you manage all that, all those tips? You have a lot of detectives and investigators on board, and each of them are fielding maybe from certain areas, from certain areas, from certain parts of the country to just funnel it into a working group of coordinating all the information that you're getting. And to corroborate it, right? Because look at this. Sean Combs case. Very different, right? But as soon as he's hit with a lawsuit, as he's hit with charges, a lot of people will come forward with allegations. Now, in one hand, it can be, while he's finally being brought to justice, I feel safe to come forward. These allegations are true. The other way saying is, the allegations aren't true and people are just jumping on the

bandwagon. Law enforcement's job, right, is to verify these tips. How do you do that? Well, you do it just through interviews with the victims, and then you're matching up other victim statements, which are the same, which are similar. which fit the timeframes of these abuses going on, are the stories similar? You know, so if you have one person on one side of the country, like you just rattled off a bunch of different states, and they're the same pattern and the same information that went into these abuses, that matches up. Timeframes of schedules and meetings and exams, all those have to be coordinated as well

and corroborated into, like I said, just a kind of flow chart of information that's going to prove that this happened. Is it important to establish consistency? Is it important to establish a pattern? Because look, you had, not an outlier, but one woman, right, came forward different than the other men and young boys. So how important is it to establish that kind of pattern or consistency? It's important for the prosecution and going forward with the case because it just makes it stronger. And, you know, when you present a pattern to a jury or in a courtroom, that's very impactful because people understand that. People understand just the constant and continuous abuse on a certain level, a certain way, much better than just random acts of abuse. And here's the

thing, though, one of the difficulties can be how do investigators, how do prosecutors argue in court that this wasn't a legitimate medical procedure, but it was abuse. Now, with Larry Nassar, you could say what his position was he had no business going anywhere near the areas he went near. Urologist, maybe a little bit difficult? I don't know. I mean, how do you separate that? That could be challenging, I imagine. It could be challenging, but it's going to be the witnesses.

It's going to be sitting on that stand and putting your hand on a Bible and telling the truth and the emotions that are going to come out of that testimony. You can't make that up. You know, you can't make up the stories that are the same and the blow of victims. that are going to be testifying and their emotions coming out on that stand. And by the way, what's happened with the legal case? So after all of this, after facing mounting evidence, he made a decision to take a plea. Now, it wasn't a guilty plea.

It was called a no contest plea where you don't actually admit to a crime. You don't deny it really either. You accept a conviction without admitting guilt. You're basically saying, yeah, I know I'm going to be convicted. I'm accepting the conviction, but I'm not saying necessarily I did these things I'm being accused of. So, on March 28th, LeVron stood in Oakland County Circuit Court and pleaded no contest to 28 charges, including 10 counts of third degree criminal sexual conduct, punishable by up to 15 years each, three counts of second degree criminal sexual conduct, 11 counts

of fourth degree criminal sexual conduct, two counts of child sexually abusive material and commercial activity. Prosecutor Karen McDonald issued a statement praising the victims for their courage, saying this would spare them from having to relive their trauma at a trial, meaning they didn't have to testify. This guilty plea holds Zvi LeVron accountable for his crimes and provides justice for his victims. Today's outcome ensures LeVron's victims will not be retramatized by the burden of testifying a trial. It also spares them any further uncertainty about the outcome of this case. The victims were heard and their stories were believed Zvi LeVron is guilty. You surprised he took this plea? No, and that's a great job by the prosecutors and the

detectives because when you build the case up and then you have all of this evidence that you then tell or show the defense attorney going, we got you. This is it. You're going to have this, this, this, this, and this in front of you talking to a jury. That's what helps out, you know, taking a plea. Does it feel like not a sense of accountability because he didn't own up to it? At the end of the day, from a practical point of view, and I'll tell you his sentence in a minute, you know, he's going to be behind bars, right? But does there something lacking from a no contest? It is. It's one of those things in the criminal justice system that they kind of get away with it, not verbally telling everyone what happened and admitting what happened. But the end result is him going to jail. And I think that is what the victims wanted, their parents wanted. And in the end, that's what they're going to get. I cover these cases all the time. And I always ask, you know, as a plea deal in the works, there's a plea deal in the works. Why? Because to have victims testify is incredibly difficult. Harvey Weinstein trial is happening right now here in New York. I would, I after the first trial. I was there as these women were testifying about what happened to them.

I have to imagine it's traumatic to revisit those incidents. For them to be spared that, you know, not have to go to trial, there is a value in that, right? Oh, absolutely. You know, you never want to, you know, it's a kind of, I don't want to say last resort, but you hope that you have so much evidence against someone that they do take a plea to spare a victim from going through that. because not only just telling your story, Jesse, as you know, getting cross-examined. Yeah, of course. So anything that can spare them from going through that is always a plus. By the way, how do you have those conversations, those initial conversations with victims or alleged victims?

You're trying to elicit information from them, but this is an incredibly sensitive area. And you're not cross-examining them. I'm sure you want to know if they're being credible or not. But also, that's maybe one of their first times actually recounting. the story to an authority figure. What is that, what are those conversations like? Very slow and methodical. And you have to just take your time and you're at the will of the victim. You know, if they want to take a break, they want to talk in one particular area of a house outside or whatever, you accommodate them because you have to make them comfortable in order

to get what you need to proceed forward with the case. So you are all about taking care of the victim where they're comfortable, what they want to talk about, and it doesn't matter how long it takes. It can take hours, right? Sure, absolutely. It can take days. Yeah, yeah. They can say, I just have to stop today. I'll come back, tell you a little more. Absolutely. Understandable. Now, what happens? So on April 29th, at his sentencing, one woman, now 29 years old, told the judge how the abuse still haunted her. LeVron, in his speech, claimed remorse, but stop short of fully admitting guilt, saying, the most important thing is remorse. I want to express that remorse to all the victims and I can't say how sorry I am to all the victims. At night, I pray to God because he is the

only one who knows. However, presiding judge, Yasmin Poles, wasn't really swayed. No, she called LeVron a predator, a pedophile, and a monster among us. You are the reason parents lie awake and night. You are the monster among us in society. You're the person that everybody should have fear but didn't know it and it was right in front of their face you walk away here a predator and pedophile and a disgrace to the medical profession and she detailed how LeVron used his status as a trusted physician and hockey doctor to groom young athletes and gain the trust of their families don't worry about a thing I'm going to take care of your child come visit me at my house in my basement they're in good hands and every single time you got a

with it, you became emboldened to continuously commit the crimes against these children and young men. You had them exactly where you wanted them to be, and you took advantage of it. And Judge Poles went on to describe his conduct as calculated, manipulative, and deeply disturbing. I find your behaviors in what I've read in this report to be sociopathic in nature, that you can hide behind this medical degree that you can engage with these hockey associations and everyone in the world thought so highly of you. Your physician such and such, you're associated with these hockey leagues and everyone believed you and you were playing the perfect part. And even as you see in here now, I'm not a mean person. I didn't mean to do anything wrong to these people. Have you read

the statement in the pre-sentence report? So what did she sentence him to? 10 to 25 years in prison, which actually exceeded the sentencing guidelines in the state of Michigan. Think about that for a minute. Now, he would be eligible for parole after 10 years.

Not sure he'd actually get it. But if he does, he's going to remain on Michigan's sex offender registry for life. His medical license is suspended indefinitely. Tom, a lot to break down here first. Let's first start with his statement. What'd you make of it? You know, you can't go.

by any statement he's going to make. It's not heartfelt. It's not remorseful. It's a statement because he got told to make a statement. You know, that's all. He's never going to admit it. He's never going to show any remorse for it. And it's all about him.

It has nothing to do with the victims. Has nothing to do with anything else but himself. The 10 to 25 years in prison is significant. And you don't know if he's actually going to get parole after 10 years. He could serve 25 years in prison. What do you anticipate? With the amount of victims there are, and the detail of his abuse, I can very easily see that going, you know, to the max.

And I give the judge a lot of credit for exceeding the recommendations of the sentencing that she did because of how horrific it was. Does law enforcement usually provide letters to the parole board, you know, either in support or in, you know, saying that they shouldn't be granted parole? They can. That usually goes through the DA's office and the DAs will take care of that. I know many detectives or myself sometimes have been, you know, there to support the victims, you know, when these processes start. But it's not so much a letter to the judge, but being there

for them. I have, I don't like asking this question, but I am curious. Somebody who pled guilt, well, led no contest to these charges, how do they typically do in prison? Because these are very specific kinds of charges that he led no contest to. He might not go well for him. In prison, there is a kind of unwritten rule and a code that even the worst criminals have of you don't touch kids, you don't deal with kids. That is a very strong thing that goes on in prison and very real. So could he end up in protective custody? Yes, he could.

It is significant if he does get parole being on the sex offender registry, right? How does that work typically? Yeah. I mean, he's going to be confined to where he can go, what he can do, jobs he can hold, where he can live, all things like that. It's going to, I mean, this is a haunt for him forever, which it should be. Yeah. I thought it was significant that she exceeded the sentencing guidelines here and had

strong words for him. Do we typically see judges do something like that? Ones that are into their job and take, you know, you're allowed to take cases, you know, not so much personal, but have a feeling towards them for the victims. You know, that's okay to do. And that's what she did, you know, calling him a monster and a predator. And that's exactly what he is. And I loved what she said if she could have.

she would have given them three life sentences if it was up to her. And that just shows the passion she has four victims. When you look at this case and you look at something like we talked before about Larry Nassar, right, the former Michigan State, USA Gymnastics Team Doctor, is there a problem going on that's, or are these isolated incidents? I think they're more isolated than just the norm for sure. But, you know, you have to take steps today of maybe not going with everyone, what everyone else is doing.

Maybe need to be a little bit more involved of who their kids are going to see and doctors they're going to see and not so much. Well, everyone goes to them and take account of maybe being there, you know, when things are taking place, the examines are going on, and do background checks of these doctors of what they're doing. Because in the end, they can be a team doctor. They're still a stranger. You know, you still have no idea what they're doing in their lives other than the one

hour that they're with your child if that is a PT session. And adults, too. It's tough. It's such a disturbing case. Great seeing you. Thank you so much for coming in. I appreciate it. It's always a pleasure, Jesse. And everybody can check out the Gold Shields show. Real quick, what do you talk about on the show? All true crime, true stories of detectives, military members, victims who went through these cases

and how they did it and what would the outcomes of them. Awesome. Doing some great work there. Hope everybody can check it out. And that's all we have for you right now here on Sidebar. Everybody, thank you so much for joining us. And as always, please subscribe on YouTube, Apple Podcast, Spotify, wherever you should get your podcast. I'm Jesse Weber. I'll speak to you next time. You can binge all episodes of this long crime series, ad free right now on Wondery Plus.

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