Guy's always been a con artist. Ask anyone who orders from him - haha. He finally got his.

finally they got biggest thief in magic.

I've warned countless other magicians not to do business with HANK LEE'S MAGIC FACTORY. This company has stolen money via consistant misleading advertising practices. I learned my lesson and stopped doing business 25+yrs ago and have never regretted having done so. This story proves one of my favorite adage's... No one gets away with ANYTHING!!! WELCOME TO THE REAL WORLD and p.s
THE WORLD IS NOT YOUR IDIOT!!!
Sincerely, Andrew Dakota

What a jerk! Wonder who the guy in Texas was?

This is so hard to believe. I first dealt with Hank back in the '70s when I ordered from him while I was stationed in Germany. He always gave me terrific quick service and now to read this.... why?

He is one of the reasons I opened my online magic store NexusMagic. I was buying from him, and receiving my orders half the time. You can only claim lost in the mail, you didn't buy insurance so many times... There are Gentleman of Magic, and then there are tricksters!

Owwwwwwch! I guess Carol and I won't be performing at his convention after all!

Everyone has always known Hank was unpleasant to deal with but wow! Hard to believe the business has so many honest and kind and helpful people in it; and then there are real bad guys like this as well. Everyone should take there business to reputable shops like Diamonds Magic in Peabody. I have bought 95% of my effects from Eddie and now it will be 100% Never an issue. Never a problem. Nothing but terrific, helpful, pleasant service from a true gentleman!

I am sorry to hear of this. My father and most of our mutual friends order from him all the time. Every year they looked forward to the convention. I know this saddens them deeply. Its sad that no matter what, you never really know anyone

i dont know hank personaly but i ordered an item that ended up being out of stock he asked that i wait a couple of weeks to see if they came back in they didn't and he refunded my money with no hassle at all so not all bad

He admitted to stealing over a half a million dollars from a customer and then lying to authorities about it... "not all bad"????

I have done business with him for over 20 years and have consistently heard and seen some questionable things. It has never been trouble free or pleasant so I have bought less and less. This is all I need to know about him.

Well you were indeed lucky then.

I have purchased a few items from Hanks, and never had a problem... always delivered to my door in a day or two. I met him at the convention (SAM) in Boston and he seemed like s nice guy. Having worked for the Federal Government for 35 years, you see all kinds. This truly was a surprise.

I've bought many items from Hank Lee many times over an 8 year period, and never had a problem. The store had great selection, great service and quality merchandise. I don't understand how this could have happened!

Hello guys, I'm from Spain and the last December 2011 I had this kind of problem buying in Hank Lee. I've paid with my visa in his site and the day after "someone" tried to buy with my visa card from a bet site charging me 250€. But this couldn't be possible because casually the count associated with my visa didn't have enought money in this moment. The bank cancelled this visa inmediatly and gave me a new one. I e-mailed Hank Lee and this is what he answered me:

I am not sure about those odd charges. It is nothing that we did here.
I wonder if it is possible that your credit card has been compromised. Have you used it online with an unsecure site? Ours is 100% secure.
In any case, we have not charged you any incorrect charges.

I think this kind of things he did only to foreign customers.
I have all the emails and dates archived and my bank can do the same. So if the police wants can contact me. My order number in the Hank Lee shop was #67432

I ordered from the magic factory 3 times; the second 2 because of a problem with the first order:
I ordered a book I couldn't find anywhere else. After 2 weeks I called, they said it was out of stock but would be in any day now. After another 2 weeks (30 days) I called to cancel my order as I found it and bought the book at my local magic shop Midwest Magic. Lee's said it had just been mailed out. I called when they opened; when I got the tracking no. next day it showed it didn't get to the post office 'till after 5 pm. I called and demanded they accept my returning it. I mentioned it was after 30 days they knew I knew by law after 30 days they must. I told them I would accept credit. The credit was quickly applied to my account. I ordered another book and 4 booklets. I got them in a few days.

At this point I was ready to forgive them "shit happens". I still had a few dollars credit and I wanted to use it up soon. I ordered an item on a Friday. They said it would go out Monday. The next Friday still hadn't come. I called them they said it would go out Monday. I finally got it the next week.

I get most of my stuff in person from Midwest Magic they have a good website, the store is huge just magic few gags no costumes, masks, or adult back room. I have seen with my own eyes that they have almost everything in stock.

I have first hand knowledge about how he consistently tried to short change the young kids he had working for him. It was always a battle trying to get paid for hours worked. The guy is a shyster No sympathy here. The man is a disgrace.

Greg Britt - New Zealand
I orderd a $700 item and said in order only charge Visa card if in stock and ready to ship, Card charged immeadiatly but not delivered.
On emailing I was told they couldnt get one and would credit my visa.
Over many months I recieved a number of emails from Hank saying the visa credit was put thru.
I contacted the Visa authoritys who said a credit had never been actioned and reversed the charge saying only a couple of days before the time lapsed meant they could'nt have helped.
I emailed and faxed Hank asking for an explanation with no reply.
I thought then this guy has to be caught out at some stage.
He did'nt care two hoots about me the customer, I did tell many magicians worldwide of my dealings and was supprised how many others had bad dealings with Hank Lee.
Many stories were worse than mine.
He should get out of the bussiness and sell to a person who has integrity, souds like he could end up in Jail.
And now every ones story will come out!

Excuse me? We don't know the whole story and he's an honest guy according to one posting??? Wow, even when someone is caught red-handed. You have persons still vouching for them like they are the victim. And everyone is picking on them. The only statement is can contribute is that he had to have worked very, very hard to steal over $500,000 dollars!!

Amen, brother.

I ordered more than US$4,000 worth of props. Only half came. Not only that, charged me extra US$2,000 dollars of shipping charges which he said was a mistake. Did not get back my refund and half of my order was not arrived. Ordered last year August. I am sad and angry...

Before I knew what had happened to Hank Lee, I placed a small order. It will be interesting to see how well my order is processed.

same thing happened to me years ago. l sent about $l,500 worth of money orders to this crook lee for magic items. seems he was "suspicious" of them. it took over a year haggling with this bum trying to get my items. even then, l only got half of my order. lee finally is getting some jail time....sooner the better.

I do so hope Hank Levy goes to jail and rots for a spell. He's an arrogant criminal who finally got caught and now his little friends are trying to portray him as a sweet kind and old frumpy man, and that ex-customers/victims should feel sorry for "Mr. Levy." (cough)

Sorry. No can do. Go work your patter somewhere else, "elves." I've noticed this irritating problem on many magician boards.... people defending "Mr. Levy" even though he's admitted to the crime.

People are idiots. "Magicians" are not special and are as gullible as anyone else. They don't want to admit they are bad judges of character and would rather "keep believing in the magic!"

Their allegiance makes me vomit.

Hank's true nature coming to public light, however, is something in which I rejoice.

"But Hank is SO sorry!"

Sorry he got caught.

My biggest fear is that some stupid judge will feel sorry for the criminal, even whilst "Mr. Levy" brandishes Technicolor sponge balls.

I will be happy if he gets even three years in the pen.

I will write to him daily.

You're putting words in many mouths. Personally, I said that my thought was it was not like Hank to do this.

Then, I said that the whole truth had not come out and it hasn't. He has admitted to breaking the law, yes. My experience of Hank Lee was that he was an honest, hard working, straight to your face guy. And I know he was because I was pretty close to him.

He could be a jerk and push too much, yes. A lot of people do. But he was also kind and caring. He loved magic and developed a good business, I felt. He went the extra mile to bring more good magic to Boston when others were not. There were the lectures of some of the best names in the business. Always trying to get the best magic in the store.

He said once that a LOT of bad magic props would come in the store and that there was no reason to sell bad magic. There was plenty of good magic available.

He broke the law and will pay for that. What more can we do? I personally feel that he should not be involved in the business in any way at this point since he is continuing his business. Sell it or give it to the son or family person and stop writing the Extra copy.

To continue that does't give you business. No one wants to buy from a thief.

Up to 20the yrs ago I often bought from Hank Lees in person and by mail. After moving to Phoenix bought occasionally by mail intil a few years ago. Stopped after I bought an item that was not as advertised. A McCombical deck item supposed to include the original routine, patter, script, etc...but no such thing. Just a deck and small insert of generic instructions!
I did enjoy the Cape Cod Conclave in the early 90's, but noticed Hank's personality seemed to become grumpier and more and more "cranky" over the last few years of contact at various conventions, etc.

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As a supplier of items for the trade, I discovered 'Hank Lee' NEVER paid an invoice on time, often 60 days late. Plus his 'elves' often, um, miscounted arriving merchandise and quite often the cost of the 'missing' items was deducted from the final payment if/when if finally arrived.

A customer of his wrote to me praising one of my DVDs he'd just purchased from the Magic Factory - even though I'd not shipped merchandise to him in over 7 years! Long & short of it - he is a liar and a thief. Period.

What goes around, comes around. Karma is a bitch, Hank. No pity here.

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