Hitmen Knew Where Businessman Would Be

F O R T   L A U D E R D A L E, Fla., Feb. 8, 2001 -- Gus Boulis had been embroiled in

several contentious legal disputes in recent months, including

allegations the Miami Subs and SunCruz gambling cruises founder

threatened and attacked a casino owner.

Now authorities are investigating whether one of Boulis' enemiesordered a hit on the 51-year-old businessman while he was drivinghis BMW on an isolated road in south Florida.

"Whoever committed the homicide had planned to shoot him,"Detective Mike Reed said. "They knew the travel routes. They knewwhat they were doing."

Reed said late Wednesday that police had no suspects but wouldseek assistance from federal authorities in investigating "anyonewho's had a past with Mr. Boulis."

Boulis was killed late Tuesday when a car suddenly stopped infront of him and a second driver pulled alongside the businessman,firing at least three or four shots, Reed said.

Boulis was hit multiple times. Before he died, he managed todrive onto a busy street, then he jumped a median and crashed intoa tree in front of a Miami Subs restaurant.

Contentious Lawsuits

In recent months, Boulis had been involved in a series oflawsuits and countersuits over his $147.5 million sale lastSeptember of SunCruz to a group headed by Washington, D.C.,attorney Adam Kidan.

Kidan received a restraining order against Boulis in Decemberafter claiming Boulis attacked him "in the face and neck andkicked his body." A month earlier, Boulis threatened to have Kidanbeaten or killed, the affidavit said.

Federal prosecutors forced Boulis, a Greek citizen, to sell thecompany and fined him $2 million for violating a law prohibitingforeigners from owning and operating certain vessels in the UnitedStates.

Boulis filed suit recently, claiming that Kidan and his partnershad bounced checks, failed to repay $2.5 million in operating fundshe left with the company and broke a contract provision.

David Hughes, SunCruz's chief executive officer, said in astatement Wednesday that company officials were "shocked" by theslaying, and a spokesman said police had not interviewed Kidan oranyone else connected with SunCruz.

Growing Up Poor, Dying Rich

Boulis was being sued by a one-time SunCruz boat partner whosaid he was cheated out of his share after the sale to Kidan'sgroup. He was also being sued for child support payments andalimony by a former girlfriend, Margaret Hren, who is the mother ofhis two children, ages 5 and 7.

Boulis grew up poor in Kavala, Greece, but became one of southFlorida's wealthiest and most powerful businessmen.

In 1989, Boulis founded Miami Subs, which gained local fame forselling $99 bottles of Dom Perignon champagne along with itssandwiches.

Nathan's Famous, a New York hot dog chain, purchased Miami Subsin 1999, with Boulis receiving $4.2 million. The chain now has 150restaurants in 12 states, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic,according to its Web site.

"We're all just deeply saddened," said Jerry Woda, Miami Subs'senior vice president. "We knew he was a controversial figure, buta lot of the good things he did did not show up in the media. Hewas a guy that gave you the shirt off his back."

He founded SunCruz in 1994, and today it operates casino boatsfrom nine Florida ports and Myrtle Beach, S.C.