Islander gets two-year prison sentence

A Mercer Island resident arrested nearly four years ago for running a theft-ring out of his downtown Seattle pawn shop was sentenced to two years in prison on Monday.

A Mercer Island resident arrested nearly four years ago for running a theft-ring out of his downtown Seattle pawn shop was sentenced to two years in prison on Monday.

Martin D. Levy, 71, who owns a South-end waterfront home, was sentenced by King County Superior Court Judge Dean Lum to 24 months in prison, to be followed by one year of jail, suspended on the condition that Levy complies with probation requirements for two years following release. Levy was also sentenced to pay about $86,000 in costs, much of which has already been paid.

Levy owned the Liberty Jewelry and Loan at 116 Pike St. in Seattle before it was shut down in the months after his arrest. Police accused Levy, his daughter and son-in-law of using street drug addicts to steal expensive glass artwork, clothing and other items to supply the pawn shop and to sell on eBay.