Florida allegations might affect Galardi license bids

Sito Negron

Friday, Dec. 26, 2003 | 11:13 a.m.

Tampa, Fla., police have filed racketeering charges against four managers of strip clubs in that city owned by the man who owns the Las Vegas Valley clubs that were at the center of a federal public corruption probe.

Tampa police also have filed a racketeering charge against the executive director for Galardi South Operations.

Jack Galardi's lawyer, Suzanne Coe, who was in Florida today, said that none of the allegations directly involve her client, who also is fighting for liquor licenses for clubs he owns in Las Vegas and in unincorporated Clark County.

Coe said she expected the Tampa charges to be brought up in hearings involving her client -- at Las Vegas City Hall on Jan. 7 and at a Clark County government meeting Jan 29. But, Coe added, she does not think the charges are applicable.

"I can guarantee you there are no allegations nor any talk of Jack Galardi doing anything wrong down here (in Florida) -- of him taking any money, of him knowing of any wrong acts," said Coe. "If anything happened, it was clearly outside his knowledge."

The local hearings are related to the licenses held by Cheetah's, in Las Vegas, and Jaguars and the Leopard Lounge, both in the county. The county clubs were owned by Jack Galardi's son, Michael Galardi, who also held a stake in Cheetah's.

The younger Galardi sold the businesses to his father after being pleading guilty to federal crimes involving bribery of public officials to gain favorable treatment for clubs in Las Vegas and in San Diego.

Jack Galardi, who was not implicated in those federal charges, is fighting to keep the liquor license for Cheetah's, and to secure new licenses for the clubs in the county, which revoked the licenses held by Michael Galardi.

Coe said Jack Galardi will take "drastic" measures if any of his employees were involved in illegal activity as alleged by Tampa police.

"He takes these charges very seriously and he's extremely upset about them," Coe said.

Las Vegas officials were not available for comment, although city rules generally take into account a license applicant's character and previous history.

For the Clark County hearing at least, Metro Police will investigate the charges in Tampa and deliver a recommendation to the business licensing division.

"When we investigate a person, and that person has any other type of business -- in this case it's a similar business to what he's looking to get licensed here -- we're going to look at how those businesses are run," Officer Jose Montoya, a Metro spokesman, said.

"And we're going to contact the authorities in that city, and investigate the person, their character, business history, dealings with law enforcement agencies," he said.

The managers of Jack Galardi's Tampa strip clubs were arrested Monday at four places -- Diamonds, Gold Rush, Pink Pony and Pony Tails. They were charged with racketeering, involving allegations they aided and abetted in prostitution.

Tampa police said it was the first time they had gone after the managers of such clubs, having previously focused on prostitutes and their clients.

Those arrested and charged with violations of the Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organization Act were Brian Rouleau, executive director of operations, Galardi South Enterprises, Billy Holland, manager of the Gold Rush, Glynn Coon, manager of Pony Tails, Aaron Hefte, night manager of Pink Pony, and Dwayne Levesque, manager of the Pink Pony.

In addition, a security guard, Gokmen Meyrili, was charged with aiding or abetting in prostitution.

Tampa police said there still may be further arrests, as the investigation continues.