County to force Galardi to give up license

Friday, Nov. 7, 2003 | 9:54 a.m.

Clark County will force Michael Galardi to give up his license to operate Jaguars at a Nov. 25 hearing, County Manager Thom Reilly said Thursday evening.

Clark County counsel Mary Miller said two months ago that Galardi, who pleaded guilty to charges in connection with the probe's parallel investigation in San Diego, would have to give up the license because the charge amounted to a confession of a crime of moral turpitude, making him unfit to operate a business involving liquor, cash and nearly naked women.

At that time, Galardi pleaded guilty to a single count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in a scheme to bribe three San Diego councilmen. Federal prosecutors had alleged that the bribery effort centered on Galardi's efforts to lift lap-dancing restrictions in the California city.

Court documents unsealed in Clark County Thursday indicated that Galardi was indicted on Oct. 24 on racketeering charges in connection with his clubs in the Las Vegas Valley, including Jaguars.

Reilly said Thursday that there are two possibilities in connection with Jaguars, the club he owns on Industrial Road near the Strip, and the Leopard Lounge, also near the Strip off Tropicana Avenue.

The Clark County Commission at the Nov. 25 hearing, will decide if Michael Galardi's business license will be revoked or if he can turn over his business to his father, Jack Galardi. Under that option, Jack Galardi would assume 100 percent ownership and operating responsibilities for the club, and would have to submit to and pay for an "extensive investigation" that could require Metro Police investigators to travel to Atlanta and other sites where Jack Galardi has operated strip clubs.

If Michael Galardi is able to transfer his license, the new owner would have "heavy conditions" including intensive oversight, Reilly said.

If the license is revoked, a process that could take a month or two, it would close the club, Reilly said.

The process in the county is parallel to what the Galardis face in Las Vegas, where Michael Galardi had co-owned Cheetah's, another strip club, under the auspices of La Fuente Inc. Dominic Gentile, Michael Galardi's attorney, told the city this week that his client had given up all his interest in the club, so Jack Galardi was the sole owner as of Oct. 28.

The Las Vegas City Council scheduled a hearing for Jan. 7 to decide whether to revoke the tavern license for the club inside the city limits. City staff members argued that the company, not just Michael Galardi, could be held responsible for the malfeasance.