In plea deals, Kenny and Galardi admit to bribes

Jace Radke

Friday, Nov. 7, 2003 | 11:02 a.m.

In plea agreements released today, former Clark County Commissioner Erin Kenny admits to taking between $25,000 and $30,000 in bribes, and strip club owner Michael Galardi admits to funneling money to Kenny and other politicians to gain influence.

Galardi's plea agreement states that the government will not seek a prison sentence of more than five years against him in return for information and his cooperation in prosecuting other defendants. A sentencing range for Kenny, who has also agreed to cooperate with prosecutors, is not written into her deal, but U.S. Attorney Dan Bogden said she will face at least some jail time.

Galardi pleaded guilty to one count of racketeering, while Kenny pleaded guilty to one count conspiracy to commit wire fraud and two counts of wire fraud. Conspiracy to commit wire fraud carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, while wire fraud and racketeering carry maximum sentences of 20 years.

Both agreements state that if Galardi and Kenny do not provide, "full and truthful cooperation ... the agreement may be voided by the government and the defendant shall be subject to prosecution."

In her deal Kenny admits to taking between $5,000 and $10,000 in cash from Galardi through former commissioner Lance Malone in March 2002. She also took $10,000 in cash from Malone on Oct. 13, 2002, and at the end of that month took a $10,000 check from Malone for her campaign for Lieutenant Governor, according to the agreement.

Kenny admits in the plea agreement that all the money was given to her so that she would support ordinances that benefited Galardi's businesses, including the proposed annexation of Jaguars to the City of Las Vegas.

Kenny has agreed to forfeit $70,258.53, and also agrees to submit to a polygraph test if asked by prosecutors.

Galardi's plea agreement calls for him to forfeit $3.85 million to the government, pay $200,000 in restitution to both the City of Las Vegas and the county, and give up ownership of his clubs, Cheetahs and Jaguars.

The deal also allows Galardi's sentence to run concurrently with whatever sentence he may receive in San Diego where he previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud charge in connection with a political corruption investigation there.

The agreements do not protect Kenny and Galardi from possible future civil suits, and Galardi's deal also does not protect him from possible tax liability actions by the Internal Revenue Service.