Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Prostitution conviction unlikely to be key in strip club decision

The Wednesday conviction of a former Treasures dancer for prostitution solicitation isn't likely to dramatically change the landscape facing the Las Vegas City Council on Sept. 1 when it considers whether to extend or eliminate the strip club's liquor license.

But, said Councilman Larry Brown, "It will make Sept. 1 even more interesting."

The case was being closely watched and aggressively defended because of the implications: During a highly charged licensing process brought on by legal troubles at the Houston strip clubs of Treasures' owners Ali and Hassan Davari, their lawyer promised that there would be no illegal activity in the Las Vegas club.

If anyone was convicted of prostitution, said Davari lawyer Mark Fiorentino, the brothers would not contest the issue if the city pulled the liquor license. The promise played a role in the City Council's grudgingly granting Treasures a liquor license, which was effective starting in September 2003.

In October, only two months after the $30 million club opened, three dancers, including Crockett, were arrested on charges of soliciting prostitution. The Las Vegas City Council considered pulling the liquor license, which effectively would have killed the club, but opted to wait for the outcome of the prostitution cases. Council members also questioned whether they could single out Treasures for tougher enforcement, despite the promises made by Fiorentino, who later said the pledge was impossible to live up to and an error on his part.

"We understand why the promise was made," Councilman Gary Reese said. "The thing I don't know is what would have happened if the promise wasn't made. To me, they made it in good faith. Mr. Fiorentino figured they could do this. The only thing you can't control or govern is human behavior."

During the trial Wednesday, Municipal Judge Cedric A. Kerns said he didn't think Treasures dancer Jessica Crockett intended to have sex with an undercover officer for money, but she still solicited the officer for prostitution.

Kerns ruled Wednesday that in addition to soliciting, Crockett violated the Las Vegas' exotic dance ordinance. Kerns said that he thought Crockett was telling the officer what he wanted to hear in order to get him to buy more lap dances.

"She was saying what the client wanted to hear to get more money," Kerns said. "I think she would do whatever it takes if it is in her best interest. I don't believe either party was planning to go forward with the act."

Kerns fined Crockett $200 for soliciting prostitution, and $1,000 on the erotic dance violation. Additional court fees brought the total fines to $1,400, but Kerns did not order it paid immediately, correctly guessing that Crockett's lawyers, Ross Goodman and Louis Palazzo, would appeal his ruling.

"We plan to appeal to District Court as quickly as possible," Goodman said.

Kerns set Sept. 28 as the date for a status check on the case.

Goodman argued that Crockett was entrapped by the undercover officer, saying that it was the officer who brought up paying for sex, and that despite repeated rejections by Crockett, the officer continued to pursue the idea.

Deputy City Attorney Ed Poleski said that Crockett bragged to the officer about liking to break the rules and that she was the one who first brought up the prospect of sex and the idea of going back to the officer's hotel room.

Kerns said he found Crockett's testimony not credible during trial. Kerns also told the attorneys that the case was the best-tried issue he has ruled on, and that Mayor Oscar Goodman would be proud of his son Ross, and of the work that Poleski did.

There still are trials pending for other Treasures dancers, but the issue now appears to be moving from the court room to the council chambers. Councilman Brown said that he's concerned about the industry as a whole, and is uncomfortable singling Treasures out.

"What is the city going to do as far as the (overall) industry?" Brown said. "I want to be sure no one is singled out, and if the bar is raised, will it stay raised?"

And, he added, in any industry, whether sexually oriented or not, "we cannot single a business out."

Mayor Oscar Goodman took a leading role during the discussions regarding whether to issue Treasures a license. However, he has since declined comment and is not voting on the issue because of his son's defense of the Treasures dancers.

Similarly, Councilman Michael Mack cannot vote on any Treasures issues because he has a consulting contract with the club.

During the previous discussions, however, Goodman was aggressive in securing the promise from Fiorentino that the club would operate within the law.

Brown said that "the mandate from the mayor three years ago is one piece of the puzzle."

New Councilman Steve Wolfson, who was not a member of council during the previous discussions regarding Treasures, said he has been briefed on the issue.

"The fact one of the persons arrested has been convicted has a bearing but is not something that sways me one way or the other," Wolfson said.

As for the issue of selective enforcement, Wolfson said that was "one of the things I'm studying."

Fiorentino said the conviction will not affect his presentation to City Council.

"Last time I told council they should presume we lost all four (prostitution cases)," he said.

"The record is clear -- we're doing everything we can to eliminate prostitution problems," Fiorentino said. "Mr. Davari made it clear we will not tolerate prostitution in the club."

He previously had outlined to City Council the program instituted by a private detective he hired. The program includes background checks, random sweeps by a drug-sniffing dog, and a policy of firing employees who break the law in the club.

Fiorentino said Wednesday that Crockett will not be allowed back into the club.

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