Galardi wants to withdraw his plea on racketeering charges

Jace Radke and Jeff German

Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2004 | 10:55 a.m.

Former strip club owner Michael Galardi is seeking an attorney to help him withdraw a guilty plea on federal racketeering charges.

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman this morning disclosed during a City Council hearing that his law partner, David Chesnoff, was contacted by Galardi two weeks ago to see if Chesnoff would represent him in a challenge to the plea deal entered in October.

Goodman said Chesnoff was still considering whether to take the case.

The disclosure was made at the start of a hearing on whether to revoke the liquor license of La Fuente Inc., the company that owns Cheetahs topless nightclub. The company was once co-owned by Galardi and his father, Jack, but now is solely owned by the elder Galardi.

The license has come under scrutiny since Michael Galardi pleaded guilty Oct. 24 in federal court in Las Vegas to one count of racketeering in exchange for a maximum sentence of five years. Galardi had also agreed to forfeit his strip clubs and cash and pay restitution.

Federal prosecutors allege that Michael Galardi bribed politicians to benefit his strip clubs, Cheetahs, Jaguars and the Leopard Lounge. Galardi's plea agreement says the former club owner tried to bribe public officials between 1994 and 2003, but the indictment focuses on events from 1999 to 2003.

Former County Commissioner Erin Kenny also pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and two counts of wire fraud in connection with the case.

Clark County Commissioner Mary Kincaid-Chauncey, and former Commissioners Lance Malone and Dario Herrera are charged in the indictment.

It may be problematic for Galardi to successfully back out of the plea, however. His plea agreement says that statements he has already made "shall be admissible against the defendant ... in any subsequent proceeding, including a trial in the event the defendant does not plead guilty or withdraws the guilty plea, to impeach or rebut any evidence, argument or representation offered by or on defendant's behalf."

Natalie Collins, spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney's office, was out of the office today and unavailable for comment.

Prosecutors allege the commissioners voted to change an ordinance regulating the touching at strip clubs and changed zoning ordinances to help Galardi's clubs. The indictment alleges that the commissioners also "controlled and harassed" Galardi's competitors and voted to deny a promotion for a county employee who didn't move quickly enough on a license for one of Galardi's businesses.

Sun reporter

Jean Reid Norman contributed to this story.