Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Crime Strip Club Owners Indicted on Federal Racketeering Charges
Posted by Jonah Spangenthal-Lee on Tue, Jun 30, 2009 at 12:57 PM
A grand jury has indicted Rick's strip club owner Frank Colacurcio, his son Frank Jr. and four other business associates as part of a long-running federal investigation.
A year ago, Seattle police and federal agents raided four strip clubs in Seattle, Shoreline and Tacoma following an investigation into alleged prostitution and money laundering at the clubs.
Today, the grand jury unsealed an indictment for racketeering charges against Colacurcio, his son, and four other men, Leroy Christiansen, David Ebert, Steven Fueston and John Conte.
The US Attorney's office is seeking forfeiture of the clubs and $25 million in assets.
Colacurcio and his associates are scheduled to appear in federal court late next month.
Share via
1
You should link to the indictment PDF. It's a lot of classy fun. Sample:
On or about March 12, 2008, two dancers met with FRANK FRANCIS COLACURCIO JR. at the Talents West office to complain about the rampant sex occurring at Rick's, including complaints regarding a dancer who told customers, "I'll give you every part of my body, and you can stick your fingers all inside me." COLACURCIO JR. responded by saying, "My type of girl."
On or about March 12, 2008, two dancers met with FRANK FRANCIS COLACURCIO JR. at the Talents West office to complain about the rampant sex occurring at Rick's, including complaints regarding a dancer who told customers, "I'll give you every part of my body, and you can stick your fingers all inside me." COLACURCIO JR. responded by saying, "My type of girl."
2
It's a weird coincidence that John Conte appears in the credits for "The Man With the Golden Arm" in the clip Paul posted before this.
7
This is just the latest in the long history of the rampant discrimination shown by police officers, politicians, and the American public towards....
Ooops... wrong thread.
Ooops... wrong thread.
8
Nothing the the proper legalization and selling of MJ in state liquor control board branches couldn't fix.
Ooops ... wrong thread.
Ooops ... wrong thread.
9
Whew! Now all the mobsters in Seattle have been caught! Oddly enough, they weren't even involved in asphalt/paving/concrete, or the Port. Good thing those sectors are free from organized crime, or we'd have real problems.
Talk about your scapegoats. $25m is chump change compared to what's being siphoned out of our region in real industries.
Talk about your scapegoats. $25m is chump change compared to what's being siphoned out of our region in real industries.
12
@9: If you have evidence of that kind of criminal activity, why don't you share it with the King County Prosecutor's Office?
13
@12. The real question is why aren't the authorities that are supposed to fight crime not doing so?
14
I just read the indictment. I don't think they have a very strong case. This certainly isn't a slam-dunk prosecution unless they have much more damning evidence they've yet to share. In short, they are charging conspiracy to permit prostitution in their facilities. They aren't charging that they actually made direct money from Prostitution, but that women who engaged in Prostitution had paid "rent" to the facility in order to dance there, and that these women sometimes engaged in prostitution, and with those proceeds, paid the facility. They further allege that the Colacurcios frequently allowed women who were rumored to have engaged in prostitution to continue working there.
I think it's weak.
I think it's weak.
Most Commented on Slog
-
WTF? by Dan Savage
-
PETA vs. Thanksgiving by Dan Savage
-
Your Wife Died Alone... by Dan Savage
-
Is Your Teen Out of Control... And Smoking Hot? by Dan Savage
-
Health at Every Size by Dan Savage
-
The Cost (and Fear) of Dying by Anthony Hecht
-
Boy-Nerds Offended by Cootie-Ridden "Girl" Movie by Paul Constant
-
SL Letter of the Day: Hot For Twinks by Dan Savage
-
Palin's Base: The Know Nothings by Dan Savage
-
SL Letter of the Day: Serial Cheater Turns On the Tears by Dan Savage
RSS
Facebook
Twitter
Comments (14) RSS