3 City Council Offices, Strip Club Raided By FBI
Sources Say Raid Connected To Illegal Campaign Finances
POSTED: 1:49 pm PDT May 14, 2003
UPDATED: 8:06 am PDT May 15, 2003
SAN DIEGO -- FBI agents served search warrants at the offices of three San Diego City Council members Wednesday, 10News reported.
The federal search warrants were executed Wednesday morning on the 10th floor City Council offices of Ralph Inzunza, District 8, (pictured, far left); Michael Zucchet, District 2, (pictured, middle, left); and Charles Lewis, District 4, (pictured, left), said U.S. Attorney Carol Lam.The investigation involves campaign contributions, according to 10News, which indicated raids connected to the investigation were also conducted at strip clubs in Las Vegas and San Diego.
Lam confirmed there "was a raid at Cheetahs in San Diego," but would not say whether raids were carried out at other establishments.Cheetahs and Jaguars sites in Las Vegas were being raided Wednesday afternoon, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported on its Web site. Those clubs are owned by Mike Galardi.According to 10News, Inzunza received at least $1,500 from "contributors associated with the owner of Cheetahs strip clubs" for the councilman's re-election campaign in the March 2002 primary.Lewis received at least $2,000 for that election from "contributors associated with La Fuente Inc.," of which Galardi is president, 10News reported.San Diego Mayor Dick Murphy offered the following statement regarding the raid."I met today with United States Attorney Carol Lam. I have been informed that the offices of three San Diego council members have been searched. I also was told that the mayor's office is not a subject or target of this investigation. I am referring all other questions to the office of the United States attorney." Lam issued a statement about the raids."This morning federal search warrants were executed by the FBI and San Diego Police Department at the offices of three councilmen -- Councilman Inzunza, Councilman Zucchet, Councilman Lewis. No charges have been filed at this time. Every effort will be made to conclude the investigation as expeditiously as possible," Lam told 10News.
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FBI Raids City Council OfficesLam confirmed there "was a raid at Cheetahs in San Diego," but would not say whether raids were carried out at other establishments.Cheetahs and Jaguars sites in Las Vegas were being raided Wednesday afternoon, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported on its Web site. Those clubs are owned by Mike Galardi.According to 10News, Inzunza received at least $1,500 from "contributors associated with the owner of Cheetahs strip clubs" for the councilman's re-election campaign in the March 2002 primary.Lewis received at least $2,000 for that election from "contributors associated with La Fuente Inc.," of which Galardi is president, 10News reported.San Diego Mayor Dick Murphy offered the following statement regarding the raid."I met today with United States Attorney Carol Lam. I have been informed that the offices of three San Diego council members have been searched. I also was told that the mayor's office is not a subject or target of this investigation. I am referring all other questions to the office of the United States attorney." Lam issued a statement about the raids."This morning federal search warrants were executed by the FBI and San Diego Police Department at the offices of three councilmen -- Councilman Inzunza, Councilman Zucchet, Councilman Lewis. No charges have been filed at this time. Every effort will be made to conclude the investigation as expeditiously as possible," Lam told 10News.Copyright 2007 by 10News.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
