Cheetah's Denied Entertainment Permit
Strip Club Center Of City Hall Corruption Probe
POSTED: 8:17 a.m. PST November 24, 2003
UPDATED: 8:33 a.m. PST November 24, 2003
SAN DIEGO -- The strip club at the center of the City Hall corruption probe may be closing down, 10News reported.
Cheetah's was turned down for an entertainment permit, which is issued by the San Diego Police Department.
The owner, Michael Galardi, has two weeks to appeal. He applied to renew his permit for the Kearny Mesa club, a yearly requirement, on Nov. 6. He has until Dec. 8 to respond to the police department.
Galardi pleaded guilty to wire fraud, conspiracy and racketeering in parallel corruption investigations in San Diego and Las Vegas.
He admitted to paying public officials so they would vote in his favor on matters related to his clubs.
Galardi has agreed to testify against other defendants, which include his lobbyist Lance Malone, San Diego City Councilmen Ralph Inzunza, Charles Lewis and Michael Zucchet, and three Las Vegas politicians.
An Aug. 28 indictment issued by a San Diego grand jury charges that Galardi, Malone and Cheetahs manager John D'Intino and Inzunza, Zucchet and Lewis participated in a scheme to repeal the no-touch rule at strip clubs in exchange for money and favors.
Galardi and D'Intino have pleaded guilty. The others have denied the charges and await trial.
Previous Stories:
- November 4, 2003: City Hall Corruption Case Delayed
- September 15, 2003: San Diego Not Only So. Cal. City Struck By Scandal
- September 5, 2003: City Council Scandal: Plea Bargains In Works?
- August 26, 2003: City Hall Investigation: Is It Over Yet?
- July 18, 2003: Source: Inzunza Key Figure In City Hall Probe
- July 11, 2003: Testimony: Contributions Reimbursed With Cash
- July 11, 2003: Employees, Relatives Of Strip Club Owner To Testify
- June 13, 2003: Current, Former Council Staffers Testify Before Grand Jury
- June 6, 2003: Stevens Testifies Before Grand Jury
- May 30, 2003: City Council Staffers Testify Before Grand Jury
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