Cheetahs Permit Denied, Appeal Forthcoming

SAN DIEGO -- The owner of Cheetahs strip club will appeal a San Diego Police Department decision to deny his application for renewal of a nude- entertainment permit, it was reported Tuesday.

Michael Galardi's lawyer faxed the notice of appeal to vice Lt. Rob Hurt, who denied the application for the Kearny Mesa club about two weeks ago, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune.

Hurt cited Galardi's guilty plea to corruption charges as the reason, according to the newspaper.

Cheetahs will remain open until an appeal hearing is scheduled, which could occur within 30 days.

The appeal will be handled by the city manager's office. Both sides will present a case, with testimony from witnesses.

Galardi had applied to renew his permit for the club, a yearly requirement, on Nov. 6. Soon after, Hurt notified Galardi that his application had been rejected.

Galardi, 41, of Las Vegas, has pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy and racketeering in parallel corruption investigations in San Diego and Las Vegas.

He has admitted to paying public officials so they would vote in his favor on matters related to Cheetahs and clubs he owns in Las Vegas.

He also admitted to making payments to an undercover vice detective in exchange for warnings about upcoming police inspections at Cheetahs.

Galardi has agreed to testify against other defendants, who include his Las Vegas-based lobbyist, Lance Malone, San Diego City Councilmen Ralph Inzunza, Charles Lewis and Michael Zucchet, and three Las Vegas politicians.

If Galardi loses his appeal, the club could be shut down immediately, Hurt told the Union-Tribune.

A grand jury in San Diego issued an indictment Aug. 28 charging that Galardi, Malone, Cheetahs manager John D'Intino and Inzunza, Lewis and Zucchet participated in a scheme to repeal the city's no-touch rule at strip clubs.

Prosecutors say the councilmen received money and favors in exchange for efforts to change the city's no-touch law at strip clubs.

Galardi and D'Intino have pleaded guilty. The others have denied the charges and await trial.