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Court Papers: Strip Club Owner Paid Bribes To Councilmen

Documents Filed By Federal Prosecutors

POSTED: 9:16 am PDT June 11, 2004
UPDATED: 9:54 am PDT June 11, 2004

Court papers say strip club owner Michael Galardi paid bribes to three San Diego city councilmen who then agreed to try to abolish a rule forbidding touching between dancers and patrons, it was reported today.

Court documents filed by prosecutors Thursday link Galardi's bribes to City Councilmen Ralph Inzunza, Michael Zucchet and Charles Lewis, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune. The councilmen were indicted by a federal grand jury in August on corruption charges.

The disclosure did not include specific details, such as how much money Galardi is accused of paying out and what supporting evidence the government has, the newspaper reported.

The indictment charges the councilmen with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud in accepting money from Galardi, a Las Vegas resident who owns Cheetahs; former Cheetahs manager John D'Intino; and lobbyist Lance Malone, according to the Union-Tribune.

Inzunza and Zucchet are also charged with extortion. None of the councilmen is charged with bribery.

Galardi and D'Intino have pleaded guilty and are cooperating with the government. A trial date has not been set yet.

The councilmen said that any money they received was in the form of campaign contributions, which they reported as required by law, according to the Union-Tribune.

U.S. District Judge Jeffrey T. Miller is scheduled to hear arguments July 1, with the councilmen in attendance.


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