SAN DIEGO -- Closing arguments began Wednesday in the federal corruption trial of San Diego city councilmen Ralph Inzunza and Michael Zucchet, lobbyist Lance Malone and council aide David Cowan.

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Two city councilmen took money from a strip club owner and his lobbyist in exchange for working to defeat the city's "no-touch" law, a federal prosecutor told a jury in his closing argument Wednesday.

Assistant U.S. Attorney John Rice told jurors that Inzunza and Zucchet, along with the late Councilman Charles Lewis, "schemed and conspired" to beat the laws that "governed their conduct."

Inzunza, Zucchet and Malone are charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud and extortion. Malone is also charged with interstate travel in aid of racketeering.

Cowan, a former aide to Lewis, is charged with making a false statement to the FBI.

Rice began the government's closing argument by telling jurors that Inzunza and Zucchet violated laws involving campaign contributions, lobbying and ethics in government.

The laws are designed to promote transparency in government and to avoid undue influence by any one person, the prosecutor said.

The councilmen used "disguised money" and "sham issues" to make good on their promise to repeal "no-touch," Rice said.

"They made decisions for the good of Lance Malone, Michael Galardi and Cheetah's," the prosecutor said.

Galardi, who owned Cheetah's in San Diego and three strip clubs in Las Vegas, pleaded guilty in September 2003 and testified against his co-defendants.

The defendants have denied any wrongdoing, and argued any money that changed hands was in the form of legal campaign contributions. The defense is expected to give its closing argument later this week.

Rice told the jury that Inzunza, as an established councilman, asked Malone for money to help get Zucchet get elected in 2002.

In return, Inzunza promised to perform an official act and get "no-touch" repealed, the prosecutor said.

Rice told jurors the money wasn't normal political campaign contributions.

"This was money for a purpose," the prosecutor said.

Zucchet told Malone he was "in the same boat with Ralph" and agreed to do the "heavy lifting" when the matter was brought up at the Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee on April 30, 2003, Rice told the jury.

Malone, from Las Vegas, had only one thing on his mind when he traveled to San Diego -- "getting rid of no-touch," Rice said.

Closing arguments are expected to last through Friday.