FBI says Patriot Act used in Vegas strip club corruption probe

Associated Press ^ | 11-04-03

[stylin19a]

It seems they would be better off using RICO...which has been used for purposes it wasn't intended..in this case, it seems The Racketeering Act applies...

[kcvl]

September 8, 2003

United States Attorney Carol C. Lam announced that Michael Galardi pled guilty today in federal court in San Diego to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The defendant entered his guilty plea before United States District Judge Jeffery T. Miller.

In an indictment returned by a federal grand jury August 28, 2003, Galardi, the Las Vegas owner of Cheetahs, an adult entertainment club in San Diego, was charged as a co-defendant with San Diego City Councilmen Ralph Inzunza, Charles Lewis and Michael Zucchet in the wire fraud conspiracy, whose object was to deprive the citizens of San Diego of their right to honest services.

In his plea agreement, Galardi admitted that between August 2000 and May 14, 2003, he agreed with co-defendants John D'Intino (who has pled guilty on September 2, 2003 to the same offense), Lance Malone and others to pay money to an undercover San Diego Police Officer and to the three Councilmen in order to corruptly influence them in the performance of their official duties. Galardi further admitted that he agreed with D'Intino, Malone and others to cause the Councilmen to conceal, disguise and fail to disclose material information to the City of San Diego, its City Council and its citizens. In addition, Galardi admitted that he directed others to make contributions to San Diego politicians, and reimbursed the "straw" contributors. Finally, Galardi admitted that he paid for travel, lodging and entertainment expenses in Las Vegas for Councilman Lewis.

The offense to which Galardi has pled guilty carries a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. Galardi will remain free on bail pending sentencing.

CASE NUMBER: 03-CR 2434-JM

DEFENDANT

MICHAEL GALARDI
Las Vegas, Nevada




SUMMARY OF CHARGES

Conspiracy to commit wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371.
The charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud carries a maximum penalty of 5 years' imprisonment
and a $250,000 fine.

[laredo44]

Ashcroft for Pres. in '08!

You a big fan of abuse of power?

[kcvl]

Galardi admitted that between August 2000 and May 14, 2003, he agreed with co-defendants John D'Intino (who has pled guilty on September 2, 2003 to the same offense), Lance Malone and others to pay money to an undercover San Diego Police Officer and to the three Councilmen in order to corruptly influence them in the performance of their official duties. Galardi further admitted that he agreed with D'Intino, Malone and others to cause the Councilmen to conceal, disguise and fail to disclose material information to the City of San Diego, its City Council and its citizens. In addition, Galardi admitted that he directed others to make contributions to San Diego politicians, and reimbursed the "straw" contributors. Finally, Galardi admitted that he paid for travel, lodging and entertainment expenses in Las Vegas for Councilman Lewis.

[snopercod]

R.I.C.O comes to mind.

It was intended to be used only against "racketeers", but now is used routinely against anybody.

[lelio]

Ashcroft for Pres. in '08!
You a big fan of abuse of power?

Don't ask such clear cut questions. Strippers are a threat to America. Get in line.

[freeeee]

The Patriot Act is being used for things other than terrorism???

But, but how can this be? They said it was for terrorism! Our government would never lie and use a tragedy for a power grab - they're above that because, because we're Americans, dammit!

Who could have known? Who could have seen such a thing coming? I don't think anyone raised this issue when the Patriot Act was passed.

[Hemingway's Ghost]

I'm not surprised the Feds are using the PA's back door for non-terrorism prosecutions. I am surprised it took them this long to do so.

[TigersEye]

The PA is being used against normal everyday American criminals? I'm shocked!!!

The question no one is bothering to ask is 'what is the "threshold" for obtaining the warrant under the new lowered standard?' They obviously didn't go after an innocent citizen here.

[tomakaze]

re: All promises about the Patriot Act were made to be broken, apparently.
 
Yep.
Just wait till another Janet Reno shows up.
I'm hoping folks (on our side or in general) will wise up and realize that the so-called "unintended consequences" of garbage like this are always fully intended.
.. or have people forgotten the RICO laws re: Right to Life activists?

[mansion]

Come on, who didn't see this coming?

If the last administration had come up with the "Patriot" act, it would have been met with much suspicion, then rejected by FReepers, with good cause. But since a Republican adminstration, and a Republican-led congress did it, it's okay.

I predict that in a few short years, the "Patriot" Act will be used almost exclusively against U.S. citizens, rather than the terrorists that are the act's alleged targets.

"It's to protect us from terrorists!" has become the GOP's version of "It's for the children!"

If any other FReepers read this and have doubts about the Patriot act, feel free to contact me, it is a very important topic!

[Maria S]

Democrat Senators Stretched Patriot Act to Reach Beyond Terrorism
Wes Vernon, NewsMax.com
Thursday, Nov. 20, 2003
http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2003/11/20/174051.shtml

WASHINGTON – NewsMax.com has learned that the FBI's use of the Patriot Act to justify its involvement in a non-terrorism case in Las Vegas can be traced to the handiwork of Senate Democrats.

Without specifically mentioning the Vegas case, Monica Goodling, DOJ's deputy director for public affairs, cited for NewsMax Section 314 of the controversial law, which says the act can be applied to activities “that may involve terrorist acts or money-laundering activities.”
As DOJ maintains, and as NewsMax noted in our previous report on the Patriot Act, the relevant word in that Section 314 of the law is “or.”

Sen. Paul Sarbanes, D-Md., then chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, had already introduced a separate measure to extend the reach of the federal authorities in money-laundering cases. When the Patriot Act was up for debate in the weeks after 9/11, Sarbanes, with the backing of then Senate plurality leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., had his previous proposal incorporated into the new terrorist legislation.

American Civil Liberties Union and other critics of the Patriot Act have cited the Vegas investigation, a case of political corruption that allegedly involved money-laundering, as evidence of over-reach by the Patriot Act. As written, the group argues, the law could be used against citizens for almost anything.

“I think when the Senate added this on, what they were thinking in their mind is a lot of times ... there is not necessarily a clear line between money-laundering investigations and terrorism,” Goodling said.

(excerpted)