By Steve Miller, AmericanMafia.com
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
" I don't want to waste your time. You already know what I bought into, and what I got." - Rick Rizzolo's statement to Judge Pro
LAS VEGAS - U.S. Federal Court Chief Judge Philip M. Pro today sentenced Crazy Horse Too owner Rick Rizzolo to 12 months and one day a the Federal Correctional Institution in Taft, California.
After hearing arguments form Rizzolo's attorney Tony Sgro that his client deserved special consideration and a lighter sentence because he had already suffered enough after his conviction for racketeering and tax evasion, the Judge rendered the sentence.
Sgro tried to convince Judge Pro that Rizzolo was an upstanding member of the community: contributed to local charities; and since his June 2006 conviction suffered loss of social status; life style; identity; lost friends; and that gaming license holders are avoiding him because he's a felon.
Judge Pro was not impressed.
Because the Crazy Horse Too is presently being run by a man who claims he will purchase the business and property if and when the Las Vegas City Council grants him a permanent liquor license, Judge Pro extended the amount of time to 120 days before Rizzolo must surrender himself to prison officials.
It was also made known that the purported buyer, Mike Signorelli, had not secured financing, or paid rent on the club since he was granted a temporary liquor license in October, and that he will not be able to obtain financing without the license. The Judge inquired whether the financing was guaranteed after licensure, but Sgro could not answer that question with certainty.
After release from prison, Rizzolo will be under the supervision of the Department of Parole and Probation for a 36 months period. During that time, the Department will have 24 hour access to his residence, and unlimited access to his financial and bank records.
Rizzolo is also ordered to not have any dealings with, or be a business consultant to, any adult oriented business for the rest of his life.
Mayor Oscar Goodman's business and law partner Jay Brown, whose name has surfaced over the years in organized-crime investigations , consulted for ninety minutes with Athanasios Karaholios and his attorney. During their consultation, Brown reviewed all evidence and strategy related to Karaholios' proposed Federal Civil Racketeering and Fraud lawsuit against Signorelli and Rick Rizzolo . After seeing this confidential information, Brown reportedly offered to represent Karaholios, also known as Tommy Karas, for a retainer of $30,000 in the lawsuit against Signorelli and Rizzolo. Karaholios declined Brown's offer, hired different council, and sued Signorelli and Rizzolo. Armed with Karaholios' privileged information, Brown signed on as Signorelli's attorney! This is an obvious violation of the Nevada State Bar Rules of Professional Conduct.
Copyright Steve Miller
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