Wednesday, July 27, 2005
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

JOHN L. SMITH: Some strip club owners feel heat while others feed fuel to feds' fire

Friends of Crazy Horse Too owner Rick Rizzolo have risen to his defense following my recent column calling for the closure of his cabaret due to an ongoing criminal investigation and publicized links to organized crime.

While they seem shy about using their names, they've reserved special criticism for Rizzolo's most relentless critic, Steve Miller, the former Las Vegas city councilman-turned-Internet crusader. Miller has a conflict of interest, they argue.

Miller criticizes Rizzolo, they say, but why doesn't anyone point out Miller's obvious conflict of interest as the person who owns the land beneath Salvatore "Sam" Cecola's Club Paradise topless club?

Consider it done.

Miller's focus on the alleged goings on at the Crazy Horse Too borders on obsession, and that's coming from someone who has often blasted the place in recent months. Miller's assault has been brutal.

It's nothing new.

Miller tormented former City Councilman Michael McDonald. He once championed the fledgling candidacy of Janet Moncrief, then sunk her political toy boat after he decided she'd acted unethically and betrayed him.

And he continues to antagonize R&R Partners boss Billy Vassiliadis over his $1 deal with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority over the popular "What happens here, stays here" slogan. And there's his daily slap at gambling golf course developer Billy Walters, whose sweetheart deals are the stuff of legend.

In his spare time, Miller chews on Mayor Oscar Goodman, who seems none the worse for wear.

In addition to reporting issues in his Americanmafia.com Web column, Miller has teamed with James "Buffalo Jim" Barrier to barb Rizzolo and his crew on an almost daily basis. Barrier owns Auto & Marine Electric, which leases space next to the Industrial Road club.

Buffalo Jim has taken still photographs and shot video footage of everything from sleeping drunks to police calls and FBI raids at the club. He's also fought Rizzolo in court over parking lot disputes and lease agreements.

Frankly, I'd rather be attacked by a swarm of malaria-crazed mosquitoes than have Miller and Barrier on my case.

But they're shouting from the grandstands. Fact is, Rizzolo has continued to rake in the millions despite the buzz of his critics.

But it's also apparent that, media scoffing to the contrary, some members of law enforcement listen to Miller -- especially when he manages to add some facts and sworn testimony to his daily diatribes.

Here's the conflict: Miller's family has owned the land underneath the Club Paradise for decades. The monthly checks are sizable, I hear, and he's yet to apply his meat ax editorial style to Cecola, who until recent years was considered a mob-connected operator.

A funny thing happened on the way to infamy for Sam Cecola. He took a tax conviction and was on his way to being run out of the state when it was learned that he'd cooperated with the Justice Department in its investigation of mobster Frank Panno and others. Government lawyers even wrote a letter endorsing him.

But Cecola successfully argued that he was a "victim" of organized crime, not a benefiting member of it. Nowadays, Cecola isn't officially considered a mobbed-up guy. Instead, he's able to enter the club and rarely sees his name in the news.

Hey, wait a minute.

I think I'm onto something.

Come to think of it, Michael Galardi has admitted participating in the corruption of some round-heeled politicians in San Diego and Las Vegas in exchange for sentencing consideration and the chance to preserve millions in assets. Now that a jury in San Diego has returned a conviction of two members of that city's City Council and former Clark County Commissioner Lance Malone, Galardi is looking better and better.

While some politicians are doing hard time, Galardi will be having a good time -- and all because he made a friend in Uncle Sam. In a few years, maybe people will believe Galardi was the victim in that sordid affair.

And that poses an intriguing question:

Is there room in the government's bosom for cooperation from Rick Rizzolo?

John L. Smith's column appears Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. E-mail him at Smith@reviewjournal.com or call 383-0295.