Seventh suspect arrested in ‘clip joint’ investigation
A seventh person was arrested Thursday in connection with what authorities suspect was a “clip joint” where a 25-year-old British tourist was stabbed May 13.
Las Vegas police booked Robert Milk, 33, in connection with the stabbing at the Red Devil Fitness Spa, 3430 Polaris Ave., near Spring Mountain Road. He was arrested also in connection with allegations of racketeering, obtaining money under false pretenses, multiple transactions involving fraud or deceit, and conspiracy to commit racketeering, same as the six previous suspects.
The Red Devil bills itself as a provider of reflexology, where customers have their hands and feet rubbed. But Las Vegas police said the spa’s business practices had made it part of an ongoing racketeering investigation.
Clientele of clip joints are tourists who are impaired by alcohol, drugs or a combination of both, a Las Vegas police news release said. The locations usually are suggested by taxi drivers who tell tourists they can get sex for money.
The British tourist, who was stabbed in the head and abdomen, had been dropped off by a cab at the Red Devil spa early May 13.
Taxi drivers are involved in the clip joint schemes, usually receiving kickbacks for dropping off tourists, the police report said.
The British tourist became agitated after soliciting sex and receiving the “runaround” from employees. That is when he threw a water bottle at a woman. He then was attacked and stabbed multiple times by a security guard, the report said.
Clip joint victims usually are charged a “one-time fee for membership” that generally starts at $200 per person, police said. They are falsely led to believe that prostitution will occur before being intimidated into leaving or forced off the property, police said.
Prostitution is illegal in Clark County.
Clip joint victims usually are too embarrassed to report their experiences to law enforcement, the report said.
Contact reporter Trevon Milliard at tmilliard@review
journal.com or 702-383-0279.
