Organized Crime
gawker
Older than dirt
Do any of you have any idea as to whether organized crime has a significant interest in strip clubs? I've always heard rumors and dancers have tolls me about "mobbed up" or "connected" customers and then there was Badda Bing. My ATF says she's had a customer lately who is very Italian, starting a 10 year federal prison term next month, and is a "made man".
I don't know if she's watched The Godfather too many times or if the club she's working at is populated by Mafioso.
It's probably different in other parts of the country but with more and more "chains" getting into the business, I'm curious.
I don't know if she's watched The Godfather too many times or if the club she's working at is populated by Mafioso.
It's probably different in other parts of the country but with more and more "chains" getting into the business, I'm curious.
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Gawker, I wouldn't doubt it one bit considering where you are from, and just like sinclair said, I know of rural clubs in my area known to be connected to the Pagans.
https://youtu.be/hcHmxQ-fnpc
It would be truly brilliant if the Patriarcas brought a truckload of bootleg Canadian whiskey to the wake! ;)
(No disrespect intended toward your grandmother, just a humorous thought about your family's "mafia connections)
I don't know if the Italian Mafia is involved in Detroit clubs. I think our clubs are more controlled by disorganized crime.
Otherwise it could have been a case of owing the wrong people money. One owner was shot and found dead in his trunk one owner had his car booby trapped.
Gimlet Media puts out a fantastic podcast called "Crimetown". They launched the show focusing exclusively on the mafia and corruption in Providence and Rhode Island. Thirteen episodes so far and very professional quality.
http://gimletmedia.com/crimetown/
Great stuff, in my opinion.
There's a story that when the Foxy Lady opened in Providence (which goes back to the 70s/80s; I'm actually not sure when it opened specifically), the owner was sitting at the bar one night when a Patriarca lieutenant sat down next to him, shook his hand, and introduced himself as his new business partner.
I don't think want wild out on Louisiana guys. Just a different breed.
With Jim and Artie, it was all in the front room, and that was the key to their defense.
Jim and Artie has also stood up to the Mafia before, suing them to stop showing of bootleg versions of Behind the Green Door, in Arizona.
So it was after Jim and Artie won the legal battles, that the Mafia came in, and changed it to more of a clip joint system.
This was under Willy Brown and D.A. Terrance Hailinan.
SJG
http://www.yvonnecraig.com/
http://tysyvonnecraighomepage.com/
Sure some clubs probably have some criminal types involved, it's the nature of the business. But I don't think it's common.
That doesn't mean organized crime is NOT involved in strip joints - criminal organizations do own or in some way control several - but usually they are disrete about the involvement. Mob control of "sex businesses" is mostly about small time drug and prostitution schemes that any big plans. Most of the time you read stories of Mob related strip joints it is exageration or fantasy created by exuberant, but ignorant, reporters.