KNAPPSTER George Knapp is a longtime reporter and anchor for KLAS Channel 8.

Thursday, May 22, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Mercury

Knappster: 'G-Sting' is just tip of iceberg

By George Knapp

The unfolding story about local politicians and their involvement with the owners of topless clubs is big by any standard, bigger than an over-the-hill dancer who can't quite fit into her G-string anymore, bigger than the wads of cash that supposedly were passed to our fine public servants. The story already dominates local newscasts and headlines, even though the juiciest stuff is still likely to come.

Ah, but it could have been even bigger. Think of it this way. When the FBI began its inquiry, Dario Herrera was still a rising political star. People figured he was a shoo-in to be elected to Congress, and perhaps, to higher office. The G-men who were hot on his trail had to know that, by the time it was all over, they might be going after a U.S. congressman and, by inference, the powerful people who helped put him there. But there was more.

They also had a shot at bagging Nevada's lieutenant governor. I recall sitting outside Cheetahs one night last October. I had been told that a special guest would be dropping by the club that night--County Commissioner and lieutenant governor hopeful Erin Kenny was said to be coming by. We sat around for a few hours, waiting to grab a few video snippets of Kenny entering the club. We didn't get the shot but were told later that lawmen who were also on stakeout got plenty of photo-ops.

Informed sources say that, once inside, Ms. Kenny was introduced to a gathering of topless dancers. Club management described her as a friend of the industry and a friend of hoochie-koochie girls everywhere, then asked the girls to pony up some campaign money for the commissioner. Ms. Kenny also made the rounds that night at Jaguars, where she once again passed around the hat.

Having spent many an hour inside such establishments in my younger years, I am not one to cast judgment on the practice of shedding one's clothes for money. I don't see anything wrong with it, as long as it is by mutual consent, and thus there's nothing unseemly about visiting one of these joints either. But is it wise for a political candidate to travel in such circles, to hang out with naked women and horny drunks and grovel for handouts at nudie joints? For goshsakes, that's why God invented bagmen.

Officially, the G-men who've been chasing this G-string caper have nothing to say. Unofficially, they tell me they are simply flabbergasted over the audacity shown by their targets. Knappster first learned about this probe almost a year ago. In the months since, word has filtered around town that something was up. The three main targets of the investigation--Herrera, Kenny and Mary Kincaid-Chauncey--HAD to know that something was going on. But, according to sources, they continued to act in the same haughty way, continued to accept favors and gifts, continued to blab away on their telephones and cellulars. That's the part that truly amazes the lawmen who were/are after their asses.

(By the way, you should hear some of the steamy stuff that was intercepted during electronic surveillance operations. If it is ever made public, a lot of people are going to have to wash their mouths out with soap and will never be able to look their moms in the eye again. There also are some spicy scenes that were found on videos taken from inside the topless clubs. One tape reportedly shows an elected official--not previously associated with this investigation--receiving an enthusiastic "Monica" from a gracious dancer. Gee, wonder how many officials are at home wondering if it is them?)

In addition to the three targets named above, along with three city council members in San Diego, are there any other public officials worthy of scrutiny in all of this? Funny you should ask. Of course, by now, the whole world knows that former County Commissioner Lance Malone is a central figure in the unfolding drama. The feds figure that Lance was the go-between and delivery boy who doled out cash to friendly politicos. In San Diego, Malone is considered a target. Here, he's considered a key witness, perhaps THE key witness. Lawmen I know can't understand why Lance didn't roll over a long time ago. "All it would take to tip Lance over is a soft summer breeze," said one. But the way we hear it, Malone was tough to turn, perhaps because he feared the reaction of his well-connected employers.

But there is another name that I heard back in the early days of this investigation. Make that two names. The feds were very interested in a large transfer of cash from the topless clubs to a third party, money that some think went into the pocket of yet another official. However, when the search warrant surfaced last week, the name of that official was nowhere to be found. It makes me wonder if someone has cut a deal or if agents are biding their time, perhaps waiting to see what the other alleged bagman might have to say.

Maybe our local officials continued to act in such stupid fashion because they didn't really believe the FBI would come after them. After all, they look at the shady shenanigans that occurred a few years ago at the airport in which politicians blatantly handed out goodies to their cronies. Sure, there were a few wrist-slaps from the ethics folks, but no criminal charges came out of it and the feds stayed on the sidelines. Maybe they all figured the feds had too much on their plates and wouldn't waste the resources to disrupt a wink-wink-nod system of business that has been the norm here for decades.

Well, guess again. The FBI, along with Metro, has been watching, listening, photographing and wiretapping for a good long time now. They've learned more about how things work in our town than perhaps they ever wanted to know. Soon enough, we'll all get a peek under the circus tent.

G-Sting follow-up

A few other notes regarding the ongoing drama. Potential targets of the FBI probe have lined up an impressive array of legal talent. Jack Galardi has hired John Momot, of Ted Binion trial fame. Erin Kenny has Frank Cremen. Mike Galardi will be represented by legal eagle Tom Pitaro, who has hired famed private eye Tom Dillard to help him prepare a defense. Dario Herrera hired Eric Goodman, a rookie lawyer who may get some help from his dad, a criminal defense attorney of some repute. Perhaps you've heard of him? ... Ardelle Jorgenson, the longtime director of business licensing at the county, plans to retire June 20. The retirement was planned long before Jorgenson was interviewed by FBI agents about this case. She's viewed as an information source, not a target, although the feds had their suspicions in the early going. ... Clark County officials are a little miffed at the feds for a perceived lack of cooperation. They don't expect the FBI to spill all its sealed secrets, but a little bit of communication would be appreciated, officials whisper, especially if the G-men want some help in return. The county feels like the trustworthiness of the entire operation is under suspicion, even though no one has been charged with anything.

Other stuff

The venerable Pioneer Saloon in Mountain Springs will celebrate its 90th birthday next month. A shindig is planned for the weekend of June 21-22 with bands and barbecues and colorful characters. How often do you get a chance to get drunk in a saloon built in 1913? ... R-J entertainment writer Mike Weatherford responded to last week's column query about the Francis Ford Coppola film One from the Heart. In his excellent book Cult Vegas, Mike has a section about the 1982 film (and every other Vegas movie) and notes that, in some ways, it was way ahead of its time. Few people bothered to see it, though, Coppola lost his studio, and, these days, it's almost impossible to find a dub on any format. Knappster is hoping Mr. Weatherford will loan us his copy so I can not only watch it, but pirate it as well.