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 2-21-11
Inside Vegas - Steve Miller

Steve Miller is a former Las Vegas City Councilman. In 1991, the readers of the Las Vegas Review Journal voted him the "Most Effective Public Official" in Southern Nevada. Visit his website at: http://www.SteveMiller4LasVegas.com


Rick Rizzolo's Parole Expires on April Fools' Day!

With over $11 million still owed the IRS; $2.2 million still owed the
City of Las Vegas; and over $9 million still owed to Kirk Henry,
will U.S. Judge Philip Pro let a convicted racketeer off this
Tuesday at an eleventh hour Parole Violation hearing?

INSIDE VEGAS by Steve Miller
AmericanMafia.com
February 21, 2011

LAS VEGAS - Last Friday, attorneys for former Crazy Horse Too owner Rick Rizzolo filed a redundant eleventh hour MOTION to try to stop the United States Federal Court from modifying Rizzolo's parole set to expire on April 1, 2011. Rizzolo's legal team filed their 11 page Motion in response to the Government's December 3, 2010 OPPOSITION to Rizzolo's repeated requests to dismiss the Government's case against him, and let his parole expire naturally.

If successful, Rizzolo's latest legal maneuver could stall progress in this case until after he's off parole and out of the U.S. Government's jurisdiction. Possible new charges would have to brought against him resulting in expensive additional prosecution and litigation in order for the debts he owes the Government and others to get paid.

If on Tuesday the Court treats Rizzolo like an ordinary felon who lacks political clout, his parole will either be extended or revoked, and he will be sent back to prison until he agrees to meet the provisions of his plea bargain.

The latest Motion is a re-hash of past Motions made by Rick and Lisa Rizzolo's highly paid legal teams. It includes little or no new information to offer the court on the eve of Rick Rizzolo's parole expiration.

In the Motion, Rizzolo repeats and repeats his claim that he owes un-paid beating victim Kirk Henry no more than can be derived from the sale of the defunct Crazy Horse Too (the City of Las Vegas has refused to grant any buyer a liquor license until the $2.2 million dollar fine is paid), and Rizzolo again claims the Government ruined his business and devalued his property that he claims was once worth "thirty three million dollars" (all purported offers had connections to Rizzolo or his associates or were financially unable to perform without hidden investors).

Rizzolo also asks the court to not conduct a Judgment Debtor Exam, and again claims that the court lacks authority to alter the terms of his parole -- all claims that have been rejected by the court on numerous occasions.

While this occurs, Kirk Henry's attorneys are waiting for a civil trial date in Federal Court on their Uniform Fraudulent Transfers Act case against Rick and Lisa Rizzolo who moved their assets off shore in the middle of Henry's personal injury lawsuit, and three weeks before Rizzolo entered into plea negotiations with the Government.

After granting one continuance, Judge Philip Pro scheduled the long delayed Parole Violation hearing for this Tuesday at 9:30 AM in court room 7-C of the Lloyd George Federal Courthouse in Las Vegas. Rizzolo has been subpoenaed to be present.

If Rick Rizzolo is found to have violated his parole as accused by U.S. Attorney for Nevada Daniel Bogden, he can be arrested and taken into custody directly from the court room. (Rizzolo leaving court in 2006 followed by the late Buffalo Jim Barrier, AmericanMafia.com photo by Mike Christ)

That question should be easy for Judge Pro to answer.

In the Government's December 3, 2010 OPPOSITION, U.S. Attorney Bogden states: "Additionally, the Henrys in various court filings concerning their civil litigation with defendant have demonstrated that defendant is spending lavish amounts in various restaurant and entertainment establishments, hiding substantial funds offshore, disposing of expensive assets to family members and friends and claiming falsely that he is a man of very limited means in responding to all efforts to identity assets potentially attachable for meeting his obligations. Defendant in depositions has admitted that his conduct is designed to avoid meeting his obligations to the Henrys and liabilities to other third parties, including the Internal Revenue Service."

Bogden continues:  "Notwithstanding the serious issue of Rick Rizzolo's unpaid restitution, he has also ignored the express strictures governing his supervised release and the Department of Parole and Probation is either unwilling or powerless to do anything about it. To be clear, Rick Rizzolo is barred from consummating any financial contracts without the approval of his probation officer; yet, he has received over $1 million from his financial dealings since his release. Moreover, Rick Rizzolo failed to even disclose these transactions to his probation officer. Nevertheless, the government has taken no action to enforce Rick Rizzolo's conditions of supervised release pertaining to the consummation of financial transactions."

But that's not all the government has failed to supervise. Sources at the Nevada Division of Parole and Probation tell INSIDE VEGAS that Rizzolo has been adding insult to injury by sending Kirk Henry monthly donations of $1,000 as purported restitution toward Rizzolo's outstanding $9 million dollar-plus court ordered debt to the man who was crippled by a Crazy Horse Too employee after refusing to pay a padded bar tab.

Adding more insult to injury, the Federal Government has egg all over its face after issuing a June 1, 2006 Press Release bragging that "justice has been served."

“Due to the perseverance and dedication of the investigating agencies and U.S. Attorney’s Office,  justice has been served with these guilty pleas,” said Steven M. Martinez, Special Agent-in-Charge of the FBI’s Las Vegas Field Office. "A message has been sent that violence and the avoidance of tax liability will not be tolerated in this community.”

“This plea allows us to quickly and efficiently accomplish the primary goals of our investigation to remove the current ownership from the Crazy Horse Too strip club and bring closure to Kirk Henry and his family for the brutal and tragic extortionate attack at the club," said U.S. Attorney Bogden.

It does not matter who you are, or what business you are in, as Americans we are required to pay taxes, including employment taxes,” said J. Wesley Eddy, Special Agent-in-Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation for Las Vegas.

Four and a half years later, the Government's words have proven to be worthless!

In the September 15, 2010 Las Vegas Review-Journal column; "Motion paints a picture of Rizzolo thumbing his nose at justice," columnist John L. Smith wrote: "Meanwhile, Rizzolo has lived lavishly, neglecting to fulfill the conditions of his parole and failing to find work. Court documents suggest Rizzolo doesn't have trouble paying his party debts, just his societal ones."

Judge Pro's ruling on February 22, will determine if "the avoidance of tax liability will not be tolerated in this community," and if "justice has been served."  Or it will prove who are the real fools come April 1.

EDITOR'S NOTE: AmericanMafia.com will be in court on February 22 to cover Rick Rizzolo's Parole Violation hearing -- unless there are further delays.

BACKGROUND:
http://www.americanmafia.com/Inside_Vegas/2-7-11_Inside_Vegas.html
http://www.americanmafia.com/Inside_Vegas/1-31-11_Inside_Vegas.html
http://www.americanmafia.com/Inside_Vegas/1-3-11_Inside_Vegas.html



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