Home Subscribe Las Vegas Review-Journal
  Jobs Cars Homes Shopping Travel Weddings Golf Best of Las Vegas Photo   Search:

RECENT EDITIONS
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

News
Nov. 27, 2007
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Crazy Horse may sell for $31 million

U.S. marshal's office keeps name of potential buyer under wraps

By ADRIENNE PACKER
REVIEW-JOURNAL

The U.S. marshal's office is closing in on a deal to sell the Crazy Horse Gentlemen's Club for $31 million, a move that would permanently take the strip club out of the hands of Rick Rizzolo, who is serving prison time for evading taxes.

If the sale is finalized, Kansas tourist Kirk Henry, who was paralyzed in the club parking lot, is set to receive $9 million. Henry has already received $1 million of the $10 million settlement. Rizzolo must also pay $17 million in liens and fines to the federal government.

Who is entitled to the remaining $4 million was the subject Monday of a federal court hearing attended by attorneys representing the government, Rizzolo and even Michael Signorelli, who at one time wanted to buy the club.

According to a motion filed by Signorelli attorney Steven Gibson, Signorelli is seeking $900,000 he spent on employee health insurance while operating the club on Rizzolo's behalf, plus $1.5 million he claims Rizzolo promised him under the operating agreement.


Most Popular Stories
  • MOUNT CHARLESTON: Four die in plane crash
  • Two couples died in crash
  • NORM: Steve Wynn goes for mega-yacht
  • FAMILY SERVICES: Three visits preceded boy's death
  • NORM: Kirshner works on big Vegas project
  • NORM: Playboy models in state spotlight
  • Body of diver who jumped off 90-foot Lake Mead cliff found
  • NORM: Playboy 'coed': Dad's OK with it
  • NORM: Elvis fan club will have star its way
  • NORM: Curtain falling on Stage Deli



    • A June 2006 plea bargain signed by Rizzolo forced him to sell the business. Rizzolo is currently serving a one year, one day prison sentence at the Los Angeles Metropolitan Detention Center.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Hollingsworth said the name of the potential buyer will be kept under wraps until the deal is finalized. Hollinsworth said the buyers have already been harassed and any further problems could cause the sale to fall apart. He didn't elaborate on the nature of the harassment.

    Signorelli agreed to buy the club earlier this year for $40 million, but the deadline for the sale passed without a deal. The city of Las Vegas initially threatened to revoke the liquor license for the property by December, but extended the deadline until June 2008 so the value of the property would not drop.

    The federal government seized the business in August.

    Fred "Pete" Gibson argued that Rizzolo's company, RICRIZ, is entitled to the proceeds of the sale. The Rick and Lisa Rizzolo Family Trust owns 1 percent of RICRIZ, the other 99 percent is held by the Lions Limited Partnership. The general partner of Lions is Demole LLC. Rizzolo and his wife are the managers of Demole.

    Steven Gibson argued against the sale of the property, but U.S. District Judge Philip Pro declined to halt the negotiations until Gibson can file a motion in court.

    "I'd like to see the sale occur," Pro said. "After that the parties can argue over what is left."

    Pro scheduled another hearing on the matter for Jan. 14.

    Attorney Don Campbell, who represents Henry, said he was pleased that the judge declined to stall the sale of the business. He said Henry deserves to receive his money. A 2001 altercation with Crazy Horse personnel left Henry paralyzed from the neck down.

    Contact reporter Adrienne Packer at apacker@reviewjournal.com.



    Leave Your Comment 21 Reader Comments
    Terms & Conditions
    The following comments are provided by readers and are the sole responsiblity of the authors. The reviewjournal.com does not review comments before publication nor guarantee their accuracy. By publishing a comment here you agree to abide by the comment policy. If you see a comment that violates the policy, please notify the web editor.

    Some comments may not display immediately due to an automatic filter. These comments will be reviewed within 48 hours. Please do not submit a comment more than once.
    Current Word Count:

    UNBELIEVABLE wrote on November 29, 2007 10:39 AM: Thank you.


    undr covr us wrote on November 29, 2007 09:38 AM: I understand. Security is important. I dont know who you think I am nor care. Dots with substance and no rhetoric that gives credibility to all the sword rattling is what needs to be brought to the table. Bring it to FBI or contact agent in charge of public corruption with a back up to doj washington criminal division(to eliminate local contamination and to be sure everyone is playing by the book.). As an individual I have done that. They would like to see more people (victims, informed, etc) come forward with dots connected. Certified return receipt communications work. They will call you.


    UNBELIEVABLE wrote on November 28, 2007 11:09 PM: Anguilla Islands which has No US Treaties??? US GOVERNMENT WARRANT PROOF???

    I am a fan of WARRANTS. The MORE WARRANTS, the better. Oh, and don't forget the handcuffs. Lots and lots of them.

    Seems a bit SHADY. I don't do shady...other than that necessary to stay alive and safe.

    With the things we know, that is an every day consideration.

    I will sleep on this. I will find a way. If for some reason this is NOT the REAL you, this gives you a chance to tell us during business hours.


    undr covr us wrote on November 28, 2007 09:14 PM: I have a secure email catchall@hush.ai


    UNBELIEVABLE wrote on November 28, 2007 03:30 PM: undr covr us & Anna

    I am WORKING ON IT...Feverishly.
    I just STRUCK GOLD TODAY. Got what I think is a HUGE "DOT"...
    It just dropped in my lap.

    Whatever you do, do not go into too much detail on this blog. The ENEMY is watching and disecting our every word so that they can shut down our ability to CONNECT DOTS. If you are who I think you are, you should understand this.


    ANNA wrote on November 28, 2007 11:24 AM: Unbelievable...

    Please DO SOMETHING...my CRIPTICMESSAGES are not working...

    I only communicate CRIPTICALLY so that my messages FOOL the F_LTER!

    What I meant was that THEY have removed public access to CERTAIN cases.

    I am not speaking about THE SEALED CASES.


    undr covr us wrote on November 28, 2007 10:05 AM: UNBELIEVABLE Periodically you reference something like 'Not here though'...

    Is there another forum or secure way for some of us to communicate?

    There are a lot of dots to connect.


    UNBELIEVABLE wrote on November 28, 2007 06:24 AM: Did you say LAND BUDDY?

    There haven't been any articles we could sink our teeth into regarding the land racket.

    I say at the very first opportunity, we discuss said racket. Not here though, as I do not want to dilute the commentary. Besides, let THEM QUIRM!

    Shall we? LET'S...


    reid fest wrote on November 27, 2007 09:53 PM: Disgusting, Didn't Jay Brown, Harry Reid's long time friend and land buddy represent Signorelli at the City Council meetings, when Signorelli was trying to buy the crazy horse?????


    Stinks wrote on November 27, 2007 09:12 PM: This stinks


    Read All Comments