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John L. Smith
It's time Rizzolo starts paying millions to quadriplegic
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For years, Rick Rizzolo was known for his deep pockets.
Whether gambling a fortune in casinos, contributing thousands to Nevada politicians and judges, or buying the house a round of drinks at Piero's, the high rolling topless bar mogul luxuriated in the Vegas high life.
Since his felony tax conviction in 2006, he has been decidedly penurious.
It's not because he's short of funds. He's flush with big green. Yet, like crime, Rizzolo doesn't pay. But that could be changing.
He was back in U.S. District Court last week to deny the undeniable: Rizzolo owes Kirk and Amy Henry millions. The arguments of Rizzolo's attorneys, Kenneth Frizzell and Mark Hafer, fell to a murmur before U.S. District Judge Philip Pro, who unequivocally ordered Rizzolo to turn over financial documents and set a payment schedule to the Henrys for a sum that, with interest, now exceeds $12 million. In September 2001, Kirk Henry nearly had his head wrenched from his neck by Crazy Horse Too shift manager Bobby D'Apice following a dispute over an $88 bar tab.
A lot has changed since then. Henry is a quadriplegic. After serving most of his 41-month sentence, D'Apice is scheduled for release Monday, according to the federal Bureau of Prisons.
What has Rizzolo been up to?
Technically, he has been under the watchful eye of federal parole officer Eric Christiansen and subject to a list of conditions that, if violated, could return him to the slammer. But until Pro's order, Rizzolo seemed to possess a stay-out-of-jail-free card. Federal watchdogs have looked more like lap dogs.
Now they'll have no choice. Henry attorneys Donald Campbell and Stan Hunterton have submitted documents that appear to show Rizzolo's undeniable parole violations.
Officially, his freedom hinges on 21 "conditions of supervision." For instance, he must "work regularly at a lawful occupation." I'm not sure playing the role of Vegas wiseguy bon vivant qualifies as "work."
He also is prohibited from "incurring new credit charges or negotiating or consummating any financial contracts without the approval of the probation officer." Decide for yourself whether he has done that.
On April 3, 2008, evidence shows he received $990,000 from the sale of a Philadelphia topless club. The money was transferred into the Lion Limited Partnership and then wired to RLR Trust, his confidential offshore account in the Cook Islands. Rizzolo then ordered $600,000 to be transferred into ex-wife Lisa Rizzolo's Cook Islands trust account. His father, Bart Rizzolo, was sent $200,000, and $100,000 was transferred to the law offices of Patti Sgro & Lewis.
As the Cook Islands trust accounts were supposedly secret, none of this was disclosed to Rizzolo's parole officer. In a deposition, however, Lisa Rizzolo admitted the existence of the accounts.
The list of transactions is lengthy and illustrates the high living Rizzolo is known for: expensive meals at Piero's Restaurant, Half Shell Seafood and the Samba Grill; high-dollar bar bills at Hard Rock Hotel's Wasted Space and Body English, and even a $2,863 getaway at the Island Hotel in Newport, Calif.
Although Rizzolo appears to believe cash is king these days, two other intriguing transactions have come to light.
In October 2008, Rizzolo sold his 1958 Corvette to Fred Doumani for $100,000. The money was quickly disbursed.
Then there's the disclosure in January that Rizzolo sold his personal jewelry collection to "unnamed family members" for $500,000. How convenient.
Rizzolo drives an expensive Mercedes, but claims he bunks for free at the home of his friend, Cliff Diamond. And on it goes.
Meanwhile, Kirk Henry and his family continue to struggle. Beyond that injustice, Rizzolo is playing federal parole officials for chumps.
If they don't want to continue to look like they're looking the other way, it's time they started doing their jobs.
John L. Smith's column appears Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. E-mail him at Smith@reviewjournal.com or call 702-383-0295. He also blogs at lvrj.com/blogs/smith.
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Sorry Steve Miller, I meant you and RJC W...
To RJC Watchdog and David Miller:
Roger going back to obscurity when he's gone is cold comfort for victims now destroyed.
Each of you states David Roger could bring justice by prosecuting obvious cases, yet he does not.
Victims ask WHY Not?
If Roger doesn't back up his cops, doesn't prosecute crime, does NOTHING for victims, and sleeps with the mobsters, than WHY IS HE STILL HERE?
Most astonishing, how is it possible he's apparently running for office again
and will no doubt win?
One answer may be that Roger collects enough dirt on cops, on politicians, on the press, so that they can't press for the back-up they--and victims-- need. Dig deeper, and this will prove TRUE.
Going to Federal court where local influence has no sway isn't the only answer, and is a painfully protracted process, while lives wither as justice is delayed when it's not flat-out denied.
National news sources are another obvious way to get answers/action, but the very suggestion of this to local investigative journalists meets with indignant outrage.
Yet isn't that the only solution that makes real strategic sense?
Tick off a list of those destroyed by David Roger's refusal to prosecute, and when you've passed the HUNDRED mark, let us know if this importing investigaors doesn't make sense.
In a town that literally lives and dies on visitors to our cesspool of corruption, going far away to get the TRUTH may be the only way to finally get Justice...