Las Vegas NowG-Sting: Galardi Names Politicians on His Payroll

G-Sting: Galardi Names Politicians on His Payroll

G-Sting: Meet The Players slideshow

Read about the players in the G-Sting Trial

G-Sting Trial:
Day 14 Wrap Up  -- April 5 -- 8:15 p.m.

For the first time, former strip club owner Mike Galardi names politicians he says he was paying for votes. Two former county commissioners are accused of accepting those bribes: Dario Herrera and Mary Kincaid-Chauncey.

Now the man at the center of the FBI investigation, who says those commissioners along with several others were on his payroll, took the stand Wednesday naming names. Mike Galardi spoke briefly with Eyewitness News, as he entered the George Federal Courthouse.

Mike Galard: "I feel good."

Reporter Brian Allen: "Are you nervous at all?"

Mike Galardi: "No, not at all."

Galardi testified he first bribed an elected official 16 years ago by giving $10,000 to Las Vegas city councilman Frank Hawkins to settle a licensing issue for his Cheetahs strip club. In the mid-90s, Galardi says he paid city councilman Michael McDonald $5,000 a month for a series of years for political influence.

Galardi also claims that Clark County Deputy District Attorneys Gary Guymon and Craig Hendricks received free drinks, lap dances and sexual favors whenever they visited Cheetahs. In fact, Galardi says police officers, firefighters, judges and politicians pretty much had the run of Cheetahs if he knew they were there.

It's a deal Galardi says he extended to former county commissioner Dario Herrera... "because he was the man. I considered him the man. He's the chairman of the county commission. I needed his vote."

Dario Herrera countered, "Listen, I said this morning that I was expecting some incredibly imaginative testimony and I think we've heard that this afternoon."

Herrera tells Eyewitness News Galardi isn't telling the truth. Nonetheless, Galardi testified in addition to strip club privileges, he paid Herrera 15 to 20 times from 1999 to 2003 in amounts ranging from 5 to 10 thousand dollars each time.

Galardi says he bribed Mary Kincaid-Chauncey, too, telling the jury: "I estimated I gave Mary between 75 and 85 grand."

Kincaid-Chauncey countered, "It will come out eventually. The truth will come out and that's what I'm waiting for."

Galardi also testified he began making monthly payments to Lance Malone in late 1999 while Malone was still a county commissioner. Eventually, Galardi would hire Malone as a lobbyist. Galardi says it was Malone's idea to bribe Erin Kenny, Dario Herrera and Mary Kincaid-Chauncey.

On several FBI wiretaps, Galardi and Malone discuss trying to bribe two other county commissioners: Bruce Woodbury and Yvonne Atkinson Gates.

In court Wednesday, Galardi says he never gave money, or anything else, to either. The former strip club owner will be back on the stand Thursday morning.

George Federal Courthouse -- April 5 -- 3:00 p.m.

Former strip club owner Mike Galardi says that then County Commissioner Lance Malone told him there were four other county commissioners that he could bribe: Bruce Woodberry, Dario Herrera, Mary Kincaid-Chauncey and Yvonne Atkinson-Gates.

Galardi testifies that in late1999 while Malone was still a Clark County Commissioner, Galardi began paying him $5,000 a month. It was apparently Malone, at Galardi’s request, that approached Dario Herrera with a similar offer, an offer Galardi said was accepted.

Galardi estimates he made fifteen to twenty payments to Herrera between late 1999 and mid 2003 of amounts ranging from $5,000 to $10,000.

When Galardi was asked why so much focus is on Herrera, Galardi told the jury, quote, "He’s a Clark County commissioner. He’s chairman of the Clark County Commission."

And followed that by saying, quote, "I needed his vote."

George Federal Courthouse -- April 5 -- 1:00 p.m.

In 1999, Galardi and his father Jack were attempting to open two clubs at the same time -- the Leopard Lounge and Jaguars. Galardi testified he was gun shy about doing this as a series of other similar projects had recently been turned down.

"To open a topless club in the city or county is tough. I thought we would get jerked around," Galardi said.

Initially Galardi consulted four people on what could be done to smooth out the licensing process for both clubs; his father, his attorney Peter Christiansen, a Clark County deputy district attorney named Gary Guymon and Las Vegas City Councilman Michael McDonald. After getting advice from McDonald, Galardi contacted a fifth person. "I went out and sought help from Lance Malone," he said.

At the time, Malone was a sitting Clark County Commissioner . He and Galardi were friends in high school

George Federal Courthouse -- April 5 -- 11:50 a.m.

Former Las Vegas strip club owner Michael Galardi is giving testimony in the G-Sting political corruption today.  He took the stand around 11 a.m.

In late 2003, Galardi entered into a plea agreement with federal prosecutors where he admitted giving thousands of dollars in cash and gifts to former Clark County Commissioners Erin Kenny, Dario Herrera and Mary Kincaid-Chauncey.

According to federal prosecutors, the G-Sting scam began in early 1999 with Galardi being fueled by a desire for wealth and to become the valley's premiere strip club owner. He viewed the construction of his Jaguars strip club as his monument to that cause.

During construction Galardi was plagued by numerous construction set backs and liquor licensing issues. Prosecutors contend and Galardi admits that to clear all those hurdles Galardi hatched a systematic plan with another former County Commissioner Lance Malone to bribe elected officials.

Former Commissioner Erin Kenny also has plea agreement with federal prosecutors. During the last two days of testimony she has outlined how she received upwards of $70-thousand dollars from Galardi. Under Galardi's plea agreement with the government he will serve no more than five years in prison after his sentencing later this year. It is possible he could serve less if G-Sting prosecutors feel he has been helpful.

Email reporter Brian Allen atballen@klastv.com