Las Vegas NowCrazy Horse Too Fined, Loses Liquor License

Crazy Horse Too Fined, Loses Liquor License

A local strip club is going to have a tough time doing business. The Las Vegas City Council leveled a stiff penalty against the operators of the Crazy Horse Too.

This was part of a ten year investigation into violence and organized crime but ended as a tax fraud case.

Today's hearing ran for nearly four hours.  The Las Vegas City Council unanimously agreed to revoke the liquor license at the Crazy Horse Too and fine owner Rick Rizzolo more than $2 million.

Even though council members all agreed, the decision left them facing a dilemma.  "To me if we leave the place open, people that have admitted guilt and are operating businesses in the city of Las Vegas, I don't feel like that is sending out the right message," said Gery Reese, mayor pro tem.

It was a devastating blow to Amy Henry, an unlikely supporter of the club. Henry's husband, Kirk Henry, was paralyzed in 2001 after getting into a fight with employees at the Crazy Horse Too.  Rizzolo has already paid the family $1 million in restitution, he still owes $ 9 million.

"Never in our wildest dreams did we believe a Las Vegas city attorney would try to close the club before we got our settlement," said Amy Henry, victim's wife.

Rizzolo's attorney Anthony Sgro says the survival is slim and without a liquor license it also brings down the value of the club, which under a federal plea agreement Rizzalo has to sell by June of 2007.

"He had to pay the ultimate price because of things other people did," said Anthony Sgro, Rizzolo's attorney.

"We just got victimized today again for a second time, me and my family," Henry said.  It's a fight Amy Henry says was sprung on her family by the city of Las Vegas. But it's still a fight she can't escape.

Anthony Sgro says he will appeal the decision, Mayor Oscar Goodman also removed himself from the hearing.  He felt his relationship with Rizzolo was a conflict of interest.