Frank Colacurcio Sr., the 92-year-old patriarch of a local strip-club operation, joined his son and four associates in federal court in . In the following years Colacurcio continued to expand his strip-club business. Forbes contributed $600 to Wills in the spring of 2001. facts management parent login. Their old pal, an ex-con named Gilbert Kapuha Pauole Jr., to whom they had loaned $200,000 to start up the clubs, had skimmed the profits at the direction of Frank and Frankie. ", He says the several months he spent in prison were "more or less a vacation.". Still, he professes to not even know a ballpark figure of either his income or his net worth. "How do you define criminal?" At Franks trial in 1971, a nightclub owner testified he once paid Colacurcio $3,000 a month for police protection. More than half a century later, having achieved geriatric gangster status, amassing several million dollars from his nude- and topless-dancing operations, and with his wife of 36 years bailing out on him, Frank grabbed this other girl, 18, fondling and then offering her $500 to go to bed with him. "None will last if not run properly.". [5], On September 24, 2010, Frank Colacurcio Jr. was sentenced to one year in prison, fined $1.3 million and ordered to forfeit all interest in the strip clubs and related property worth more than $6 million.[10][11]. Look at the money theyre throwing at him. Going off to the slammer has been nothing more than an inconvenience for Frank. Frank will be 82 if and when he gets out by 1999. She tries to make it to every meeting. With money earned from these businesses, Colacurcio started investing in bars, restaurants, and clubs. In the 1950s, Colacurcio and his brother Bill were distributing vending, slot, pinball and cigarette machines. He violated his terms in one fell swoop in May 1995-grabbing, kissing, and propositioning a teenager he was interviewing for a topless job. Frank Colacurcio - Wikipedia In a deposition in the divorce case, his mother, Jackie, wondered if Frankie was up to the job. After release from prison in 1985 for tax evasion, he continued to receive consulting fees from Huns Inc., one of the corporations that runs adult-entertainment clubs. As part of his plea agreement, FRANK COLACURCIO, JR. is barred from participating in any adult entertainment enterprise in the State of Washington for the three year term of supervised release which will follow his prison sentence. They were in separate prisons, notes a Seattle detective. Allegiance: Seattle crime family: Francis Colacurcio Sr. (June 18, 1917 - July 2, 2010) . Franks home today is the federal correctional institution in Bastrop Texas, 30 miles out of Austin, built in 1979, holding 900 inmates whose average age is 37. While the public was outraged because the apparent cozy relationship between Rick's and city hall led to eight new parking spaces, they've ignored the same cozy relationship year after year when it has led to a de facto ban on new clubs. Boom, coins all over, and youre down the street. Frank Colacurcio Sr., the strip-club magnate whose organized-crime exploits covered more than half a century and coincided with Seattle's history of police corruption and reform, died Friday. "I did not know what they were. Seattle, it turns out, has a storied and very puritanical past when it comes to strip clubs, and The Stranger had a wealth of articles on the subject for me to dig into. ", Im a little concerned [about retaliation], Orwall told me. Besides, Frank was colorful. In a manner that history has not publicly recorded, the farm business evolved into a coin-operated machine business. (She got the Lincoln, the $350,000 house in Kitsap County, stocks, and other property. She was frustrated. "In adult entertainment, the beat goes on.". [9] In April 2010, Colacurcio Sr.'s nephew Leroy Richard Christiansen along with club manager Steven Michael Fueston, Colacurcio Sr.'s close associate David Carl Ebert, and Colacurcio Sr.'s driver John Gilbert Conte all pleaded guilty to prostitution and racketeering. Robin Price's daughter A Life of Crime . 2003 epilogue: Frank Colacurcio Sr. was eventually released from prison, is retired, lives in Seattle, and fishes in Alaska regularly. In fact, he credits the trouble with making the good times seem better. "[7] The investigation focused on Frank Sr, Frank Jr., and former Washington Governor Albert Rosellini for bribing members of the Seattle City Council. In 2008, local police and federal agents raided Colacurcio's home and business. Last year, strippers (also called dancers) organized with Working Washington to get their concerns about the industrya highly regulated mess that has created a virtual monopoly in the stateheard by legislators. The city had turned down the rezoning application for the parking spots twice before 2003, once in 1989 and once in 1998. ", The North Seattle Star, Media Hypocrisy, and Life Experience. By George Howland Jr. Heidi Wills rang my doorbell. He was always good for a quote about government prosecutors wasting their time on him instead of real criminals and would surround himself with naked women during in-club chats. In March 2006, the FBI started a multi-agency task force to investigate alleged organized crime, racketeering, and cold case murders tied to Frank Sr. Frankie holds down the Lake City fort of Talents West, Franks longtime dancer-recruiting agency where girls looking for waitressing jobs usually wind up disrobing for male customers in nudie joints. Colacurcio Jr. pled guilty in 2011. Charges were never filed, but when rival operators claimed the brothers threatened them with bodily harm if they didn't join the Colacurcio Bros. Amusement Co., the Seattle City Council refused to renew William Colacurcio's operating license. Under the terms of the plea agreement, FRANK COLACURCIO, JR., and the . Forgive me while I rehash an issue you probably thought was long-dead. The woman was running before her feet hit the ground. A report issued by the State Patrol Organized Crime Unit to law-enforcement agencies in 1979 alleged that Colacurcio controlled a crime group operating topless taverns and other businesses in the state. According to Orwall, at least one dancer was fired for organizing last year. In depositions, Colacurcio has said he often had $100,000 in cash on hand. Every night, a dancer has to pay the club house rent. John Rosellini . Colacurcio Family Obituaries | Colacurcio Last Name Obits In June 2008, the FBI, IRS and local police raided the then-90-year-old Colacurcio's home and other . Frank colacurcio jr - agg.saligia-kunst.de Prosecutor and now-retired U.S. Sen. Brock Adams threatened him with prison for contempt. That's been my one drawback. One of the main sticking points for the clubs is the customer blacklist that would ban bad acting customers. And no fishing trip. Franks public persona was that of a tough but nonviolent charmer. The guys wiggling and screaming and saying, Dont drop me, I got the money, Ill give it back! Sudden sharp pain under right rib cage when bending over In 1981, U.S. prosecutors charged him with skimming profits from the Brass Tiger in Federal Way and the Bavarian Gardens in Factoria. The training will incorporate a crash course in financial independence, being an independent contractor, dealing with workplace harassment, and more. So Frank goes to work and tracks the guy down in San Francisco. The charges were dismissed against Colacurcio Sr. after his death. Released in 1976, he hadnt missed a beat in prison, and walked out still the reigning prince of nude and topless dancing. | Learn more about Frank Colacurcio Jr's work experience, education, connections & more by visiting their profile on LinkedIn. It was easy. "Ive had a lot of life experience since then. She also didn't "explain why at least $8,455 from Colacurcio-connected campaign donors did not raise concerns in her mind until after weeks of media scrutiny," the Weekly wrote. In 2005, both Frank Sr. and Frank Jr. were indicted, but in February 2006 the judge . Seattle newspapers were never quite sure what to call Frank. "No ones going to pay attention to it and go down and see it for themselves unless you become politically involved.". [2], Born to immigrant parents from southern Italy, Colacurcio was the eldest of nine children, and worked on his father's vegetable farm in Seattle. Contact Us- Overview- Territory/Jurisdiction, News and Outreach - Press Room|Stories- In Your Community- Multimedia: Podcasts | Videos, About Us- Our People & Capabilities- What We Investigate- Our Partnerships- Seattle History, This content has been reproduced from its. Each year, existing club owners like Deja Vu's Roger Forbes donated to the council around the time when the moratorium was being voted on. "I've never done anything wrong," he says, quickly adding, "Does that include traffic violations? So finally he stands up, goes over to the hotelman, peels off six $100 bills, walks back, picks up the coffee table, and throws it in the fucking fireplace! His brothers and sisters, raised in the big family home in north Bellevue, looked up to Frank, the oldest of seven kids. . In 2003, a criminal investigation began in Seattle known as "Strippergate" focusing on strip clubs owned by Frank Colacurcio, Sr. and his son, Frank Colacurcio Jr.[5] In 2008, local police and federal agents raided Colacurcio's home and business. Frank Sr.: from modest roots to racketeer | The Seattle Times "Frank Colacurcio Sr., Seattle's legendary organized-crime figure, dies at 93", "The Stripper King: The story of Frank Colacurcio, the Bellevue boy who built a notorious nightlife empire", "Colacurcio family no stranger to controversy", "Seattle strip-club magnate Frank Colacurcio Sr. dies at 93", "Strip Club Operator and Long Time Alleged Seattle Crime Boss Frank Colacurcio Dead at 93", "Colacurcio Sr. sentenced for assault in club", "Police, feds raid strip clubs: Corruption", "Colacurcio Sr., five others indicted on a charge of conspiracy and racketeering", "Frank Colacurcio Jr. gets prison term, $1.3M fine", "Frank Colacurcio Jr. sentenced to prison in strip club case Colacurcio Jr. forfeits millions in cash and property", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Frank_Colacurcio&oldid=1142781914, This page was last edited on 4 March 2023, at 10:07. I saw another side one night in the late 1970s. Colacurcio: No Regrets -- `I'll Never Be Retired Retired. Not Until I'm Was Former Seattle Family Part of Official Mafia? Bill went on to New Orleans where he was convicted in the 1980s for racketeering. This agreem is binding He looked like the president of the United States or something, says a former employee. Some in law enforcement believe Colacurcio's time in prison opened the door to competition, and today the Detroit-based Deja Vu chain has the edge on the number of local strip clubs. "But theres so many rules that council members need to know." His son, Frank Colacurcio Jr., also pleaded guilty to these charges. body swap books free leximi netlify app libra shqip. ", According to legal documents, property records and what can be extracted from his memory, Frankie is connected to Sugar's, Honey's, Rick's, Fox's, Papagayo's and Babe's dance clubs. [9] The indictment lays out the actions members of the conspiracy took to promote prostitution at the clubs and their failure to stop prostitution when it was reported to them. That dancer over there, he said, pointing to a topless woman writhing under amber-colored lights on a mirrored stage, thats a guy. I dont want them to feel like they cant speak.. Members of the conspiracy were indicted in June 2009. Says a former Colacurcio employee today: I dont know about the cars, but we used dynamite caps on [rivals] slot machines. Nearly six years ago, Seattle police and federal authorities broke up the strip club empire of the late Frank Colacurcio with prostitution and corruption raids in King and Pierce counties. 86 - died November 30, 2011 at her home. Seattle's Frank Colacurcio - YouTube They dont want management to see them there and retaliate against them, myself included.. I keep saying that Id like to talk about other issues, but theres not enough time, Cole said. She said that's why she's concerned about the next city councilit will likely be made up of many first-time council members. Frankies plea bargain in the 1991 case allowed him to continue running the current six topless clubs (neither he nor anyone at Talents West returned calls or would comment for this story). His son, Frank Jr., 34, himself an ex-con convicted of skimming bar profits and avoiding federal taxes, continues to operate the primary family enterprise, nude dancing clubs. Cole would like to make it illegal. Heidi Wills, the Seattle City Council candidate currently running in District 6 against Dan Strauss, was one of the council members who found herself at the center of this major local drama. If a dancer speaks out, in Jane's opinion, it's serious. Other Colacurcio brothers had run-ins with the law. It is up to you, depending on your conduct, to ensure there is no sequel. Judge Jones observed that COLACURCIO, JR. was on the radar screen of the government, and the judge noted that prosecutors would not hesitate to ask that COLACURCIO, JR. be sent back to prison if he violated the terms of his supervised release. In his 1974 federal court tax-evasion trial, Colacurcio conceded he had interests in a number of establishments but said he often kept his interests secret to avoid being denied liquor licenses by the state Liquor Control Board. frank colacurcio construction It is unaltered from its original form. The case was investigated by the FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), and Seattle Police Department with assistance from the King County Sheriffs Department, Everett Police Department, Snohomish County Sheriffs Office, and the Pierce County Sheriffs Office. In some cases he owns the property; in others he works as a "consultant.". In exchange, federal prosecutors agreed to dismiss fourteen other charges. Still, after all the money Colacurcio earned - his 1993 divorce records listed more than $2 million in assets - he hardly lives in luxury. Francis Colacurcio Sr. (June 18, 1917 - July 2, 2010) [1] was an American mobster and boss of the Seattle crime family known for running strip clubs in Seattle, Washington. FBI Frank Colacurcio Jr. Sentenced to Prison in Strip Club Case In 1959, Colacurcio was subpoenaed by the U.S. Senate Rackets Investigating Committee to testify in a nationwide probe of the coin-machine industry. Colacurcio, who died in 2010, was the owner of strip clubs Sugar's in Shoreline and Rick's in Lake Forest Park. Jane hasnt been to any meetings physically, but shes called in anonymously, an option L&I provided when concerns about retaliation were made, L&I spokesperson Frank Ameduri told me. I waited in line with two friends-both female-outside the popular Nitelite, often crowded beyond capacity. "Naturally, being Italian and being a man my age, I do love women.". schneider funeral home mt vernon in obituaries frank colacurcio construction. As Frankie put it a while back to a Seattle Times reporter, discussing his six-month tour of duty in the federal system, It didnt bug me that much except you dont have women, which is horrible. 1995: Sent to federal prison for two years after violating probation by fondling a woman applying for a job at one of his clubs. "The donations were a way to get their attention. The brothers later sold the coin-op business when the city refused to re-license them, but it didnt end there. Frank Colacurcio Sr. Frank Colacurcio Sr., longtime resident of Newtown, Connecticut, passed away on September 28, 2020 at the age of 70. . I'm not going to accuse every doofus who slaps my ass because Im trying to make a profit. The club was slated for demolition after following guilty pleas by the other members of the board -- identified in the lawsuit as Frank Colacurcio Jr., Frank Colacurcio Sr.'s nephew Leroy Richard Christiansen, longtime associate David Carl Ebert and Steven Michael Fueston, manager of a Tacoma club also closed through the plea. The few female reporters who encountered him then had a less kindly view: Frank was lecherous, even dangerous-drawbacks that male writers tended to overlook during happy hour. Ameduri said that L&I is working to improve this. The indictment further details how credit card machines and ATMs were used to facilitate the prostitution and how the proceeds of prostitution were laundered through various bank accounts. Among . That one peed him off, says an old friend, because it was a setup deal; they lied to get him. It is headed to Gov. One day were sitting in the lobby of the Lake Quinault Lodge, by a big fireplace, talking business, says a former employee. He was behind bars for a total of about six years on separate convictions. Whack, whack! Colacurcio house for sale again, this time with a price break "Some people would call it extravagant," the younger Colacurcio says of his lifestyle. Frank Colacurcio, Sr., 93, remains the sole defendant in the RICO case. She had hosted a campaign fundraising event after the Land Use Committee vote and "Al Rosellini came and added a stack of checks to what was already a stack of checks. The Colacurcio family owned strip clubs all over Washington and nine other states; Frank Sr. had been convicted on charges of racketeering, prostitution, filing false tax returns, and carnal knowledge (for having sex with an underage girl); Frank Jr. had been convicted of racketeering conspiracy; and in general the family was pissed whenever the media called them the mob or mob-adjacent. (In a related 1991 case, Nick Furfaro, Franks old friend since they started up the Magic Inn on Union Street in 1963, was convicted of a tax violation and, as part of his short sentence, was told he had to give up his job running one of Franks places, Sugars, the North Seattle soda-pop-and-nude-dancing emporium. In the 1950s, Frank Colacurcio began operating cigarette and jukebox vending machines in the Seattle area. Nicholas Furfaro a.k.a "Nick" - Nightclub manager, known member since 1963 and high ranking member. That manifested in a bill that accomplished four main things: putting panic buttons in VIP rooms, implementing a customer blacklist for bad actors, creating a mandatory training for dancers to complete, and establishing an adult entertainer advisory committee. Ann Forbes, also of Consolidated, maxed out to Wills in the spring of 2001. In 2010-2011, a massive FBI crackdown completely crippled their entire organization. Frank said no way! But that's the extent of his "mob connections." Well take care of it, one of the cops said, pulling the man off the walk.
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