I wouldn't want to belong to any club who would have me as a member.
-- Woody Allen
Some politico ordered vice to bust us. Originally Posted by ck1942
Vice told the licensed "after hours'" venue that their liquor license would be compromised by LE if they didn't let LEOs in undercover to see what was going on. Originally Posted by ck1942
§ 32.12. INSPECTION OF PREMISES. The acceptance of a private club registration permit constitutes an express agreement and consent on the part of the private club that any authorized representative of the commission or any peace officer has the right and privilege to freely enter the club premises at any time to conduct an investigation or to inspect the premises for the purpose of performing a duty imposed by this code.
§ 61.71. GROUNDS FOR CANCELLATION OR SUSPENSION: RETAIL DEALER. (a) The commission or administrator may suspend for not more than 60 days or cancel an original or renewal retail dealer's on- or off-premise license if it is found, after notice and hearing, that the licensee:
...101.04 Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code
(14) refused to permit or interfered with an inspection of the licensed premises by an authorized representative of the commission or a peace officer;
§ 101.04. CONSENT TO INSPECTION. By accepting a license or permit, the holder consents that the commission, an authorized representative of the commission, or a peace officer may enter the licensed premises at any time to conduct an investigation or inspect the premises for the purpose of performing any duty imposed by this code.
Since the venue was collecting all of the door fee, their door folks had our list and the hosts were inside enjoying. Originally Posted by ck1942
Of the 15, 12 were taken downtown. 2 were agency girls here illegally and they were deported. Of the remainder, to my personal knowledge, one has pleaded out (deferred adjudication) and ALL of the rest of the cases have been dismissed. Originally Posted by ck1942
We have since then, had several gatherings in Houston, more than 15 in San Antonio, a half-dozen in Austin (there will be another Austin event in November), and I have attended more close to 10 events sponsored by others in Houston, Corpus and elsewhere. With nary an issue, because those who attend closely follow the rules. Originally Posted by ck1942
But LE ain't stoopid. They don't waste precious resources trying to gather intel or make arrests when at the end of the day those activities pay off with zero or close to zero results. Originally Posted by ck1942
To my personal knowledge, LE has been visibly present at only one venue in all of that time, and that was when we had the manager call them to remove some drunk (not one of ours) hanging around the front door. Originally Posted by ck1942
The LEOs who swept into the Houston venue pretty much did not want to be there. They were firm, but very respectful, they had their intended several targets, and they told the rest of us to please leave the establishment while they did their business and that we could return if we wanted to. As if any of would want to. Originally Posted by ck1942
Do I worry about it? No, I don't worry, I do have concerns and so I do publish the rules so all who attend (even with a badge) know that illegal activities are not allowed. Originally Posted by ck1942so you knowingly invite LE, and then you wonder how they figured out where, when, and who the players were?
Uhhh...maybe I'm being a little naive her but, if you're not doing anything illegal, isn't it kind of difficult to get your ass arrested?you should ask CK. in his post he said that 12 were arrested at the social in question in Dec. 2009. what they were arrested for i have no idea. it could have been for outstanding warrants, warrants generated from ongoing criminal cases they were working on thanks to ASPD, or even totally unrelated issues. i seriously doubt anyone was arrested for simply being in attendance.
Is escorting illegal? Are gatherings illegal?
Yeah, that's kinda' what I thought.
Originally Posted by SofaKingFun
§ 71.02. ENGAGING IN ORGANIZED CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. (a) Ai think that would definitely define something someone could get arrested for. that could include agency owners in attendance that LE has worked up a case on, and depending upon what the definition of "promotion" is....could very well be defined as a board moderator, or maybe someone who plays matchmaker between client and provider.
person commits an offense if, with the intent to establish,
maintain, or participate in a combination or in the profits of a
combination or as a member of a criminal street gang, he commits or
conspires to commit one or more of the following:
...
(3) promotion of prostitution, aggravated promotion
of prostitution, or compelling prostitution;
In exchange for testimony against the owners of the Wildflower Group and Escapes of Houston, authorities agreed to drop prostitution charges against all but one of the 50 women arrested during the Nov. 16 raids.for those of you who don't believe it's LE's strategy to attack the owners, not the low-level employees:
Vice officers traditionally have targeted workers instead of the owners of the businesses where prostitution takes place... Though a single spa sting operation might net a few arrests, the businesses would remain open. Going after the owners required new tactics, authorities said.so what was Amazing John busted for? federal tax evasion, $666k worth. he pled guilty and the last i could find faced up to 5 years fed time and a $250k fine, in addition to having to repay that income tax.
Uhhh...maybe I'm being a little naive her but, if you're not doing anything illegal, isn't it kind of difficult to get your ass arrested? Originally Posted by SofaKingFunI have had a LEO tell me: "Do you want me to write you a ticket just to show you I can do it?"
Regardless, I accepted the risk each and every time so if I somehow fuck-up and get pinched, then I'm man enough to own it.If you can't handle the fallout which *could possibly* occur, then you're probably better off not attending. That's a no-brainer, isn't it?