Florida – from www.miamiherald.com – State authorities have launched a criminal investigation into allegations of official misconduct and evidence tampering involving the Florida Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco, The Sun Sentinel has learned.
At least part of the evidence-tampering allegations relates to the ABT case involving Cheetah Hallandale Beach, a now-closed strip club, division spokeswoman Jenn Meale said.
The Cheetah closed in March, a week after police raided it following an undercover inquiry into sex-for-money-and-drugs there.
In addition, the Cheetah’s owner has threatened to sue the state if authorities do not return four digital video recorders seized on the premises. And ABT launched an earlier internal inquiry into three former employees who recently got jobs at the Fort Lauderdale law firm that represents the Cheetah.
Hallandale Beach police and the state spent 19 months investigating the Cheetah with undercover officers going into the club at least 18 times with dancers offering them sex in the private VIP rooms and/or drugs, according to state records.
When officers raided the club on March 7, they arrested 16 dancers and two managers. In addition, ABT suspended the club’s liquor license.
Five days later, ABT executed a second search warrant, seizing the video recorders. State agents got the warrant after telling a judge that cameras were secretly recording people in the VIP rooms and restrooms.
Authorities have not said what is on the recorders.
Since June, three former ABT officials — Maj. Pat Roberts, Lt. Michael Fisten and Senior Attorney Michael Wheeler — have gone to work for the law firm that represents the Cheetah: Rothstein, Rosenfeldt and Adler. Roberts had supervised the Cheetah investigation. Fisten was one of the undercover officers. Wheeler negotiated the settlement agreement for the state.
Their former agency has warned all three ex-employees about having improper contact with their one-time colleagues, and opened an internal investigation into their interactions with ABT.
On Monday, ABT filed a complaint about Wheeler with the Florida Commission on Ethics. The state agency is accusing Wheeler of violating a state law that requires him to wait two years before representing clients on matters being considered by ABT, Deputy General Counsel Michael Martinez wrote in the two-page complaint.
As for Roberts and Fisten, they have been warned about contacting former colleagues “in reference to certain pending legal matters about which you have specialized knowledge as a result of your employment with ABT,” according to letters sent to the two men Aug. 27 by Reginald Dixon, general counsel for the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.
Cheetah’s attorney, Robert Buschel, who is speaking on the behalf of Roberts, Fisten and Wheeler, said last week that the three men have had no inappropriate contact with ABT employees.