Seattle- Federal agents raided several local strip clubs Monday alleging, among other things, that their owners took money dancers received for illegal sex acts.
At the center of the investigation is the Colacurcio family, Frank Sr. and his son, Frank Jr., who own and operate Rick’s in Seattle, Sugar’s in Shoreline and Honey’s in Everett.
In an exclusive interview, 710 KIRO spoke with a dancer and longtime employee to get an inside look at the clubs and the Colacurcios.
She came forward on condition of anonymity, but confirmed she does work for one of the clubs.
Frank Colacurcio Sr., they’re saying he’s this evil man. People are scared of him and, you know, he’s a crime mob. It’s just so not true. He’s 92-years-old. Both he and his son, Frank Jr., do nothing but work.
The feds paint Colacurcio Sr. as a character straight out of a crime novel. For decades, authorities have suspected and, at times, convicted Colacurcio for involvement in organized crime. It started in the 1950s: gambling, money laundering, bribes. But some who work with Colacurcio and his son say this time, authorities have it wrong.
It’s scary to hear all this horrible stuff being slandered about us.
This latest undercover sting uncovers money laundering and racketeering. This dancer doesn’t know what happens on the books, but does know about the allegations of prostitution.
If any of the girls get caught doing anything in the back in the VIP, they’re instantly fired. There’s no ‘if, ands, or buts’ about it. There’s always more than one manager at night and there are always two managers during the day. There are always managers walking through the VIP in the back. If they suspect something’s going on, they will literally stand there and watch the whole entire VIP.
That is not to say prostitution does not take place. She says it does, but managers do not endorse it. Instead, girls take the risk to make more money on their own.
The Colacurcios make absolutely no money, other than $130 off of each girl. That’s it. They make absolutely no money off of us other than the $130, and the 10 percent that’s taken from the chips.
Those chips are at the center of controversy. The clubs give customers tokens to pay for private dances. When dancers redeem the chips, the managers take 10 percent off the top. Investigators believe that’s where some of the money laundering is. It is no secret that the Colacurcios, father and son, have been involved in tax evasion before. Both have served prison time for related charges.
While this dancer admits taking part in prostitution, she does not believe there are cash schemes taking place.
Probably 98 percent of the girls are doing their best to do everything that they possibly can legally, but if an undercover cop comes in there, they’re coming in there for a reason. They’re coming in there looking for something. They’ll find anything they can to arrest somebody.
So far, this dancer has not been arrested. She came forward because she is worried the clubs will be shut down or dancers will be fired.
We’re going to end up going on welfare. They’re taking away hundreds and hundreds of jobs from us women. We’re going to be left with nowhere to go. A lot of us don’t have jobs, a lot of us do, but have nowhere to go. It’s just upsetting to hear all these lies plastered all over.
U.S. Attorney Jeff Sullivan is traveling out of the district. A spokeswoman for the prosecutor’s office did not want to comment on items the dancer revealed to 710 KIRO. She says the affidavit speaks for itself.
In the 100 page document 710 KIRO obtained, FBI officers claim they have video recordings of prostitution. A detective who went undercover as a manager believes he uncovered the owners not reporting all of the income to the city to evade taxes.