Feds raid Treasure Island on 6th Street

[BattleHall]

http://www.kvue.com/news/FBI-conduct...143820646.html

AUSTIN -- Federal agents are executing a search warrant on Treasure Island bar near East 6th Street and Neches.
Dressed in SWAT gear and armed with a U-Haul truck full of cardboard boxes, FBI agents from out of town showed up to collect evidence.
KVUE News has learned the IRS, TABC, and FBI are all involved.
KVUE News has also learned there are other bars and nightclubs involved: Kiss N Fly, Fuel, Qua, Spill, and Malaya. Federal agents say the bars are being investigated for money laundering and drugs.

[The Banner Year]

I wonder how many bars launder money, and how many depend on it to stay open.

[Red Six]

It took them 15+ years to figure out that a bar that's business model consists of selling drinks for a quarter is a front for money laundering?

[HenryJames]

Pretty sure Qua launders douchebags.

[TexonLongIsland]

$#@!. I started reading it as Feds raid Treasures and my heart stopped. Since it's not - carry on Federales

[housious]

FBI/IRS put their captain obvious hats on.

[The Banner Year]

It took them 15+ years to figure out that a bar that's business model consists of selling drinks for a quarter is a front for money laundering?

No it took 15 years for someone to miss a payment to the feds.

[Xian]

lol duh.

figured everyone knew the owner (s) made their money off of coke.

[Tailleur17]

lol duh.

figured everyone knew the owner (s) made their money off of coke.

Yup, and don't they own Pure too? I think they also got in some hot water for not paying employees minimum wage not too long ago.

[Xian]

ya i think they do. Isn't the guy Lebanese?

[Orange&White]

It took them 15+ years to figure out that a bar that's business model consists of selling drinks for a quarter is a front for money laundering?

The last time the Feds did anything downtown they figured out that the "Midnight Cowboy Oriental Massage Parlor" was actually a home of prostitutes and kindly passed that information on to the APD Brass who had been headquartered within four blocks of it for 20 years.

[Tailleur17]

http://www.statesman.com/blogs/conte...ffices_ow.html

FBI agents scouring offices of downtown Austin club owner
By Gary Dinges | Thursday, March 22, 2012, 10:39 AM

Agents from the FBI, Internal Revenue Service and the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission are at the offices of Yassine Enterprises, which operates several downtown nightclubs, this morning collecting documents as part of an investigation.

Agents were spotted hauling boxes into the Yassine offices at 213 W. Fourth St. shortly after 10 a.m.
An FBI spokesman called the investigation “usual and routine,” but said he could provide no additional details, while an IRS spokesman said the agency was conducting “official business.”

Austin police police were also on scene. A spokeswoman confirmed police had been called to the scene at the FBI’s request. She referred all other questions to the FBI’s spokesman, as did a spokeswoman for the TABC.

Yassine owns Pure, Spill, Kiss & Fly, Stack Burger Bar, Treasure Island, Hyde, Fuel, Malaia and Roial.

The company is the subject of a class-action lawsuit filed this year that alleges more than 200 employees were paid less than federal law requires.

It was not immediately clear if today’s searches are related to the suit.
Jake Webb, a one-time bartender at Roial, claims in legal documents that Yassine was “generally paying no wages at all to tipped employees,” such as bartenders and waiters.

“When (Webb) went to pick up his check, he was told bartenders don’t get paychecks,” Dan Byrne, one of Webb’s attorneys, told the American-Statesman in January. “After talking with him, we had an inkling this was a bigger deal.”
Yassine’s attorneys released this statement after learning of the suit: “Yassine is cooperating in the class action and is committed to complying with all laws regarding the payment of tipped employees.”

[Orange&White]

Yup, and don't they own Pure too? I think they also got in some hot water for not paying employees minimum wage not too long ago.

If you are running a money laundering operation large enough to catch the eye of the Federal Government, I would think you wouldn't let a few measly dollars a month to your staff cause enough friction that one of them might get pissed off and draw attention to your illegal operation. But I guess that's just me.

[MillerEP]

KVUE News has also learned there are other bars and nightclubs involved: Kiss N Fly, Fuel, Qua, Spill, and Malaya. Federal agents say the bars are being investigated for money laundering and drugs.

Alright, alright, and just in time for Texas Relays...

[Tailleur17]

ya i think they do. Isn't the guy Lebanese?

Yeah, two brothers.

[housious]

ya i think they do. Isn't the guy Lebanese?

Yes.

[TJ]

Good thing these guys had SWAT gear on otherwise they would have been vulnerable to .... a blue wave?

[BattleHall]

Good thing these guys had SWAT gear on otherwise they would have been vulnerable to .... a blue wave?

I think in white collar cases like this, the idea is to hit them hard and fast to prevent them from destroying evidence. And besides, when you already have all those shiny toys...

Looks like some prime real estate might be coming on the market soon.

[huge]

anyone ever have the GammaG shot at Treasue Island circa 1997? Pretty sure it had drugs in it. Cost $10, made you high. I bet jt had one

[gcsmithIV]

wait- hasn't treasure island already been under investigation in the past for money laundering?

[tx 3 putt]

If you are running a money laundering operation large enough to catch the eye of the Federal Government, I would think you wouldn't let a few measly dollars a month to your staff cause enough friction that one of them might get pissed off and draw attention to your illegal operation. But I guess that's just me.

the guy was Lebanese, he couldn't help it

[pescado_rojo]

Good thing these guys had SWAT gear on otherwise they would have been vulnerable to .... a blue wave?

It we give them the toys they will eventually want to play with them. Surprised they didn't have a predator drone circling.

[jt]

i'm amazed it took this long. very good friend of mine was a manager at platinum x (think that's pure now?) years ago (10ish) and he couldn't wait to gtfo. he knew damn well that they were breaking the law and was worried he'd be there when $#@! went down.

[Armybrat]

Well, we sure as hell know Aaron Franklin & John Mueller ain't laundering any cash.

[housious]

i'm amazed it took this long. very good friend of mine was a manager at platinum x (think that's pure now?) years ago (10ish) and he couldn't wait to gtfo. he knew damn well that they were breaking the law and was worried he'd be there when $#@! went down.

Same with a buddy of mine that worked at Fuel (haha, worst bar in Austin).

[Jameslaw]

The last time the Feds did anything downtown they figured out that the "Midnight Cowboy Oriental Massage Parlor" was actually a home of prostitutes and kindly passed that information on to the APD Brass who had been headquartered within four blocks of it for 20 years.

First thing I thought of:

[Snacks]

Somebody steals from me, I'm gonna say you stole. Not talk to him for spitting on the sidewalk. Understand?

[Snacks]

Well, we sure as hell know Aaron Franklin & John Mueller ain't laundering any cash.

they should.

[MNLonghorn10]

is bernard from lebanon?

[TJ]

I find it ironic that an industry (nightlife/bar industry) that is so regulated (liquor licenses, specific zoning permits, can be very political who is allowed to build what, where, and when, etc.) is also so unmonitored.

[bigup2dahorns]

Aas:

update: In federal indictments unsealed this afternoon, 11 people reportedly associated with yassine enterprises are accused of engaging in a variety of charges, including distributing cocaine, transferring firearms used to commit drug trafficking and money laundering.

Owner and president hussein ali yassine — known as mike yassine — is charged with money laundering, according to court documents, as well as conspiracy to launder monetary instruments.

Citing federal money laundering statutes, federal prosecutors are seeking a court order that would required mike yassine, as well as two other defendants, to forfeit $214,500.

Others charged include:

Marisse marthe ruales — known as madi: Conspiracy to launder monetary instruments and money laundering.

Hadi ali yassine: Conspiracy to launder monetary instruments and money laundering.

Mohammed ali yassine — known as steve austin: Conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, distribution of 500 grams or more of cocaine, transferring a firearm knowing it is to be used in a drug trafficking crime and money laundering.

Sami derder: Conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and distribution of cocaine.

Edgar orsini: Conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and distribution of cocaine.

Amar thabet araf: Conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and distribution of 500 grams or more of cocaine.

Alejandro melendrez — known as alex and cueta: Distribution of 500 grams or more of cocaine, .

Nizar hakiki — also known as nino: Conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and distribution of cocaine and transferring a firearm knowing it is to be used in a drug trafficking crime.

Karim faiq: Conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, distribution of 500 grams or more of cocaine and conspiracy to distribute 5 kilos or more of cocaine.

An unidentified defendant is also charged with conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, distribution of 500 grams or more of cocaine.

[Tex Pete]

First thing I thought of:

In the mid-late 90's, I was riding in a truck with friends of a friend and they stopped and bought coke in the alley behind APD. [/csb]

[housious]

update: In federal indictments unsealed this afternoon, 11 people reportedly associated with yassine enterprises are accused of engaging in a variety of charges, including distributing cocaine, transferring firearms used to commit drug trafficking and money laundering.

Owner and president hussein ali yassine — known as mike yassine — is charged with money laundering, according to court documents, as well as conspiracy to launder monetary instruments.

Citing federal money laundering statutes, federal prosecutors are seeking a court order that would required mike yassine, as well as two other defendants, to forfeit $214,500.

Others charged include:

Marisse marthe ruales — known as madi: Conspiracy to launder monetary instruments and money laundering.

Hadi ali yassine: Conspiracy to launder monetary instruments and money laundering.

Mohammed ali yassine — known as steve austin: Conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, distribution of 500 grams or more of cocaine, transferring a firearm knowing it is to be used in a drug trafficking crime and money laundering.

Sami derder: Conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and distribution of cocaine.

Edgar orsini: Conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and distribution of cocaine.

Amar thabet araf: Conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and distribution of 500 grams or more of cocaine.

Alejandro melendrez — known as alex and cueta: Distribution of 500 grams or more of cocaine, .

Nizar hakiki — also known as nino: Conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and distribution of cocaine and transferring a firearm knowing it is to be used in a drug trafficking crime.

Karim faiq: Conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, distribution of 500 grams or more of cocaine and conspiracy to distribute 5 kilos or more of cocaine.

An unidentified defendant is also charged with conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, distribution of 500 grams or more of cocaine.

PMITA prison

[jt]

some prime locations are going to be available downtown soon. i'd love to get my hands on a couple of those bars.

[UTbone04]

A buddy of mine did the sound installation at malaya. I was there a few days to help out and also meet the owner. Also met with all the most likely illegal hispanics that were working their asses off to get that club done in time. Now I'm curious how much my buddy got paid to do that work

[TexonLongIsland]

Mohammed ali yassine — known as steve austin

nice

[jt]

Now I'm curious how much my buddy got paid to do that work

i can promise he was paid in cash. that was one of the things that initially tipped my buddy off - every single thing was paid for w/ cash.

[lurch]

Aas:

<nit>Does "Aas" (appropriate) have a reason for not properly casing names?</picked>

[tx 3 putt]

im going to guess that someone and/or group didnt get their pay off last month

[hitbyatrain]

Surprised they didn't get them for insurance fraud, after it mysteriously burned down back in the day, only to be rebuilt twice as large.

[tx 3 putt]

Surprised they didn't get them for insurance fraud, after it mysteriously burned down back in the day, only to be rebuilt twice as large.

allah and/or mohammed works in mysterious ways

[Degenerate Gardener]

im going to guess that someone and/or group didnt get their pay off last month

Or someone involved in the massive coke bust earlier this month is singing.

[TheCruiser]

Wait, they owned a bar called "Malaria"? WTF?

[ballrific]

I thought the only 2 reasons to open a bar in Austin was money laundering/coke/shady $#@! or rich folk with money to burn dumb enough to open a bar, b/c downtown bars in Austin sure as hell come and go, at least the ones that are legally trying to make a profit...

[Gardner Barnes]

anyone ever have the GammaG shot at Treasue Island circa 1997? Pretty sure it had drugs in it. Cost $10, made you high. I bet jt had one

Made me laugh.

[lurch]

This is why you open a car wash.

[pescado_rojo]

Or someone involved in the massive coke bust earlier this month is singing.

you mean like...

An unidentified defendant is also charged with conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, distribution of 500 grams or more of cocaine.

[TheCruiser]

It's like my accountant once said when I asked him how so many rich people made money on car washed and vending machines, "Because quarters are easy to launder."

[Gardner Barnes]

Or someone involved in the massive coke bust earlier this month is singing.

Prob the Mexican middlemen nailed about this time last year.

[MissingInAction]

anyone ever have the GammaG shot at Treasue Island circa 1997? Pretty sure it had drugs in it. Cost $10, made you high. I bet jt had one

Yep. Went there for my birthday in 97 and talked my whole group into taking one of those vile shots. My 24th... daaaammmnnn. It was a puke orange powder they mixed in water or oj and it $#@!ed your world heroin style.

Same guys owned Phaces, infiniti and Medusas back in the glory days of X.