May
18
View more videos at: http://nbcmiami.com.”What happens if I say your daughter is a prostitute?” Pierre hollered back repeatedly at Blynn, before ordering security to remove the councilman’s understandably irate wife.In the aftermath of all that drama, longtime city activist Ellen Abramson sent an email to elected City Clerk Michael Etienne (who had also jumped into the fray against Blynn), telling him it was “rude and inappropriate” to condemn Blynn for bringing up a public case.Etienne fired back his own furious email — which Abramson supplied to Riptide — calling Blynn a “bigot” and alleging that he’d repeatedly said racist remarks to other city officials.Neither Blynn nor Etienne have returned multiple phone messages and emails from Riptide to comment on the email exchange and the allegations. Councilman Scott Galvin, who has read the email, lamented that it will stoke already hot racial tensions in Dade’s fifth-largest city.”It’s very unfortunate that North Miami continues to be seen in a negative light because of these kinds of exchanges,” Galvin says.Abramso …
May
16
Raunchy rap icon Luther Campbell offers a damning assessment of the leading Republican presidential nominees in a recent column for the Miami New Times.
The former 2 Live Crew frontman writes that he’s dismayed at today’s candidates from the party of Abraham Lincoln, a party that he says once “stood up for African-Americans.”
Campbell is no stranger to politics.
Last year, he launched an unsuccessful bid for the mayoral seat in Miami-Dade County on a platform that included advocating the rebuilding of some of the city’s housing projects and a tax on strippers. And two decades prior to that, he was at the center of a political firestorm when South Florida authorities tried to ban his album As Nasty As They Wanna Be on state obscenity charges.
In his most recent column, Campbell seems bent on ruffling a few feathers with some blunt critiques of Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum and Ron Paul. He lays into Romney like this:
See the full article from “News One”
May
14
It wasnt only jewelry and clothes and backstage passes. I mean, there were probably times when we spent $50,000, $60,000 a month on escorts.
He described a condo in 350 Las Olas Place, a new high rise just down the street from Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler where the hot new law firm maintained the company sex crib, prostitutes included, where he and his co-conspirators could celebrate their glorious rock star lifestyle in fleshy debauchery financed with stolen money.
Rothstein could remember only about a dozen names among the men who engaged prostitutes at 350 Las Olas (advertised as truly the epicenter for the most contemporary Fort Lauderdale lifestyle). But he promised, There were a bunch of others. If I remember them as I go along, Ill tell you. It was something just call it a service we offered.
May
12
Lil Wayne Hires Strippers To Fight In Miami
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That’s right, it’s come to light that earlier this week Wayne had a boxing ring installed at the King Of Diamonds strip club in Miami and sat above the ring while two strippers slugged it out for the grand prize of 1,000 dollar bills presented to the winner by Weezy himself.
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However the real winner was the strip club which TMZ is reporting made $30,000 off of Wayne over the course of the evening. You may remember this is the same strip club where Rick Ross and Diddy allegedly dropped a million dollars last year. Seriously.
So what do you think about Weezy’s stripper spending spree and how do you think he’ll top these antics? Let us know while you’re practicing your pole dancing moves and singing along to Lil Wayne Radio!
May
10
Dead: Trader Cliff Popper, 54, left, who committed suicide this week, held Miami Heat courtside seats and is pictured here legend Shaquille O’Neal, right
‘It was a horror show,’ lawyer Scott Silver told the Miami Herald. ‘People lost homes, retirements, life savings. He lived a rockstar lifestyle.’
Popper found himself on trial last November over the sub-prime mortgage-backed securities that collapsed when the housing market crashed.
He drove a $128,000 BMW Z8, the model from 1999 James Bond film The World is Not Enough, and had a box at the Miami Dolphins NFL stadium.
Popper also owned a $2.4million condominium on South Beach, Florida, and spent thousands of dollars a week on escort services and porn stars.
Home sweet home: Popper owned a $2.4 million condominium on South Beach, Florida, and spent thousands of dollars on escort services and porn stars
See the full article from “Daily Mail”
May
08
So far, transcripts of the first six days of Rothstein’s 10 days of testimony have been released, with the disbarred attorney giving his version under oath of how he constructed his empire of lies and sought to maintain it with bribes, threats and lavish gifts before its collapse in October 2009.
Rothstein, 49, was sentenced last year to 50 years in prison for his $1.4 billion Ponzi scheme, the largest fraud in South Florida history. From the transcripts, Rothstein appears to be relishing his chance to tell all – including which of his law partners, business associates and investors allegedly took advantage of the sexual favors he paid richly to procure.
He told the lawyers interrogating him that he spent tens of thousands of dollars a month on women from strip clubs and escort services, and had girls on call in hotels and apartments.
May
06
January is usually the coldest month for El Paso County, but on Thursday temperatures are expected to rise close to the record high. The National Weather Service predicts a high of 62 degrees Thursday—the record is 70. Overnight temperatures will drop back down into the chilly 30s. A 30 percent chance of snow is in the forecast for Saturday.
Around Colorado
Ex-sheriff to learn IDs of informants in his case
CENTENNIAL, Colo. (AP) — Defense attorneys for a former sheriff accused of trading methamphetamine for sex with men will get to learn the identities of two informants in the case.
Former Arapahoe County Sheriff Patrick Sullivan was arrested late last year and faces charges of possession of methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine, attempting to influence a public servant and solicitation of a prostitute.
May
04
The University of Miami will return $83,000 in donations it received from Nevin Shapiro, a former booster, who was incarcerated for his role in running a $930 million Ponzi scheme.
As we reported in August, Shapiro revealed that he gave Miami players “cash, threw parties for them, hooked them up with prostitutes, entertained them at night clubs and let them use his cars.” Many of the gifts were impermissible under NCAA rules. The NCAA launched an investigation and suspended eight players, including starting quarterback Jacory Harris. The university may still face sanctions.
The AP reports UM reached a deal with a bankruptcy trustee who will hand a part of that money to the ponzi scheme victims.
The Miami Herald points out the interesting part of the story: The agreement means former Miami players won’t have to talk about what the gifts they received from Shapiro.
See the full article from “NPR (blog)”
May
02
Deputy DEEP Commissioner Susan Frechette says the agency will work with the winning developer to create a destination location for the Connecticut State Park system offering public access, recreation, and economic opportunity to the state and the nearby communities.
Sunrise Restort opened in 1916 as Elm Camp. Seventy years later, the Robert Johnson family took ownership and managed it until 2008. DEEP bought the property in January 2009 for $3.2 million.
Among the requirements its co-partner must achieve is an economic benefit to the state and to the region, and using sustainable, energy efficient building practices.
DEEP also wants to see ideas for new recreation and education facilities; accommodations for camping, recreational vehicles and cabins, food-service and small-scale retail.
Unwanted, it says, are permanent or long-term residential uses; industrial or manufacturing uses; cell towers; and adult entertainment venues.
Apr
30
Ex-UM players won’t have to disclose booster’s gifts
By Barry Jackson The Miami Herald
Former UM players won’t be dragged into court to talk about gifts from a rogue booster under a deal reached between the university and a bankruptcy trustee.
By Barry Jackson
Former University of Miami football players who allegedly received Cadillac Escalades, jewelry, party invites, champagne, lap dances and the services of prostitutes and other gratuities courtesy of a now-imprisoned athletic-booster-run-amok won’t have to talk about it in a bankruptcy pleading. Nor will they have to give anything back.
UM has agreed to pay $83,000 to the bankruptcy trustee in the case of Nevin Shapiro, who is serving 20 years for defrauding investors in a Ponzi scheme. In exchange, the bankruptcy trustee agreed not to try to recoup any more money from UM or the 70 living players who are alleged to have received cash, gifts or services from Shapiro, in violation of NCAA rules.
Apr
28
A prostitution sting, a gas station mug shot magazine, and a sheriff deputy’s fall from grace are wrapped up in an odd case that has created fresh headaches for an embattled Lowcountry treatment provider.
The case started with the Sept. 15 arrest of Dr. Walter Hiott, a psychiatrist working with troubled children and adolescents at Palmetto Behavioral Health System, which has drawn attention for multiple escapes and other problems over the past year.
Hiott, 47, was caught up in a prostitution sting run by the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office, according to Maj. Jim Brady. Hiott allegedly tried to pay an escort for sex at a West Ashley motel only to find out the woman was a police informant, Brady said.
Vice investigators moved in and arrested Hiott, charging him with soliciting for prostitution, a misdemeanor. He was released that same day on a personal recognizance bond, court records show.
Apr
26
Berman, who was staying with the other men, was known to smoke crack cocaine and prostitute herself. Puetz said she received a supply of drugs from the men.
McKnight and Smith were arrested about 11:30 p.m. Wednesday at 3210 39th St. S.
The men were found after hiding out in the home’s attic.
When officers and deputies from the U.S. Marshals Service went to the house, 21-year-old Nicole Johnson, McKnight’s girlfriend, adamantly denied that Smith and McKnight were there, police said. She said it was just her, two children and a roommate.
Officers searched the home and didn’t find them, but suspected they were hiding in the attic.
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The Medical Examiner’s Office ruled her death a homicide, saying she suffered blunt trauma to the upper body. State records show Berman has a 20-year history of arrests that include drug possession and prostitution.
See the full article from “Tampabay.com”
Apr
24
SUNSET ON OSCAR’S MENU: Las Vegas vixen and adult film star Sunset Thomas turns up as a footnote on the menu of Oscar Goodman’s new steakhouse Oscar’s at the Plaza. “His promise of beef, booze and broads definitely won’t let you down,” Sunset said. “Hizzoner is the hippest. The broads are engaging, hot and far more than just eye candy. The bar is classy and the dining-room view as hip as any in town.”
But it’s a gift she gave him a year ago that’s stuck onto the menu. She interviewed him, and as a souvenir, Sunset signed a photograph of herself with “I wish I had an Oscar Mayor Weiner.” Cooed the curvy courtesan: “I guess it stuck because the line is right there on the menu alongside the veal shank, and I’m certain that pun was intended, too!”
Apr
22
So far, transcripts of the first six days of Rothstein’s 10 days of testimony have been released, with the disbarred attorney giving his version under oath of how he constructed his empire of lies and sought to maintain it with bribes, threats and lavish gifts before its collapse in October 2009.
Rothstein, 49, was sentenced last year to 50 years in prison for his $1.4 billion Ponzi scheme, the largest fraud in South Florida history. From the transcripts, Rothstein appears to be relishing his chance to tell all – including which of his law partners, business associates and investors allegedly took advantage of the sexual favors he paid richly to procure.
He told the lawyers interrogating him that he spent tens of thousands of dollars a month on women from strip clubs and escort services, and had girls on call in hotels and apartments.
Apr
20
Its beat out by one year by Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. For all the perceived failure of the special, it was watched by 50% of its possible audience. The reviews were universally positive. Viewer reaction was over the top in favor of the special. It aired on CBS until 2000, when ABC bought the rights to the special. To this day, A Charlie Brown Christmas regularly wins its timeslot when aired.
THE RETURN OF IT CAME FROM THE FIVE DOLLAR BIN
A Jeff Dunham’s Very Special Christmas Special
When I saw the first couple of Jeff Dunham specials, I thought this was a funny guy. I wasn’t much a fan of Walter, but I did like Peanut, the Jalapeno on a stick and Achmed the Terrorist. You know; Silence! I keel you. If like me, you live in area that has any redneck population at all, I’m sure you’ve seen the shirts. After having a little success, Dunham decided to expand his arsenal with a bunch of new characters including a wannabe superhero, a redneck and a pimp. Suddenly, his show didn’t appeal to me as much.
See the full article from “411mania.com”
Apr
18
James Mozie, who was running a brothel full o’ kids in Oakland Park for about a year, was found guilty by a jury yesterday on 10 counts ranging from sex trafficking of minors to producing child pornography.
Seven different victims testified at the trial that they were recruited to work at Mozie’s house of child prostitution named the “Boom Boom Room,” where he had security guards, sent out advertisements, and even had special job-application forms for potential underage prostitutes.
According to court documents, the Broward Sheriff’s Office got a tip about a house of prostitution in Oakland Park, and that some of the girls were under 18.
Based on the tip, the BSO found a 16-year-old prostitute employed at the house in Oakland Park, and she sat down for an interview with investigators.
See the full article from “Broward-Palm Beach New Times (blog)”
Apr
16
Like the mayor, Klein has two grade-school-age children, so he approves of Buckhorn’s efforts to finish the Riverwalk.
“I’m dying for it to become more of a city, and it’s definitely heading that way,” Klein said. “Mayor Iorio did a hell of a job and Mayor Buckhorn is following suit.”
Downtown redevelopment is the individual issue where Buckhorn won the most approval from respondents. Of those polled, 59 percent said they were very or somewhat satisfied with his performance in that category.
Buckhorn’s other somewhat or very satisfied ratings include:
• Crime (58 percent). With the support of inner-city neighborhoods, Buckhorn’s administration recently persuaded the City Council to reinstate a $500 penalty for drivers whose cars are impounded after they are arrested for trying to hire a prostitute or buy drugs on Tampa streets.
See the full article from “Tampabay.com”
Apr
14
Madeira Beach crime law OK’d
MADEIRA BEACH The Madeira Beach City Commission gave final approval at its Dec. 13 meeting to an ordinance targeting criminal activity, especially in the neighborhood surrounding 145th Avenue.
Specifically, the law deals with the abatement of drug-related, prostitution-related or stolen property-related public nuisances and criminal gang activity.
The ordinance had undergone months of discussion and numerous revisions, and the final version drew positive comments from affected residents along with city and law enforcement officials.
Sheriffs Office Chief Deputy Dan Simovich said the department had given input to make the ordinance as effective as it can be.
Resident Brian Bornemann said the Sheriffs Office played a big, big part in the ordinances development.
Neighborhood resident spokeswoman Elaine Poe, who had a major role in shaping the law, said following the meeting the outcome was, in her view, absolutely 100 percent perfect.
Apr
12
Kendall Jenner Photographed Dancing Around A Stripper Pole
Despite seeming somewhat nice and normal on her Sweet 16 special, Kim Kardashian‘s half-sister Kendall Jenner appears to be growing into her fameball role increasingly well. A set of pictures of Kendall (and friends) dancing around a stripper pole in what is basically underwear have been making the rounds today, and I want to throw a blanket over all of them and send them home to bed.
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This gets less surprising when you recall that it’s not the first time Kendall has played around on a stripper pole; there’s been one in her house since she was little. On a 2007 episode of Keeping Up With The Kardashians, Kendall (then 11) and her sister Kylie (then 9) danced around and imitated “Girls Gone Wild” while their brother’s manager filmed them so he could put it on Youtube.
See the full article from “Crushable”
Apr
10
Hip-hop in Miami has never been about impressing the next man with your lyrics, or fighting the power. The weather and the girls are just too damn hot for that sort of thing. Sex, money, and the pursuit of happiness have always been the topics of choice for Dade County rappers—a legacy that dates all the way back to the X-rated comedy records that local soul songwriter Clarence Reid recorded as “Blowfly” in the ’70s and ’80s.
The city’s car culture, strip clubs and drug-fueled ’80s nightlife provided the backdrop for the development of Miami Bass, the uptempo, 808-driven dance sound popularized by nightclub owner/record magnate/First Amendment poster boy Luther “Luke Skyywalker” Campbell and his booty-obsessed group, 2 Live Crew.
Bass music dominated the Miami soundscape for over a decade, supplanted only by the emergence of Slip-N-Slide Records, Trick Daddy, and Trina at the close of the 1990s. Rappers like Rick Ross and Pitbull took inspiration from Scarface, Miami Vice, and the real-life crime wave that turned the city into America’s murder capital in the 1980s.
Apr
08
Plus, developers agreed to a 150-foot buffer along Old Dixie Highway so people enjoying The Loop’s scenery on bicycle and motorcycle shouldn’t notice too much.
Which is true if these setbacks are kept lush and wooded. In practice, though, a scenic buffer is only as good as any landscaping crew thinks it should be any given day. Scenic strips can get cut back severely.
The Loop would be the back door to this development. The front door would be U.S. Highway 1.
Despite a lot of talk about building a gateway to Ormond Beach, the drive into town from Interstate 95 is a warning to visitors that they might want to stay someplace else. The view: A sad-looking souvenir stand in what used to be a gas station, a bright pink strip club, strip malls and biker bars, all punctuated by billboards. Welcome to Ormond Beach!
Apr
06
New $500 penalty targets drivers accused of buying drugs or picking up prostitutes in Tampa
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TAMPA — The cost of getting arrested for buying drugs or picking up a prostitute on Tampa streets is about to go up $500.
City Council members voted 6-1 Thursday to add the penalty for drivers whose cars are impounded after a drug or prostitution arrest.
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“This is one of the best tools we have to help combat prostitution,” he said. “That’s why cities across the country have adopted similar measures.”
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Under the new ordinance, vehicle owners who didn’t realize a non-owner was going to use the car to pick up a prostitute or buy drugs could get it back without having to pay the $500. But after that driver’s first arrest, owners couldn’t claim they didn’t know the driver might use the car for those crimes.
See the full article from “Tampabay.com”
Apr
04
MIAMI –
The man prosecutors say masterminded a bizarre kidnapping of a man who was lured to a Miami motel from a strip club has been sentenced to life in prison.
Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Diane Ward noted 31-year-old Johnny Haugabook’s violent criminal history Tuesday before doling out the sentencing. A jury convicted Haugabook of armed kidnapping and burglary.
The Miami Herald ( http://bit.ly/rDEdrM) reports Haugabook concocted a kidnapping scheme to raise money to get his repossessed car back. His girlfriend lured Rony Bent to a motel, where Haugabook beat him and took him on a shopping spree using Bent’s credit cards.
Bent’s family began a frantic search for him. Police finally located Bent after he convinced the kidnapper to let him call home. Police traced the call, surrounded the house and arrested Haugabook.
Apr
02
Howard Stern Show ragebots Ronnie Mund and Scott the Engineer got some of the poison out this weekend, paying a visit to Tootsie’s Cabaret Miami.
Tootsie’s is one of the 23 clubs owned by Rick’s Cabaret, the famous gentlemen’s club chain that has had Mund shouting “T-O-P-L-E-S-S” all over the country since he became a spokesman in 2010. This time, though, he brought along the co-founder the Black Cloud Cafe Scott the Engineer to help him handle the heaps of hotties at Tootsie’s.
Mund gave a shout out to Rick’s sister strip club and their local spin-ster DJ Platypus while on the scene:
“Tootsie’s is amazing. they’ve got like over 300 hot girls stripping. The place is great, And don’t forget about DJ Platypus–he knows how to keep the party going all night.”
See the full article from “Examiner.com”
Mar
31
Tampa City Council may be trying too hard with prostitution crackdown
By Sue Carlton, Times Columnist In Print: Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Listen, I am all for a good, Giuliani-esque, Times Square-style cleanup of Tampa.
City neighborhoods long plagued by drug dealers, hookers, johns and all they leave behind deserve a good and constant scouring of such things. With lye soap, if we can find it.
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Tampa has made a lot of progress on this front in recent years, in particular against the men who make the city’s street prostitution trade oh so viable in certain parts of town.
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If someone’s using a car to pick up a prostitute, it’s taken away on arrest. We already do this, but the person usually has to pay less than $150 in towing and storage to get his car back.
See the full article from “Tampabay.com”