Don't know what a B-girl is, do you? Well, the USAO just busted a bunch of them in a fascinating case. Here's the complaint.
The New Times summarizes it:
The FBI today has busted an Eastern European ring that set up a half dozen fake clubs in South Beach that existed solely to steal thousands of dollars from wealthy tourists lured there by a team of beautiful "B-Girl" scam artists. Really!
Federal prosecutors charged seventeen people today in the scam, which hinged on lovely Eastern European "Bar Girls" -- or "B-Girls" -- luring out-of-town businessmen and tourists from legit clubs to the gang's "private establishments."
Here's how the incredible scheme worked, the feds say.
The gang set up at least six fake clubs: Caviar Beach and Stars Lounge, both at 643 Washington Ave.; a room inside Club Moreno at 1341 Washington Ave.; Nowhere Bar at 643 Washington Ave.; Steel Toast at 758 Washington Ave.; and the Tangia Club at 841 Washington Ave.
They also shipped in numerous B-Girls from Eastern Europe and rented them apartments around South Beach. The gang's bouncers, meanwhile, prevented anyone from entering the clubs except for marks accompanied by B-Girls.
Once inside, bartenders working for the gang would rack up tens of thousands of dollars on the men's credit cards and sometimes forge their signatures.
Here's my question -- does this case belong in federal court or state court? Talk to me.
The SDFLA Blog is dedicated to providing news and notes regarding federal practice in the Southern District of Florida. The New Times calls the blog "the definitive source on South Florida's federal court system." All tips on court happenings are welcome and will remain anonymous. Please email David Markus at dmarkus@markuslaw.com
Neither. It belongs on cable or even on the big screen. I could just see the string of sequels now - "B-Girl Bash", "Revenge of the B-Girls", "I Was a Teenage B-Girl"
ReplyDeleteI think that shipping in girls from abroad makes it federal. But what do I know? I'm just a civil litigator.
ReplyDeleteYou gotta love the anecdote about the guy who went back for seconds after blacking out and waking up with no cash and a painting on his bed of a disappointed horse: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tSPIoRG4jA
Where are the pictures of the B girls? Your slippin' man.
ReplyDeleteHow is this good for the local economy? We're in the middle of a recession!
ReplyDeleteWhat? No pictures of the b-girls?
ReplyDeleteI'm going back to that crappy blog where the depraved blogger would post pcitures of the defendants.
you wont print my comment calling you a snob? i am shocked shocked at that.
ReplyDeleteBreaking news: the B-girls were standing inside the foyer of the Wilkerson building just minutes ago.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of trivia questions: Which local criminal defense attorney won the Miami Herald Spelling Bee in 1985 and won a spot in the National Bee.
ReplyDeleteYou are the same guy who said the same thing about the moving scam but yet you made a ton of $$$$. Bet you dont print this!!!!!
ReplyDeleteSwlip -- they aren't charged with "shipping in girls." In fact, the women are all charged in the scheme.
ReplyDeleteJack -- huh?
Commentors who want pictures -- so do I.
Who coined the name "B-Girls?"
ReplyDelete"The arrests were the result of an undercover investigation by an agent who infiltrated the alleged crime ring by posing as a “corrupt police officer working off-duty” as a bouncer or doorman"
ReplyDeleteNot much of a stretch for MBPD.
Complaint never identifies the department who employed the off-duty cop.
ReplyDelete