Stacy Woodbury, Executive Director of the Nevada Commission on Ethics

Mike Galardi outside the federal courthouse on Apr. 4, 2006

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Read about the players in the G-Sting Trial

G-Sting Wrap Up From The George Federal Courthouse -- April 4

Former Clark County Commissioner Dario Herrera claims he didn't take bribes from strip club owner Mike Galardi. But according to a close friend, that is not the case. From him, the jury in the G-Sting political corruption trial got insight into Herrera's relationship with Galardi.

It was a potentially damaging day for Dario Herrera as one of his former best friends testifies Herrera often bragged about his relationship with strip club owner Mike Galardi. This man, Terry Lamuraglia, says his friendship with Dario Herrera ended because he objected to Herrera's ties with Mike Galardi.

Lamuraglia told the jury he and Herrera could get comped drinks and lap dances at Galardi's Cheetahs strip club anytime. He said, "Dario would place a call to make sure everything was set up, that they knew we were coming."

Lamuraglia believes every time he and Herrera visited Cheetahs, he received sexual favors from dancers there. Further damaging Herrera's case, Lamuraglia testified Herrera bragged about "getting a free trip, getting free golf, getting entertainers, getting things paid for" by Galardi.

Jerry Bernstein, Herrera's attorney, stated, "I don't want to comment because we are in the middle of cross-examination. I don't feel that it is appropriate for me to comment about his testimony."

Herrera's attorney Jerry Bernstein was largely silent when he left court, not wanting to talk about Lamuraglia's testimony, which included an unusual story about Herrera's finances.

Lamuraglia told the court Herrera "...wanted to use my credit card to purchase furniture for the house."

Herrera used Lamuraglia's credit to purchase $20,000 worth of home furnishings and then paid Lamuraglia back largely in cash. Prosecutors imply the money was from bribes Herrera received from Mike Galardi when Herrera was a county commissioner.

Jerry Bernstein believes Lamuraglia is seeking revenge for a soured friendship, citing an interview Lamuraglia gave to a local newspaper. "'I love you, I miss you, I'm gonna hurt you.' That's what he told the Las Vegas Sun," Bernstein said.

Lamuraglia returns to the witness stand Wednesday morning.

The man at the heart of the G-Sting trial, strip club owner Mike Galardi, was at the George Federal Courthouse Tuesday. Galardi was scheduled to testify Tuesday, but will instead testify Wednesday.

George Federal Courthouse -- April 4 -- 3:30 p.m.

This afternoon federal prosecutors called Vanessa Baca to the stand. She worked for Mike Galardi as a bartender at his Cheetahs strip club.

Prosecutors in their opening statement three weeks ago identified Baca as a woman Galardi has selected to accompany Dario Herrera on a golf outing at the Southern Highlands Golf Course. But on the stand today, Baca testified Galardi asked her to go, but then added, quote, "I didn’t know who was going to be there."

Baca testified at one point she and Herrera went to a section of the course that was secluded, quote, "I just remember bits and pieces of making out." Baca said she began performing a sex act on Herrera but then stopped because she did not want to continue.

Baca testified following the outing she was paid in the neighborhood of $500 by Mike Galardi, but Baca adds Galardi frequently paid her for accompanying him on social outings.

On defense cross-examination, Herrera’s attorney Marc Rothenberg asked Baca when Galardi gave her $500 was she being paid as a prostitute. Baca answered, quote, "No."

Rothenberg then asked her if she made out with Herrera because it was something she wanted to do. She answered, quote, "Yes."

George Federal Courthouse -- April 4 -- 12:30 p.m.

This afternoon former Las Vegas strip club owner Michael Galardi is expected to began giving testimony in the G-Sting political corruption trial.

In late 2003, Galardi entered into a plea agreement with federal prosecutors where he admitted giving thousands of dollars in cash and gifts to former Clark County Commissioners Erin Kenny, Dario Herrera and Mary Kincaid-Chauncey.

According to federal prosecutors, the G-Sting scam began in early 1999 with Galardi being fueled by a desire for wealth and to become the valley's premiere strip club owner. He viewed the construction of his Jaguars strip club as his monument to that cause.

During construction Galardi was plagued by numerous construction set backs and liquor licensing issues. Prosecutors contend and Galardi admits that to clear all those hurdles Galardi hatched a systematic plan with another former County Commissioner Lance Malone to bribe elected officials.

Former Commissioner Erin Kenny also has plea agreement with federal prosecutors. During the last two days of testimony she has outlined how she received upwards of $70-thousand dollars from Galardi. Under Galardi's plea agreement with the government he will serve no more than five years in prison after his sentencing later this year. It is possible he could serve less if G-Sting prosecutors feel he has been helpful.

George Federal Courthouse -- April 4 -- 10:30 a.m.

Strip Club Manger Says Dario Demanded Lap Dances

This morning Southern Highlands golf course manager Douglas Hensley testified that course records show strip club owner Mike Galardi often took Dario Herrera on golfing outings. Those outings started in Oct. 2000, two months after Herrera cancelled his own membership at the same club.

Prosecutors imply Herrera didn't need a membership if Galardi was footing the bill. Prosecutors then called Robert Leslie to the stand. Leslie was a manager at Galardi's Cheetahs strip club for nine years. Leslie testified that twice in 2001, Herrera demanded lap dances and drinks at the club to be comped out to the tune of $1,900. Leslie said Herrera was adamant about it. "He said that I needed to get that money for him," Leslie testified.

Leslie also testified he never saw any direct exchange of money or gifts between Galardi and Herrera.

Prosecutors then called Stacy Woodbury to the stand. She is the executive director of the Nevada Commission on Ethics. She testified in the case of both Dario Herrera and Mary Kincaid Chauncey, neither claimed any money from Mike Galardi on state financial disclosure forms. Those are the forms elected officials must fill out when they take office to declare their financial interests.

Woodbury told the jury, "If you accept a gift of a loan you are not to approve or disapprove...." She is referring to when voting on issues involving the person who gave the gift. Clark County Commission records show neither Herrera or Kincaid-Chauncey every disclosed a relationship with Galardi or abstained on voting on issues involving Galardi.

"The statute does not define what a gift is," said Woodbury on defense cross-examination. When Kincaid-Chauncey's attorney Richard Wright asked Woodbury what criteria elected officials are supposed to use in making a conflict of interested determination., Woodbury replied: "The statute doesn't give you any clear guidance in that area."

Email reporter Brian Allen at ballen@klastv.com

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