Former strip club owner sentenced in bribery case

Former strip club owner Michael Galardi was sentenced Thursday to 15 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to trying to bribe members of the City Council. He will serve the sentence concurrently with a 30-month sentence for pleading guilty to bribing officials in Las Vegas.

Galardi, 48, onetime owner of Cheetahs strip club, said he wanted the council members to amend a city ordinance that prohibits lap dancing and other touching between patrons and nude dancers.

With Galardi as prosecutors’ star witness, two council members were convicted. The conviction of one was largely tossed out by the judge and is being appealed by the U.S. attorney. The other council member died before trial.