Unlicensed Strip Club Allegedly Operating In Cab Company Basement Busted
LANCASTER (CBSLA.com) — An underground strip club allegedly operating inside of a cab company building in Lancaster has been shut down by law enforcement following an undercover investigation.
Six people were arrested after a raid on the unlicensed bar authorities say was operating in the basement of Southland Yellow Cab on the 42000 block of 6th Street East.
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Deputies moved in after receiving several complaints alleging strippers were dancing for tips at the establishment.
The complaints also alleged narcotics, gambling and prostitution were present and that alcohol was being served without a license.
Sheriff Deputies and Alcoholic Beverage Control Agents went undercover and found a full bar, makeshift stripper poles and a DJ booth inside the venue, which resembled a nightclub.
On April 27, deputies were already inside when Vice and ABC Agents orchestrated the raid.
Priscilla Darlene Hill, 19, Alfred Xenios Pico, 41, Juan Carlos Munoz, 33, and Larry Adam Lee, 36, were arrested for selling alcohol without a license, a misdemeanor. Hill also faces a charge of minor in possession of alcohol. All were cited and released.
Two patrons were also arrested on unrelated charges.
A man claiming to be in the process of buying Southland Yellow Cab says the company is being falsely accused. The man told KCAL9's Cristy Fajardo by phone the strip club was operating in a space belonging to an industrial complex in the same area and not the cab company.
However, law enforcement says cab drivers played a role in recruiting customers.
A Facebook page hints at what allegedly went on inside, including listings for parties, after-hours drink offers and pictures of bikini-clad girls.
"The taxi cab drivers basically told patrons from other businesses that if they wanted to continue the party after-hours that they could come to this location and do so there," ABC's Brad Beach told Fajardo.
Beach said he has never seen such an operation in his tenure with the bureau and agents are taking the case seriously.
"It's very uncommon. It's the first time I've heard about it in my career," he said.
The Sheriff's Department says the investigation is ongoing. Southland Yellow Cab's license remains active.
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