New York Superclub Busted Under Crack House Laws

New York police used the RAVE Act against the City's best known night club Sound Factory last weekend, raiding the Mid-town superclub and charging its owner and two security chiefs with operating a 'stash house'.

The trio are accused of deliberately permitting drug use at the club and face five separate charges, each of which carry 20year sentences (under the now renamed Illicit Drug Anti-Proliferation Act).

The indictments could have a chilling effect on the whole of America's nightlife industry, judging by the comments made by City authorities in the indictment.

"Club owners and managers who allow their premises to become dangerous drug markets are no different from those who run crack houses- and they will be prosecuted as such," said New York District Attorney David Kelley.

"Sound Factory's days as a drugs factory are over."

DEA New York boss Anthony Placido used similarly colourful language "these indictments serve notice to all commercial enterprises that they must act as responsible corporate citizens. We will not tolerate nightclubs, nor the owners of these clubs, potentially profiting from the carnage and destruction brought by illegal drug trafficking."
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