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Tampa strip club raided, 11 arrested on racketeering, drug charges

 
Published Dec. 3, 2016

TAMPA — A raid at a strip club Thursday night led to the arrest of 11 individuals, including the club's owner and several employees, on charges ranging from drug possession to racketeering, according to Tampa police.

The raid at Risque Gentleman's Club at 900 N Dale Mabry Highway was a culmination of a yearlong investigation that showed the club was the site of illegal drug transactions, said Tampa police spokesman Stephen Hegarty.

Hegarty said the investigation started in October 2015, when the club was called Ponytail, and included more than 50 undercover operations. Risque's owner, Ioannis Pahoumis, was the first person arrested Thursday night, when he was arrested at his home in New Port Richey.

Hegarty said the club is essentially closed at this time.