ATLANTA - Wrapping up a sensational racketeering case that featured strippers, mobsters and pro athletes, the former owner of Atlanta's hottest strip club was sentenced Tuesday to 16 months in prison.
Steve Kaplan, 42, had been accused of using dancers to provide sexual favors to star athletes to raise the profile of his Gold Club. He was also accused of cheating credit-card customers and funneling profits to the Gambino crime family of New York.
The trial of Kaplan and eight co-defendants became a celebrity spectacle, with athletes such as basketball star Patrick Ewing and Atlanta Braves outfielder Andruw Jones testifying about their escapades.
Kaplan halted the trial in August by agreeing to plead guilty to a racketeering charge.
Prosecutors had sought a three-year sentence, but U.S. District Judge Willis Hunt said Tuesday that prosecutors failed to prove Kaplan was involved with prostitution or with an organized crime ring. He said that only charges of credit card fraud had been proved.
The judge also sentenced Kaplan to 400 hours of community service.
As part of his plea agreement, Kaplan already has forfeited $5 million and paid $250,000 in restitution to credit card owners and $50,000 in restitution to Delta Air Lines.
The club has become the property of the federal government.
Eight other defendants agreed to plea bargains and were sentenced to probation. Reputed mobster Michael "Mikey Scars" DiLeonardo and former Atlanta police officer Reginald Burney were acquitted at trial.
Wednesday
July 16th, 2025
2:25AM
