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Go Go owner, 5 others indicted
By Elise Franco
Youngstown
Computers confiscated by Austintown police after a May 2009 raid at the Go Go Cabaret helped lead to the indictments Wednesday of club owner Sebastian Rucci and five others.
Gina Bricker, assistant Mahoning County prosecutor, said video evidence taken from the club’s surveillance computers “depicted women engaging in sex acts for hire.”
Rucci along with Curtis “C.J.” Jones, Derrick L. Dozier, Wayne Penny and Peter E. Sciullo II are charged with engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, money laundering, perjury and two counts each of promoting prostitution.
“If they want to present it to the jury, present it,” Rucci said Wednesday afternoon. “I’ve never approved ... anything in my club close to [the charges]. They have to convince a jury beyond a reasonable doubt, and I didn’t do those things.”
Jones, Dozier, Penny and Sciullo were club employees last year.
Robert Neill, former cabaret manager and the former sole shareholder, is charged with one count of promoting prostitution.
The indictments also list the Go Go Cabaret, 5455 Clarkins Drive Inc. and Triple-G Investments — all of 5455 Clarkins Drive — as charged with engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity with a forfeiture specification.
The specification states that “all property contained within the building located at 5455 Clarkins Drive” and “any and all assets relative to the account held in the name of Triple-G Investments” are subject to forfeiture.
Rucci said the indictment is another attempt to discredit his business.
“I intend to fight the charges, and I believe this is a part of the arbitrary pattern that has been going on,” he said.
The club was closed for 90 days as a public nuisance after a May 2009 injunction hearing in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court. Jones, Dozier, Penny and Sciullo were called to testify at this hearing.
Judge Lou A. D’Apolito heard testimony from police and government officials in Austintown as to why the club should be shut down as well as testimony from Rucci and several employees.
Rucci said though measures were put in place to prevent any future nuisance issues, he feels the Go Go is still a target.