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What a bunch of boobs.

A major strip club group bribed a state auditor — including with lap dances — to avoid paying more than $8 million in New York City sales taxes over the last 14 years, prosecutors charged Tuesday.

The State Attorney General’s Office unsealed a 79-count criminal indictment against the company, RCI, and five of its executives, accusing them of engaging in a naked, tax fraud scheme.


  New York state prosecutors accused strip club group RCI of bribing a state auditor. Aleksandr Rybalko – stock.adobe.com New York state prosecutors accused strip club group RCI of bribing a state auditor. Aleksandr Rybalko – stock.adobe.com

The affair was so brazen, a top RCI accountant even allegedly made at least 10 trips from Texas to New York to treat the former auditor at the company’s Manhattan jiggle joints, Rick’s Cabaret, Vivid Cabaret and Hoops Cabaret and Sports Bar, court papers state.

“RCI’s executives shamelessly used their strip clubs to bribe their way out of paying millions of dollars in taxes,” said AG Letitia James. “I will always take action to fight corruption and ensure everyone pays their fair share.”

RCI and the top execs allegedly bribed the auditor with a slew of lascivious treats starting in 2010, including at least 13 free multi-day trips to Miami “with complimentary hotel stays, restaurant meals, and up to several thousand dollars’ worth of private dances per day at RCI-owned strip clubs,” the indictment states.

The company bigwigs texted each other about haggling over how much cash they should bribe the crooked auditor with — and how much of a tax discount they should demand in return, the AG’s office alleged.


  An accountant at RCI allegedly treated the former auditor to trips to clubs like Vivid Cabaret in Manhattan. Christopher Sadowski An accountant at RCI allegedly treated the former auditor to trips to clubs like Vivid Cabaret in Manhattan. Christopher Sadowski

  The auditor was also allegedly brought to Hoops Cabaret and Sports Bar. Google Maps The auditor was also allegedly brought to Hoops Cabaret and Sports Bar. Google Maps

“We need to talk about New York and dance dollars,” RCI president Eric Langan texted to CFO Ahmed Anakar, the filing claims. “We are going to be hit by 3m in sales taxes soon.”

In exchange for cash, trips and dining, the state worker — who hasn’t been publicly identified — gave RCI favorable treatment during six state audits, the indictment states.


  RCI President Eric Langan appears in court on Tuesday. Steven Hirsch RCI President Eric Langan appears in court on Tuesday. Steven Hirsch

The auditor allegedly agreed to settle the company’s back taxes and audits as significantly less than what was owed in reality, saving the group over $8 million, the AG’s office said.

In 2018, the filing states that Langan texted Anakar to say “I think I got the sales taxes in New York to 350 plus interest possibly. Tim is discussing with the auditor tonight ;).”

“That’s the way people do business in this country,” the auditor texted RCI accountant Tim Winta later in 2018, the indictment claims.

“Everyone is happy. You deserve a promotion… keep the good work and we will Clebbrate [sic] in Florida early next year. Thanks for your cooperation.”

Another text, from 2023, reads: “Tim got the guy to $47k in vivid New York. But owes him a couple trips.”

An attorney for RCI, Daniel J Horwitz said that RCI and the indicted execs “deny the allegations and will take all actions to defend themselves against the overreaching charges while continuing to seek a just resolution.”

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