Wife of tax cheat gets liquor license

In doing so, commissioners disregarded a lengthy report from Las Vegas Metropolitan Police detailing conversations between Geralyn Cecola and her imprisoned husband. Police contend the conversations showed Sam Cecola remained active in day-to-day operations of the Club Paradise.

The county agreed in March to allow Geralyn Cecola to take control of the club from her husband on the condition he be completely uninvolved.

Sam Cecola is serving 46 months in federal prison for two tax fraud convictions in Illinois.

Sam Cecola has been suspected by federal agents of having mob ties and is ineligible to hold a liquor or gaming license in Clark County.

Police Det. Andy Hafen read excerpts of conversations taped by the Federal Bureau of Prisons between the Cecolas in which, he alleged, Sam Cecola advised his wife on details of the prospective sale of the club, the amount of cash on hand, the club's termination policy and even the credit card rates the club was paying.

But commissioners expressed more concern about the use of such tapings between the husband and wife, with Commissioner Erin Kenny noting that such practice of eavesdropping on married couples could further erode family unity in society.

Cecola attorney John Moran Jr. insisted the claims were "clumsy (and) paper-thin" and that each conversation used by Hafen had been taken out of context. In many cases, Geralyn Cecola did not do the things her husband advised her to do, proof she was not allowing him to run the club, Moran argued.

Commissioner Bruce Woodbury cast the lone vote against granting Geralyn Cecola the license. He disagreed with other commissioners who were concerned about the phone taping.

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