EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The City of El Paso and the El Paso County Attorney’s Office have both filed seperate lawsuits against Jaguars Gold Club located in East El Paso for alleged illegal activities and violating sexually oriented businesses ordinances.
The City filed a lawsuit against the club on Thursday, Feb. 22, for allegedly violating sexually oriented businesses ordinances under Title 5 of the City Code.
The City is seeking temporary and permanent injuctions against the club, citing more than 25 alleged violations including failure to have a business license, unauthorized sale of beer/alcohol, prostitution, illicit drug use, drug trafficking, sexual assault, sexual exploitation and more.
The El Paso County Attorney’s Office also filed a separate lawsuit on Friday, Feb. 23 securing an immediate Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) that directs the club to remain closed until March 5. The closure order was served to the business and atleast two managers.
The closure of the club was a result of a lawsuit brought by the Nuisance Abatement Team of the County Attorney’s Office against the for-profit corporation RCI Hospitality Holdings, Inc., and the managers of the business Angel Richard “Ricco” Torres, Donnell Lee James, and Javier Diaz, according to the County Attorney’s Office.
The El Paso Police Department Vice and Narcotics units, Pebble Hills Regional Command, and State investigators provided evidence alleging that Jaguars had become a “persistent center for criminal activity, to include more than 750 calls for service received from January 2018 to December 31, 2023, varying from discharge of a firearm; drug delivery, possession, or use; prostitution; aggravated assault; sale of beer or alcohol without a permit/license; and other criminal activities,” the County Attorney’s Office said.
The following is a list of alleged criminal activity and CPRC violations at the club since January 2018:
Discharge of a firearm: 13 violations.
Delivery, possession, or use of a controlled substance: 57 violations.
Prostitution/promotion of prostitution: 13 violations.
Aggravated assault: 22 violations.
Disorderly conduct: 52 violations.
Criminal trespass: 1 violation.
Criminal mischief: 1 violation.
Sale or storage of beer or alcohol without a permit or license: 22 violations.
Employee under 21 at sexually oriented business: 1 violation.
Violation of City of El Paso’s Sexually Oriented Business ordinance: at least 26 violations.
At least sixteen (16) of the violations noted also involved a gun.
At least twelve (12) violations involved a criminal street gang membe
The establishment was closed Thursday night, Feb. 22 at around 9:30 p.m. and will remain closed until March 7.
The Court will hear evidence to consider the approval of a temporary injunction at 9 a.m. on March 1.
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