Clooney's Strip Club Connection
12/20/2005 1:15 PM PT
The fictionalized relationship between Vegas mobsters and celebrities may not be entirely fiction after all. At least not to the Feds.
According to the New York Daily News, investigators are questioning regular Vegas high rollers like George Clooney, Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci about a strip club they've all frequented, the Crazy Horse Too.
Crazy Horse Too's owner, Rick Rizzolo, has been under federal investigation for alleged tax evasion and ties to organized crime. His lawyer, Tony Sgro, confirmed that the FBI "has interviewed some of Mr. Rizzolo's celebrity friends," possibly to pressure him into cooperating with the investigation.
The celebs aren't accused of anything, just being acquainted with Rizzolo. George Clooney met Rizzolo when he shot a scene for 'Ocean's 11' at the strip club. De Niro reportedly visited the Crazy Horse Too when he was in Vegas to shoot the movie 'Casino.'
The connection between Joe Pesci and Rizzolo is more removed: Pesci met Rizzolo during the 'Casino' filming, but in the movie he played a character based on slain mobster Tony (The Ant) Spilotro. The real-life Spilotro was beaten with a baseball bat; so was Pesci's character Nicky Santoro in 'Casino.' Rizzolo pleaded guilty to using a baseball bat on a Crazy Horse Too patron.
