BUSINESS OWNER'S BAIL DEAL KEEPS CLUB AV-02 CLOSED

TAMPA - A downtown club owner, appearing in court Monday on a federal
charge of running a business where illegal drugs are sold, agreed as
part of his bail that he will not run the club, nor will he let anyone
else run it.

Police and federal officials said they were relieved that Elias Edward
"Lou" Abusaid's club, AV-02, will shut down.

The drug ecstasy was sold readily at the club by customers and
employees, authorities said.

"Clearly [federal Judge Thomas Wilson] recognized the fact that this
club is a danger to our community," said Tampa police spokeswoman
Laura McElroy. "We are not going to tolerate clubs like AV- 02."

Steve Cole, spokesman for the U.S. attorney's office, said the judge's
ruling shows Abusaid is a danger to the community.

"Selling mind-numbing drugs or allowing those sales makes you a
danger," Cole said.

Abusaid's charge, officially called maintaining a drug-involved
premises, is a recently enhanced federal law to stop business owners
from catering to illegal drug manufacturers and sellers. If convicted,
Abusaid faces up to 20 years in prison. His bail includes $200,000 and
mandatory drug testing.

McElroy said Abusaid, 42, dodged the city's rave laws because he did
not collect money for a cover charge. Instead, customers were allowed
inside the club free. To get into a VIP room, however, customers had
to buy a wristband for $15, McElroy said. It was in those rooms that
customers could buy ecstasy and other drugs, authorities said.

The after-hours club sold bottled water but no alcohol.

Abusaid was arrested about 4 a.m. Sunday in a bust orchestrated by
Tampa police, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, the U.S. attorney's
office and the U.S. Marshal Service. The team conducted a yearlong
investigation into the club that ended with a series of federal
indictments.

Along with Abusaid's arrest, 14 customers and employees were arrested
on federal drug charges. An additional 11 face state drug charges. Law
enforcement agencies plan to arrest five more people named in federal
indictments on various drug charges.