CLUB OWNER ACQUITTED OF DRUG CHARGE

NEW YORK - A jury acquitted a New York nightclub owner Wednesday on charges
that he approved drug sales as a way to attract patrons to his swanky
Manhattan discos.

Prosecutors had depicted Peter Gatien, 46, as a key player in a widespread
conspiracy that funneled cocaine, Ecstasy and other drugs to his clubs'
mostly youthful clientele.

The drug sales allegedly went on for more than five years beginning in 1991
at the Limelight and the Tunnel, two popular nightspots owned by Gatien.
Both clubs were raided in 1996. The Limelight remains closed, but the
Tunnel reopened.

Gatien, 46, was charged with racketeering and drug conspiracy, which carry
sentences of up to 20 years in prison.

The jury deliberated for two days before finding Gatien innocent of
sanctioning drug sales and arranging for drugs to be given out free at club
parties.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Friedberg had argued that Gatien was part of a
``massive, massive drug operation, an integral part of the business and an
important promotional tool for getting business to the clubs.''

But Gatien's lawyer accused prosecutors of using fabricated evidence and
the uncorroborated testimony of several convicted criminals to go after his
client.

``Being a Canadian, there were times he almost lost faith in our system of
justice,'' Benjamin Brafman said. ``This has been a two-year, knock-down,
drag-out slugfest where the government proceeded with a scorched earth
mentality I could not fully understand and found very offensive at times.''