Patrick Ewing Testifies in Strip Club Case

Admits having oral sex; racketeering trial continues

Atlanta, July 24, 2001 -- Former NBA all-star Patrick Ewing testified for the prosecution in the racketeering trial centered on the Gold Club, an Atlanta establishment owned by the defendant Steve Kaplan.. Ewing was called upon as a witness to speak about his receiving sexual favors at the Club. Gold Club owner Kaplan, the main defendant in the case, is accused of luring professional athletes and celebrities to his club by enticing them with offers of free sex and drinks. The more important charges against Kaplan include credit card fraud, involvement with New York's Gambino crime family, loansharking, and obstruction of justice.

During Ewing's twenty-five minute testimony, he asserted that he had received sexual favors from Gold Club dancers on two occasions, once during the 1996 Olympics and once in 1997 or 1998. Ewing said that Kaplan escorted him to a VIP room upon his arrival at the establishment, and then "the girls danced, started fondling me, I got aroused, they performed oral sex." After the incidents, Kaplan and a club manager assured Ewing that he did not need to pay or tip the women, because "it was taken care of,." according to the Associated Press.

Ewing is not accused of wrongdoing in the trial. Kaplan's lawyer asked Ewing if he felt he had been involved in prostitution; the player responded that he had not. Ewing's new team, the Orlando Magic, was aware of his involvement in the case when it signed him as a free agent last week and "braced themselves for a headache," according to the Orlando Sentinel.

Other NBA players are expected to testify.

Sources:
Mitch Stacy, "Basketball star Patrick Ewing testifies about sexual encounters at Atlanta strip club," Associated Press, 7/23
Brian Schmitz, Orlando Sentinel, 7/23
Bill Rankin and Steve Visser, "Gold Club trial: Ewing testifies he was told tips were 'taken care of'," Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 7/24

                                                                                                            Amy Armond

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