WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Club Kalua owners charged with mortgage fraud
Member Center:
Associated Press - March 9, 2010 5:25 PM ET
NEW YORK (AP) - The mother and son owners of the defunct strip club made infamous by the shooting of Sean Bell have been charged in a mortgage fraud case in Queens.
Martina Duran and Robert Arias were each ordered held on $250,000 bail Tuesday after being charged with larceny, identity theft and other crimes. The pair owned Club Kalua, where Bell's bachelor party ended in tragedy in 2006.
Undercover detectives investigating reports of prostitution at the club killed the unarmed Bell and wounded two friends in a 50-shot barrage after following them outside. Three officers who claimed they believed the men had a gun were later acquitted of manslaughter.
Prosecutors in the fraud case allege Duran and Arias were part of a $2 million scheme to use stolen identities to buy and sell three properties. There was no immediate response to a phone message left with Duran's attorney. Her son's lawyer declined comment.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
