My initial assumption when I read John’s indictment on federal weapons charges and the detention order's claim that he had a history of drug use was that it was all about his own personal drug and gun use. And there is plenty of evidence of that, as we’ll see soon.
But John’s testimony at Hoover’s murder trial unequivocally tells us that quite apart from whatever he was consuming or possessing for himself, he was also involved trafficking--for the Hell’s Angels at least if not others. John admitted all of this under oath, so on one level we have all we need to know.
But large-scale drug and gun trafficking is a hard thing to pull off and harder still to conceal. Those involved with these sorts of illicit activities generally like to hide them behind quasi-legitimate businesses, “fronts” that can be used to launder all the cash being generated. Cash-based businesses like bars and restaurants are always a go-to, which is why the Mafia always used to own Italian restaurants and pizza joints.
So my curiosity led me to look at what sort of business activities John was up to between the time of his release from prison in 1997 until 2006, when he was arrested on his gun charges. Fortunately John himself gave us a few leads on where to look.
One of the businesses that John owned was Security Alternatives, a consultancy that advised convenience stores and other retail establishments on how to avoid being robbed. This is a bit of howler, given John’s history of burglary and armed robbery--I suppose John was trying to pull his own version of Frank Abagnale. Too bad John lacked the same charisma. I doubt they’ll be making any movies out of his story.
But one of the businesses John said that he consulted with was the Shark Club, a bar in Omaha that is still operating today. This bar is a more than just a business connection--while browsing its photos page on Facebook, who did I stumble across more than once? Why none other than John’s brother Steve. I guess it's a family favorite.
It was that connection though that led me to realize the Shark Club was more than just a favorite McCaul family hangout. Steve lists “Miller Recovery” as one of the places where he’s worked on his Facebook page. Miller Recovery doesn’t seem to exist (at least not anymore), but when I searched for connections between Shark Club and Miller Recovery, I found that they are all run by the same group. Along with several other interesting businesses such as various repossession companies (likely what Miller Recovery was), money scams (my favorite is sendusyourmoney.biz), and some seemingly sex-related businesses such as “omahahotties.” All nice cash-based operations too.
And then there’s the strip club that John McCaul was part-owner of. Er, excuse me -- “gentleman’s club.”
John testified that the club was located in Fremont, NE, and that he was an investor during 2004 and 2005. It took some effort to figure out which strip club this could have been, since John was a silent partner and various strip clubs have come and gone. But knowing the dates and locations narrowed it down the Lariat Club, now defunct. For a taste of what the place was like, check out this forum--but beware, it’s definitely NSFW.
Apart from whatever else might have been going on there, the fact that John was part-owner of a strip club should give anyone who considers placing an almost-10-year-old girl into his custody pause. I wonder what sort of lessons John is going to teach Sonya about how she should expect to be treated by boys as she gets older.
But there was way more than stripping going on at Lariat. It was in fact a front for a good deal of illegal activity. Like the fact that it employed underage girls, one of whom was later found murdered. It’s good to know that John felt so comfortable with management there, and that he exercised such good oversight over his investment.
And Lariat may have also been at least one of the conduits through which John’s drug trafficking ran. For not a month after John was arrested on his gun possession charge, the club’s general manager, Calburt Sheets, was arrested after a police raid uncovered seven pounds of marijuana, a gun and various distribution paraphernalia at the club. It was subsequently shut down. So much for John's investing acumen.
But these aren’t the only pieces that paint a broader picture of John’s involvement with drugs and guns. Stay tuned for that.
But John’s testimony at Hoover’s murder trial unequivocally tells us that quite apart from whatever he was consuming or possessing for himself, he was also involved trafficking--for the Hell’s Angels at least if not others. John admitted all of this under oath, so on one level we have all we need to know.
But large-scale drug and gun trafficking is a hard thing to pull off and harder still to conceal. Those involved with these sorts of illicit activities generally like to hide them behind quasi-legitimate businesses, “fronts” that can be used to launder all the cash being generated. Cash-based businesses like bars and restaurants are always a go-to, which is why the Mafia always used to own Italian restaurants and pizza joints.
So my curiosity led me to look at what sort of business activities John was up to between the time of his release from prison in 1997 until 2006, when he was arrested on his gun charges. Fortunately John himself gave us a few leads on where to look.
One of the businesses that John owned was Security Alternatives, a consultancy that advised convenience stores and other retail establishments on how to avoid being robbed. This is a bit of howler, given John’s history of burglary and armed robbery--I suppose John was trying to pull his own version of Frank Abagnale. Too bad John lacked the same charisma. I doubt they’ll be making any movies out of his story.
But one of the businesses John said that he consulted with was the Shark Club, a bar in Omaha that is still operating today. This bar is a more than just a business connection--while browsing its photos page on Facebook, who did I stumble across more than once? Why none other than John’s brother Steve. I guess it's a family favorite.
It was that connection though that led me to realize the Shark Club was more than just a favorite McCaul family hangout. Steve lists “Miller Recovery” as one of the places where he’s worked on his Facebook page. Miller Recovery doesn’t seem to exist (at least not anymore), but when I searched for connections between Shark Club and Miller Recovery, I found that they are all run by the same group. Along with several other interesting businesses such as various repossession companies (likely what Miller Recovery was), money scams (my favorite is sendusyourmoney.biz), and some seemingly sex-related businesses such as “omahahotties.” All nice cash-based operations too.
And then there’s the strip club that John McCaul was part-owner of. Er, excuse me -- “gentleman’s club.”
John testified that the club was located in Fremont, NE, and that he was an investor during 2004 and 2005. It took some effort to figure out which strip club this could have been, since John was a silent partner and various strip clubs have come and gone. But knowing the dates and locations narrowed it down the Lariat Club, now defunct. For a taste of what the place was like, check out this forum--but beware, it’s definitely NSFW.
Apart from whatever else might have been going on there, the fact that John was part-owner of a strip club should give anyone who considers placing an almost-10-year-old girl into his custody pause. I wonder what sort of lessons John is going to teach Sonya about how she should expect to be treated by boys as she gets older.
But there was way more than stripping going on at Lariat. It was in fact a front for a good deal of illegal activity. Like the fact that it employed underage girls, one of whom was later found murdered. It’s good to know that John felt so comfortable with management there, and that he exercised such good oversight over his investment.
And Lariat may have also been at least one of the conduits through which John’s drug trafficking ran. For not a month after John was arrested on his gun possession charge, the club’s general manager, Calburt Sheets, was arrested after a police raid uncovered seven pounds of marijuana, a gun and various distribution paraphernalia at the club. It was subsequently shut down. So much for John's investing acumen.
But these aren’t the only pieces that paint a broader picture of John’s involvement with drugs and guns. Stay tuned for that.