Arizona strip clubs hit with suit after patrons claim they were drugged and scammed out of $1 million in VIP rooms
About two dozen people have filed a lawsuit against a chain of Arizona strip clubs, alleging they were drugged and defrauded of an eye-watering combined $1.1 million in VIP rooms.
Three clubs located on the same two-mile road — Bones Cabaret, Skin Cabaret and Dream Palace — were named in the latest lawsuit filed in January, according to documents recovered by Fox 10 Phoenix.
Some claimants claimed they were drugged and then defrauded out of six-figure sums at these establishments.
The alleged victims describe the incidents as ‘life and career changing’ and ‘quite emotionally difficult to bear’.
Todd Borowsky – the owner of the bars between Scottsdale and Tempe has several accusations leveled against him, including racketeering and conspiracy.
Borowsky, who runs his business as Wisnowski Inc., called the allegations “unfounded” in a statement through his attorney.
Nearly two dozen alleged victims have filed a lawsuit against an Arizona strip club chain, claiming they were drugged and scammed out of an eye-watering total of $1.1 million in VIP rooms (Photo: Bones Cabaret)
Dennis Wilenchick – a lawyer representing the club owner – likened the claims to going to a casino and “asking for your money back.”
He also strongly denied allegations that the plaintiffs were drugged and also stated that the dancers were “independent contractors.”
“Third, these guys received services that they expressly contracted for and received, and documentation and photographs were taken, and fourth, their credit card companies also investigated and approved the transactions,” he told Fox 10.
However, the lawyer representing the plaintiffs, Rod Galarza, said all the alleged victims tell “the same story” after visiting one of the three clubs – despite never having met each other.
Galarza echoed their version of events, saying some remember a person yelling at them to “stop messing around” and sign a piece of paper, while others remember being yelled at by a hostess or a bouncer to smile and straighten up to sit for photos.
An Air Force member who goes by the alias Joe had his credit card charged as much as $72,000 after visiting one of the clubs.
Joe described the incident as ‘life and career changing’ and said his evening took a turn after he lost his friends while going to the toilet.
Alleged victims, who say they were scammed out of huge amounts of money, have described the incidents as ‘life and career changing’ and ‘quite difficult to bear emotionally’ (Picture: Dream Palace)
Likening the alleged ordeal to “watching a movie through (his) own eyes,” the Air Force member was greeted by clouds of dusty perfume or makeup before arriving at a VIP room, according to his version of events.
“I started having these symptoms that were not related to alcohol, something else that made me resign and go along with what they seemed to be pushing,” he wrote in the publication.
Although Joe had never taken a drug test, he said, “(I) felt like I had no control over the situation and that was actually the first thing I knew.”
Financial crimes detectives with the Scottsdale Police Department said Joe’s testimony matched that of several other clubgoers.
Those who said they suffered from memory loss also signed the paperwork and left the clubs with huge credit card charges, according to court documents seen by Fox.
Like Joe, another accuser who goes by the alias Bobby claimed he “was gone” and had “no idea” where he was after arriving in the VIP area.
Bobby labeled the alleged ordeal as ’emotionally difficult to bear’ and discovered he had spent a whopping $181,000 at the nightclub.
The father said he remembered paying for some drinks and a private dance, but did not remember authorizing any other transactions.
Not believing the massive transactions were legitimate, Bobby said it “seemed unreasonable” that huge amounts of individual transactions could be processed.
After the incident, the man, who has young children, said he was unable to eat for several days.
Bobby said it not only affected him, but it also put a strain on his family as a whole as he had to inform his parents and wife about what had allegedly happened.
Todd Borowsky, owner of the three clubs on the same two-mile road – Bones Cabaret, Skin Cabaret, Dream Palace – denies the allegations made against him in the lawsuit (photo: Skin Cabaret)
According to the publication, police reports in the lawsuit state that clubgoers who wanted to attend a VIP area were required to provide a credit card, ID, fingerprint and take a photo after negotiating the price.
The alleged victims, who filed the lawsuit, said they did not remember or had only vague recollection of signing contracts with the three clubs, according to court documents.
The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office and Scottsdale Police confirmed they are aware of the allegations made against the club chain.
According to Fox 10, they are also working with the Arizona Attorney General’s office on cases against the strip clubs.
MailOnline has contacted the Arizona Attorney General’s office for comment.