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KEVIN GRAHAMLocal and federal undercover agents say it was easy to buy drugs at AV-02 at 1202 N Franklin St. in Tampa. They spent a year building their case.
TAMPA - Federal and local agents arrived in a limousine to raid a downtown Tampa after-hours club early Sunday morning, arresting the same owner police have put out of business twice before.
Elias Edward "Lou" Abusaid, 41, of 11212 Elmfield Drive, Tampa, remained in jail without bail Sunday evening, charged with a federal statute for maintaining a drug-involved premises. He will go before a federal judge this morning.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and Tampa police said they arrested about 24 people for possession and sale of MDMA, commonly known as Ecstasy, inside Abusaid's club, AV-02 at 1202 N Franklin St. Agents wouldn't give any names Sunday, saying they plan to release more information today once those arrested have gone before federal and state judges.
"(Abusaid) operated knowing the sale of drugs was a continuing and constant thing," DEA Special Agent Joe Kilmer said during an 8 a.m. news conference Sunday outside Tampa police headquarters.
Kilmer said federal and local undercover agents spent a year investigating AV-02. Officers would go into the club and buy Ecstasy pills from patrons and employees, he said. About 50 patrons were in the club Sunday during the 4 a.m. raid.
"After just a few minutes, (undercover agents) would walk out on dozens of occasions" without having any problems buying drugs, said Kilmer.
Tampa police spokeswoman Laura McElroy said Abusaid managed to avoid city ordinances against rave clubs by not charging a cover fee. Abusaid didn't sell food or alcohol, Kilmer said, but he made money by selling bottled water inside the club and charging $15 to enter the VIP room, where agents said most of the drug dealing occurred. The club opens its doors at 2 a.m. Anyone 18 and older is admitted.
Hillsborough property records show that Joe Redner owns the property where Abusaid operates his club. Redner owns a string of strip clubs throughout Tampa and is campaigning to become a Hillsborough County commissioner.
While the bulk of the charges deal with Ecstasy, Kilmer said agents have found cocaine and LSD at AV-02. He wouldn't go into details about Abusaid's charges or his past run-ins with the law.
"I think if you'll attend the court hearing tomorrow, you'll learn a few things," he said Sunday.
In August 2000, police raided another club that Abusaid operated on Franklin Street called the Franklin Stock Exchange. Police charged him with operating a dance hall without a permit.
In June 2000, Abusaid was evicted from his AV-02 when he operated the club on Gunn Highway in Carrollwood. Sheriff's deputies said he was running an illegal rave and deputies raided the club, making dozens of arrests.
In the past, Abusaid has maintained that he never needed a dance hall permit and denied operating rave clubs. He called them licensed private parties for his business associates.
Jail records show that Abusaid has been arrested at least seven times in Hillsborough since 2000. His other charges include maintaining a place where alcohol is sold illegally and operating a bottle club without a license.
McElroy said she anticipates Abusaid might be out of jail soon on bail, and his club might be opened again Saturday.
"We're just hoping that no one's in the mood to go dancing there after our raid this weekend," McElroy said.
If convicted on charges from Sunday's raid, Abusaid could face up to 20 years in prison.
-- Information from Times archives contributed to this story. Kevin Graham can be reached at kgraham@sptimes.com or 813 226-3433.