THE MIKE McDONALD CONNECTION

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May 24, 2006
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal
JOHN L. SMITH: On Frank Cremen entering the DA's race: Better late than never
Cremen used McDonald's case as an example of a councilman who was found to be receiving $5,000 a month from topless bar owner Rick Rizzolo   and appeared to be running interference for his friend. Cremen said he believes the district attorney should take a more pro-active approach in such cases and issue subpoenas. "If the police department knows you have a DA who will work with them, stand up and draw a line and try to protect the line and not just be pushed over, I think you'll have more law enforcement action," he said.

KLAS-TV News
Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press
Vegas Councilman Caught Up In FBI Probe Loses Re-Election
(June 3, 2003) -- McDonald, who has been caught up in a federal probe involving possible corruption, is congratulating Moncrief for a hard-fought victory. But his campaign manager says the timing of the FBI investigation was horrible and it hurt their efforts. McDonald is one of four current or former public officials named in a search warrant served at a local strip club last month. The warrant says authorities were looking for records about "payments or gifts" to the officials by the club's owners. McDonald has denied any wrongdoing and says he is NOT a target of the investigation.

Mob Connections May End Vegas Councilman's Career 
AmericanMafia.com 
April 14, 2003 
Then something amazing happened. The straight shooter cop started wearing a $20,000 Rolex President watch, Italian silk suits, and driving several expensive new SUV's while his absences at the police station caught his superior's attention. But that was not the end of the transformation. McDonald joined an expensive social club, and moved into a half million dollar golf course villa owned by Bobbette Tegano, the mother in law of Joey Cusumano, a member of Nevada's Black Book of persons banned from entering casinos. He also proudly accepted the nickname "Flash," after it was coined by one of his new friends. 

Mike's Rolex Ticks Off His Final Minutes In Government 
INSIDE VEGAS by Steve Miller 
American Mafia.com 
May 19, 2003 

 Mike's Rolex President, value used: $25,000 
Only in Vegas could a humble 33 year old police officer who had the good fortune to be elected to the City Council get away with flashing an expensive watch and not have to explain the circumstances behind its acquisition. 
          McDonald calls hoodlum a "Pillar of the community."


Sunday, May 16, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal
Former councilman buys his first home
By BRIAN HAYNES
REVIEW-JOURNAL

Former City Councilman Michael McDonald bought his first home Friday, a day before it was scheduled for auction. McDonald said he paid between $500,000 and $700,000 for the home at 2520 Pinto Lane, near Rancho and Alta drives. He declined to be more specific... Before the election, McDonald acknowledged he was a paid consultant to strip club owner Michael Galardi, who would later plead guilty to federal corruption charges. McDonald has not been charged with any crimes in the investigation, which ensnared several other local officials, including former County Commissioner Erin Kenny, who recently bought a $869,000 house in Summerlin.

The house that Mikey built
Another Vegas politico bites the dust,
but this time it may not be gold dust.
INSIDE VEGAS by Steve Miller
AmericanMafia.com
January 31, 2005
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          Mayor Oscar Goodman consoles               Councilwoman-elect Lois Tarkanian consoles
     Mike McDonald on election loss, 2003           Janet Moncrief after being recalled on 1/25/05
                                                                                    (Click on LV Review-Journal photo by K.M. Cannon)

LAS VEGAS - In Sin City politics, no bad deed ever went un-rewarded -- until now.

Steve Miller writes nationally syndicated columns on organized crime and political corruption for
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