Workers At LI Gentleman's Club Didn't Wear Masks, Violated Orders

DEER PARK, NY — A Deer Park gentleman's club was among the 37 businesses in New York State to receive citations after they were found to be violating coronavirus guidelines last week. On July 17, investigators with the State Liquor Authorities and Suffolk County Police Department conducted an undercover inspection of Secrets Gentleman's Club on Saxwood Street.

During the inspection, officials found that employees and patrons inside the club were not wearing facial coverings, including dancers performing while sharing the same stage pole and giving lap dances.

When the owner was confronted by an investigator, he allegedly claimed it "must have started without his knowledge after he had left" and that he was "unaware that he had already been caught on videotape buying drinks for the undercover agents and bragging about getting away with violating the Executive Orders," according to state officials.

Last week, Governor Andrew Cuomo said that the state Liquor Authority and a New York State Police task force cited dozens of establishments and suspended several liquor licenses. While state police and the SLA are doing their jobs "aggressively," Cuomo said the local police and governments need to "step up and do your job." To Nassau and Suffolk police, he said: "Do your jobs."

Businesses found in violation of COVID-19 regulations face fines up to $10,000 per violation, while egregious violations can result in the immediate suspension of a bar or restaurant's liquor license, Cuomo said. Since the start of the pandemic, the SLA has brought 443 charges against licensees statewide and imposed 33 emergency orders of suspension, immediately closing establishments in order to protect public health and safety, Cuomo said.

Cuomo said that the Deer Park club will have its license suspended along with two other New York businesses.