NYPD Targeted Shuttered BK Club Based On Race, Lawsuit Claims

SUNSET PARK, BROOKLYN — A federal civil-rights lawsuit claims that the now-shuttered Club Love and Lust was targeted by police based on the race of its owners and customers. The popular club — where rapper Cardi B reportedly once worked — had its liquor license taken away by the city earlier this year.

The lawsuit, filed with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York this month, names 18 different New York City police officers in Sunset Park's 72 precinct and the state Liquor Authority.

It claims that the officers harassed the club by "issuing ‘false’ violations, ‘false’ summonses, legally baseless stop and frisks, ‘unlawful’ business inspections and other unlawful selective enforcement activities" based on the race or national origin of its business owners, patrons or stakeholders. This "selective enforcement" didn't occur when the 47th Street spot was run by white owners as the Red Leopard Lounge, the lawsuit claims.

Club Love and Lust was opened in 2014 by Imran Jairam, who in the lawsuit said he aimed to attract the "underserved target market" of people of color in the area.

The business owners complained to the city several times about the alleged targeting of their business, the lawsuit said, but charges against the club were ultimately upheld by a judge.

The liquor authority took the judge's recommendation and canceled the club's liquor license in April.

Business owners even claim that one of the commanding officers, Emmanuel Gonzalez, requested bribes from Jairam, including round-trip tickets to Puerto Rico totaling $80,000. Gonzalez also asked after a fundraiser for Puerto Rico was held at the club that the money be used to buy a generator for his family member or friend. Jairam denied the demands, the lawsuit said.

The community board that oversees the club did not share the police's concerns about the business, the lawsuit claims. The board sent a letter shortly after the liquor license was canceled claiming that it has had no complaints about the business since it opened in 2014. There were complaints when the club was previously run as the Red Leopard Lounge, though, the board said.

Club Love Lust's claims are similar to another lawsuit filed in September by Sin City, another minority-run club shuttered by the city, the New York Law Journal reported. Both clubs are represented by the same lawyer.

A Law Department spokesperson told the Journal that his department and NYPD "have yet to see any of these claims substantiated.”

He added, “These are locations where the NYPD and other agencies take a variety of legitimate law enforcement action to address illegal activities and community concerns. We will defend against these claims accordingly.”

Photo provided by GoogleMaps.