Overview

The Gold Club is the first book from a law enforcement official that details the facts about the FBI’s famous investigation. Retired FBI Agent Mark Sewell was a rookie agent in 1997 when he was assigned to investigate mafia associate Steve Kaplan and his enormously successful Atlanta strip club; the largest single money maker for the Gambino Crime Family. Accompanied by a small team of investigators, the hand-picked unit followed the money trail, no matter where it led. A highly publicized 4 A.M. search warrant of the famous club started a snowball effect that would implicate a Gambino Captain, police officers, strippers, and many of the most recognized professional athletes in America. The subsequent 2001 trial was covered nationally by the leading media outlets, from television newscasts to late night talk shows to nationally published magazines. A jury soon heard evidence of shockingly bold crimes, to include extortion, credit card fraud, tax evasion, money laundering and prostitution. Then, in the fourth month of the trial, more than a dozen defendants surprisingly admitted their guilt, in a secretly negotiated plea deal. Steve Kaplan’s subsequent forfeiture would amount to millions of dollars, making the Gold Club investigation the FBI’s most successful financial win against an Organized Crime Family in the agency’s history. But the FBI’s case against Steve Kaplan was far from ‘normal’. As eighteen defense attorneys took aim at the author, allegations were broadcast, and tempers flared publicly. From witness tampering to allegations of FBI Agent misconduct, the Gold Club investigation produced new, sensational headlines daily. Retired FBI Agent Mark Sewell was at the center of the storm that dominated media headlines in the summer of 2001 and provides a never-before seen inside view of the FBI’s famous mafia prosecution.

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9781538190975

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Reviews

"Who says prostitution is a victimless crime? In this outstanding book retired FBI Special Agent Mark Sewell pulls back the cover on this myth to reveal the real power players and money makers, the notorious Gambino Mafia family. --David Nadolski, author of The Con and the FBI Agent: An Unlikely Alliance A vivid account of the FBI's crusade to rid the criminal underground of its ground zero in Atlanta known as ""The Gold Club,"" as well as take down senior members of the Mob in NY and Miami. True crime at its finest! --Michael Santini, author of Operation Devil Horns: The Takedown of MS-13 in San Francisco Mark Sewell's first-hand meticulous account of his investigation into this major organized crime operation is a true crime lover's dream. --Anthony Amore, best-selling author of Stealing Rembrandts and The Woman Who Stole Vermeer Retired FBI agent Mark Sewell's true crime memoir, Investigating America's Most Notorious Strip Club, chronicles a complex investigation in a way easily understood. Mark describes the case in great detail, the investigative logic and techniques, as well as the rules and procedures governing the ensuing federal trial. A must-read for the connoisseur of true crime. --R. Scott Decker, author of Recounting the Anthrax Attacks: Terror, the Amerithrax Task Force, and the Evolution of Forensics in the FBI This book has it all: Wiseguys, celebrities, professional athletes, strippers, sex, drugs, and the FBI. You won't be able to put it down. Outstanding work, Special Agent Mark Sewell! --Joaquin ""Jack"" Garcia, retired FBI and author of Making Jack Falcone"

"A vivid account of the FBI's crusade to rid the criminal underground of its ground zero in Atlanta known as ""The Gold Club,"" as well as take down senior members of the Mob in NY and Miami. True crime at its finest! --Michael Santini, author of Operation Devil Horns: The Takedown of MS-13 in San Francisco Mark Sewell's first-hand meticulous account of his investigation into this major organized crime operation is a true crime lover's dream. --Anthony Amore, best-selling author of Stealing Rembrandts and The Woman Who Stole Vermeer Retired FBI agent Mark Sewell's true crime memoir, Investigating America's Most Notorious Strip Club, chronicles a complex investigation in a way easily understood. Mark describes the case in great detail, the investigative logic and techniques, as well as the rules and procedures governing the ensuing federal trial. A must-read for the connoisseur of true crime. --R. Scott Decker, author of Recounting the Anthrax Attacks: Terror, the Amerithrax Task Force, and the Evolution of Forensics in the FBI This book has it all: Wiseguys, celebrities, professional athletes, strippers, sex, drugs, and the FBI. You won't be able to put it down. Outstanding work, Special Agent Mark Sewell! --Joaquin ""Jack"" Garcia, retired FBI and author of Making Jack Falcone Who says prostitution is a victimless crime? In this outstanding book retired FBI Special Agent Mark Sewell pulls back the cover on this myth to reveal the real power players and money makers, the notorious Gambino Mafia family. --David Nadolski"

"A vivid account of the FBI's crusade to rid the criminal underground of its ground zero in Atlanta known as ""The Gold Club,"" as well as take down senior members of the Mob in NY and Miami. True crime at its finest! Mark Sewell's first-hand meticulous account of his investigation into this major organized crime operation is a true crime lover's dream. Retired FBI agent Mark Sewell's true crime memoir, Investigating America's Most Notorious Strip Club, chronicles a complex investigation in a way easily understood. Mark describes the case in great detail, the investigative logic and techniques, as well as the rules and procedures governing the ensuing federal trial. A must-read for the connoisseur of true crime. Sewell puts the reader in a ring-side seat at the biggest federal criminal trial in Atlanta's history. His thorough chronicle of the FBI's takedown of the Gold Club empire brings you face-to-face with mobsters, famous athletes, exotic dancers, and dozens of other colorful characters. This book has it all: Wiseguys, celebrities, professional athletes, strippers, sex, drugs, and the FBI. You won't be able to put it down. Outstanding work, Special Agent Mark Sewell! When Sewell joined the FBI in 1997, he didn't know that his assignment to the Atlanta field office would be a baptism by fire. He was partnered with a senior agent on his first job, which involved an infamous gentleman's club called the Gold Club.... Sewell sheds new light on a high-profile case in this exciting and superbly told history. His insider status puts readers right there, alongside agents working to topple an organized crime fiefdom through enigmatic paper trails, shady informants, and covert surveillance without tipping their hands to their targets. , Who says prostitution is a victimless crime? In this outstanding book retired FBI Special Agent Mark Sewell pulls back the cover on this myth to reveal the real power players and money makers, the notorious Gambino Mafia family."

Who says prostitution is a victimless crime? In this outstanding book retired FBI Special Agent Mark Sewell pulls back the cover on this myth to reveal the real power players and money makers, the notorious Gambino Mafia family. --David Nadolski

"This book has it all: Wiseguys, celebrities, professional athletes, strippers, sex, drugs, and the FBI. You won't be able to put it down. Outstanding work, Special Agent Mark Sewell! --Joaquin ""Jack"" Garcia, retired FBI and author of Making Jack Falcone Who says prostitution is a victimless crime? In this outstanding book retired FBI Special Agent Mark Sewell pulls back the cover on this myth to reveal the real power players and money makers, the notorious Gambino Mafia family. --David Nadolski"

"A vivid account of the FBI's crusade to rid the criminal underground of its ground zero in Atlanta known as ""The Gold Club,"" as well as take down senior members of the Mob in NY and Miami. True crime at its finest! --Michael Santini, author of Operation Devil Horns: The Takedown of MS-13 in San Francisco Mark Sewell's first-hand meticulous account of his investigation into this major organized crime operation is a true crime lover's dream. --Anthony Amore, best-selling author of Stealing Rembrandts and The Woman Who Stole Vermeer Retired FBI agent Mark Sewell's true crime memoir, Investigating America's Most Notorious Strip Club, chronicles a complex investigation in a way easily understood. Mark describes the case in great detail, the investigative logic and techniques, as well as the rules and procedures governing the ensuing federal trial. A must-read for the connoisseur of true crime. --R. Scott Decker, author of Recounting the Anthrax Attacks: Terror, the Amerithrax Task Force, and the Evolution of Forensics in the FBI Sewell puts the reader in a ring-side seat at the biggest federal criminal trial in Atlanta's history. His thorough chronicle of the FBI's takedown of the Gold Club empire brings you face-to-face with mobsters, famous athletes, exotic dancers, and dozens of other colorful characters. --Robert McBurney, former federal prosecutor This book has it all: Wiseguys, celebrities, professional athletes, strippers, sex, drugs, and the FBI. You won't be able to put it down. Outstanding work, Special Agent Mark Sewell! --Joaquin ""Jack"" Garcia, retired FBI and author of Making Jack Falcone When Sewell joined the FBI in 1997, he didn't know that his assignment to the Atlanta field office would be a baptism by fire. He was partnered with a senior agent on his first job, which involved an infamous gentleman's club called the Gold Club.... Sewell sheds new light on a high-profile case in this exciting and superbly told history. His insider status puts readers right there, alongside agents working to topple an organized crime fiefdom through enigmatic paper trails, shady informants, and covert surveillance without tipping their hands to their targets. , -- ""Booklist"" Who says prostitution is a victimless crime? In this outstanding book retired FBI Special Agent Mark Sewell pulls back the cover on this myth to reveal the real power players and money makers, the notorious Gambino Mafia family. --David Nadolski, author of The Con and the FBI Agent: An Unlikely Alliance"

Author Information

Mark Sewell is a Marine veteran and a retired FBI agent, having worked violent crime investigations his entire 20-year career. From arresting outlaw bikers in North Georgia to helping capture radical terrorists in the mountains of Afghanistan, Mark began his career in 1997 by successfully investigating and prosecuting organized crime members. Today, he continues to provide law enforcement instruction and share his experience with agencies around the world.

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