April 15, 1999

EMERGENCY LICENSE SUSPENSION FOR LA PACHANGA

Mount Vernon- The Liquor Control Board issued a 30 day emergency suspension to the La Pachanga, located at 2121 East College Way in Mount Vernon. The liquor license privileges of La Pachanga are suspended effective April 14, 1999 through May 14, 1999.

The emergency suspension comes after an ongoing investigation by various federal and state law officers. The investigation revealed that the licensee engaged in and knowingly permitted others to engage in criminal conduct on the licensed premises. The licensee is being federally charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and distribution of cocaine.

This licensee has a past violation for after hours' service on March 20, 1999. He also received warnings for allowing minors to frequent, allowing an intoxicated person to consume and allowing liquor to be removed from the establishment. The licensee was warned about suspected drug activity on the premises in September 1998. The liquor agent provided the licensee's manager with drug prevention materials and spoke at length to the licensee about how to prevent drug activity.

The Liquor Control Board is charging the licensee with a violation for allowing or engaging in criminal activity and is recommending a liquor license cancellation.

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For more information contact Gigi Zenk (360) 664-1774 or Tricia Currier at (360) 664-1784. For information regarding the federal charge, contact the DEA's resident agent in charge, Michael Flego, at (360) 332-8692 or page at (360) 354-6185.