Exclusive | LA strip club bosses at war in brutal power struggle, bombshell lawsuit reveals its straight out of a Euphoria plot
The owner of Los Angeles’s most infamous strip club is being sued over an alleged “fraudulent bait-and-switch” scheme he used to seize control of two rival clubs — which reads like an episode of HBO’s “Euphoria”.Craig Franze, the owner of The Body Shop in West Hollywood, then used the profits to fund a lavish lifestyle, with luxury cars, expensive jewelry and a $30,000-a-month rental property, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday.Franze’s former “best friend,” Bare Elegance strip club owner Mike Galam, and son Johnathan, filed the suit, which also levels accusations of sex trafficking, illegal alcohol and drug sales, and high-stakes underground poker games involving millions of dollars against the strip club owner and a man named Archie Donovan.For those not familiar with the latest season of Euphoria, one plot theme centers around a power struggle between a ruthless strip club owner, Alamo Brown, played by Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, and a violent gang of drug dealers, ran by Laurie, who is played by Martha Kelly.California's top news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day.
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Never miss a story The alleged “bait-and-switch” scheme centers around a $2.9 million payment from the Galams to Franze to take control of two gentlemen’s clubs — 4 Play and Plan B.They allege Franze then signed the ownership of the clubs over to his own companies — locking the father and son out and keeping the cash.
The lawsuit further alleges Franze and Donovan then drained the two clubs of profits and corporate assets.Franz told The Post the allegations contained in Galam’s complaint were not only false, but an extortion attempt.“Importantly, the complaint is unsupported by evidence and is unverified.
Galam owes my partner and I millions of dollars and has a long trail of many more millions...