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BATON ROUGE -- The bar owner of an establishment on Elysian Fields, Sports Vue Lounge, saw his license to sell alcohol suspended after the owner was convicted on several felony charges, including money laundering, racketeering and drug-related charges, according to a statement from Troy Hebert, commissioner of Alcohol and Tobacco Control.
Hebert issued an emergency suspension order for Calton Charles' bar in the 1700 block of Elysian Fields Thursday following Charles' felony conviction.
According to Herbert, Charles pleaded guilty to money laundering, racketeering and attempt and conspiracy with intent to distribute Schedule I,II and IV narcotics. And with the guilty plea, Charles "is no longer qualified to hold an alcoholic beverage permit in the State of Louisiana," said Hebert.
Charles' bar was the site of a high-profile raid on June 9.
"Sports Vue Bar was raided by local, state, and federal officials due to a large number of complaints on the bar from citizens in the area. Since this raid, ATC agents have issued several administrative violations to the bar and have obtained evidence needed to support a finding that the bar’s owners utilize their alcoholic beverage permit to further illegal operations which pose a grave threat to the public health and welfare," said Hebert.
An administrative hearing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on August 6, 2012 at ATC headquarters in Baton Rouge. The Sports Vue Bar faces penalties up to revocation of its alcoholic beverage permit.
