Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco Cracks Down on LaRoyale
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Posted: 9:58 AM May 5, 2008
Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco Cracks Down on LaRoyale
The Department of Business and Professional Regulation’s Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco (ABT) obtained warrants for nine defendants involving 12 different charges.
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The Department of Business and Professional Regulation’s Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco (ABT) obtained warrants for nine defendants involving 12 different charges.

The charges include sale of a controlled substance, unnatural and lascivious acts, exposure of sexual organs, sale of alcoholic beverages to persons under 21, and possession of alcoholic beverages by persons under 21.

ABT agents had LaRoyale, located on Harrison Avenue, Panama City Beach, under surveillance for months.

ABT received an anonymous tip that lewd and lascivious behavior, narcotic activity and underage possession of alcohol were taking place at LaRoyale. ABT agents, along with investigators from the State Attorney’s Office, began an undercover investigation into the establishment.

Agents were able to purchase different types of illegal drugs, observe the use of illegal drugs, and observe several accounts of lewd and lascivious behavior as well as alcoholic beverages being served to underage persons.

The Division intends to file administrative charges against the alcoholic beverage licensee. The individuals arrested in conjunction with the investigation are listed below. Two defendants have not been located.

Michael Griffin (Patron)
Unnatural and lascivious acts

Walter Whatley (Employee karaoke)
Sale and Delivery of a controlled substance (cocaine)

Travis Mosley (Patron)
Possession of alcoholic beverages by a person under 21 years of age

Jason Arthur Driver (Employee dancer)
Sale and Delivery of a controlled substance (cocaine)

Jon Michael Schaefer (patron)
Sale and Delivery of a controlled substance (cocaine)

Dennis Yefko (patron)
Sale and Delivery of a controlled substance (cocaine)

James J Imbierowicz (employee bartender)
Sale and Delivery of a controlled substance (Lortab)

Sale and Delivery of a controlled substance (Xannex)

Sale and Delivery of a controlled substance (Lortab)

Sale of alcoholic beverages to a person under 21 years of age

The mission of ABT is to keep alcohol and tobacco out of the hands of underage persons, to ensure that licensed establishments are in compliance with the laws and rules regulating the industry in Florida, and to collect taxes and fees related to these industries.


Latest Comments

Posted by: jerry Location: united kingdom on Feb 23, 2009 at 10:37 PM

Alcoholism is a chronic disease in the world. Now days, alcoholism become a serious problem to our social life.Particularly, heavy drinking can increase the risk of certain cancers. And also, it can cause damage to the liver, brain and other organs. __________________________________________
Posted by: T. St.James Location: Alabama on May 6, 2008 at 02:03 PM

As a patron of more then 18 years. I can say that the owner has a strict no drug policy! It is posted everywhere and he has banned list a mile long for those who he even supects of this activity.
Posted by: Tom on May 5, 2008 at 10:56 PM

It has been my observation as a patron that the owners of the LaRoyale/Fiesta have gone to great lengths to curtail all drug activity and alcohol consumption by minors. There are signs all over the place prohibiting drugs and persons caught in such activity are banned from the club. Minors entering the bar are routinely checked for ID and do not receive the customary stamp but rather a bracelet to help identify minors. From what I have also seen, male dancers do not do anything more than what is seen in straight clubs, and if they do they are not allowed to dance again. The level of such anti drug/ minor activity in the bar has certainly caused a drop in attendence there but as an older , non drug using patron I have found it to be a much more wholesome environment than I have seen in previouse years there or in other clubs.