ATLANTA -- Braves outfielder Andruw Jones testified Wednesday that he was a regular customer at the Gold Club and has been to the strip club at least 30 times.
Jones spent about 15 minutes on the witness stand at the federal court house as part of the prosecution's case against strip club owner Steve Kaplan, who along with six others is charged with prostitution, extortion, money laundering and credit-card fraud.
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Others could testify
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In addition to Andruw Jones, pro athletes Patrick Ewing, John Starks and Antonio Davis have commented during the Gold Club trial.
After his name came up in court, Davis filed a $50 million defamation lawsuit against Thomas Sicignano for saying Davis had sex with Gold Club dancers. Davis called the claims "malicious lies."
Also, an attorney for Starks told CNN in June that Starks, if called to testify, would confirm he had sex with Gold Club strippers "a long time ago" before he "re-dedicated his life to Christ."
-- ESPN.com news services
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Jones has not been accused of a crime and left the courthouse without commenting to media there.
Jones said he was invited to a private party by a Gold Club employee and escorted there by limousine on a night in late 1996 or early 1997.
He said he arrived at the hotel room to find two women "doing
lesbian action." Jones testified he had intercourse with the two
women, with Kaplan and several other men in the room watching.
Jones said he later recognized the two women in the Gold Club.
Prosecutors did not ask Jones if the women worked there as
strippers.
Testifying hours before the Braves were to play an afternoon
game against the Cincinnati Reds, Jones said he never paid for the
sex and did not know in advance that sex was part of the party.
"I just know it was a party, and there were girls there," he
said.
Prosecutors say Kaplan used the lure of sex to attract
professional athletes and celebrities while cheating customers to
funnel cash to New York's Gambino crime family. He and six others
are charged with obstruction, credit card fraud, loan sharking,
prostitution and other charges.
On Monday, the Orlando Magic center Patrick Ewing testified that he was
provided oral sex twice in a private room at the Gold Club while
Kaplan and a former manager watched.
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