Strip Club Owner, Target of Federal Prostitution Investigation, Dies From Gunshot Wounds

Tommy's Too owner Craig Desmarais was named as part of a crime ring involving several local bars

A man who was a target of a federal prostitution and money laundering investigation has died after being shot at his Portland strip club.

Craig Matthew Desmarias, who ran Tommy's Too on Southeast Foster Road, died after being shot at the club Dec. 22 in what police say was a robbery attempt.

As WW previously reported, Desmarais was named in federal court documents after the agents raided several area strip clubs as part of an Internal Revenue Service investigation. Court records say Desmarais was part of a conspiracy to run prostitutes and launder money. The June 2010 raid confiscated more than $800,000 in cash, but the documents say the ring (run in part by Desmarais' mother) churned through millions.

Agents didn't seize any of the clubs, and the feds have not yet indicted any suspects in the case.

Now, a group of Cully neighborhood nonprofits are trying to purchase one of the most prominent of the strip clubs named as part of the illegal operation: the Sugar Shack, located at the intersection of Northeast Killingsworth Street, Cully Boulevard and Highway 30.

Here's the press release the Portland Police Bureau sent out this morning:

WWeek 2015

Willamette Week’s reporting has concrete impacts that change laws, force action from civic leaders, and drive compromised politicians from public office. Support WW's journalism today.