322: Mark Sewell – The Gold Club, Investigating America’s Most Notorious Strip Club

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In this episode, retired agent Mark Sewell reviews his investigation of mafia associate Steve Kaplan and his operation of The Gold Club, the infamous Atlanta strip club that hosted many of the most recognized professional athletes and celebrities in America.

The Gold Club was the largest single money maker for the Gambino Crime Family. Kaplan, mobster “Mikey Scars” DiLeonardo, and 13 others were charged with racketeering, money laundering and prostitution counts in an indictment that included criminal activity in Miami and New York. Mark is the author of Investigating America’s Most Notorious Strip Club: The FBI, The Gold Club, and the Mafia, his personal account of what it was like to investigate the case and be prominently featured in the 2001 trial, covered daily by media outlets. His true crime tale includes the twist that brought the four-month trial to a shocking conclusion.

Special Agent (Retired)

Mark Sewell

7/1997 – 12/2017

Mark Sewell served in the FBI for 20 years. He spent his career in the Atlanta Division, initially assigned to an organized crime squad for 10 years, before transferring to the Gainesville RA where he worked on the Safe Streets Task Force for another 10 years.

He was also a member of the SWAT team.

In 2013, in the wake of the tragic school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Connecticut, Mark became one of the FBI’s first certified Active Shooter Event (ASE) Instructors. For 5 years, he taught Police Response to an ASE in 10 different states and in the country of Africa.

Since his retirement, Mark’s been working as a contract intel instructor at the FBI Academy in Quantico, VA, and operating i-68.org, a consulting firm providing Active Shooter Event Consulting for churches and workplaces.

Mark Sewell was previously a guest of FBI Retired Case File Review Episode 220: Stolen Valor, Military Imposters.