APD connects Mike Yassine unsolved Austin murder (night club owner)--updated 3/29

[TexasTowelie]

Last edited Thu Mar 29, 2012, 04:38 AM - Edit history (1)

Federal investigators, along with Austin police, have connected Hussein Ali Yassine, who goes by "Mike," to an unsolved murder in Austin.

That cold case involves Paresh Patel. He's been missing since 2000. Patel was a successful club owner on 6th Street known for carrying large amounts of cash. KVUE spoke to his family at the time of his disappearance.

<<snip>>

Patel was last seen on September 25, 2000 at club Azucar, which was located at 400 Lavaca Street. At the time, Patel was a business partner in Yassine Enterprises and owned several local clubs: Azucar, Melagio, Metro, Chrome, Platinum X, and Treasure Island. The investigation revealed that Patel had a disagreement with business partners shortly before his disappearance.

<<snip>>

Burton believes the possibility of facing capital murder and execution could convince the Yassines to share intelligence with federal agents.

http://www.kvue.com/news/Yassine-connection-to-Austin-unsolved-murder--144722285.html

[font color=green]The plot thickens for the Yassine brothers. Alleged acts include tax evasion, money laundering, drug trafficking, weapons charges, possible ties to Hezbollah and now possible involvement in a murder. I believe that everyone deserves their fair day in court, but I am also grateful that bail was denied in this instance.

Prior discussion about Yassine Enterprises at http://www.democraticunderground.com/10781966.[/font]

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Update--3/29/2012

Article from Austin American-Statesman:

On the day he disappeared in September 2000, 36-year-old Paresh Patel was last seen visiting three downtown nightclubs he co-owned with Hussein "Mike" Yassine and his brother.

That evening, Patel's empty Lexus SUV was found with the keys in the ignition in a parking lot off Airport Boulevard. He has not been seen since.

<<snip>>

By 2000, Patel, a native of India and father of three, was a business partner in Yassine Enterprises and owned several local clubs: Azucar, Melagio, Metro, Chrome, Platinum X and Treasure Island, police officials said.

But the ownership of those clubs was disputed by some. Josh Cisneros, who co-owned the Metro with Patel, told the American-Statesman in September 2000 that the Yassines were not co-owners of the club.

http://www.statesman.com/news/local/indicted-downtown-club-owner-a-person-of-interest-2268473.html

[msongs]

1. in the old days gay bars were often run by organized crime, maybe its still the same today in

some places. the syndicate could run the bars, pay off the law, shake down bar patrons with something to hide, make a ton of money peddling booze, and gay men who were not welcome anywhere else had a sleazy place to go in desperation.

maybe in austin some of that still applies.

[Dragonbreathp9d]

2. Wow- just how far does this rabbit hole go?

I know TONS of people out of work because of these ass holes

[TexasTowelie]

3. I recall that you mentioned some hard fortune befalling you recently.

Were you employed with this group of people? It seems like a lot of people got hurt in this scandal.

[Dragonbreathp9d]

4. No, but lost my job 3 days(?) before this bust

So the job market was instantly over saturated