Albany, NY – The New York State Liquor Authority (SLA) summarily suspended the license of M3 Karaoke Bar Inc., doing business as “M3” at 313 39th Street in Brooklyn today. The suspension was ordered by Chairman Vincent Bradley and Commissioner Greeley Ford at a special meeting of the Full Board on Wednesday, March 7th . Effective immediately, no alcohol may be sold or consumed on the premises.
On March 2, 2018, a joint inspection by the SLA, the New York City Police Department’s (NYPD) VICE Unit and officers from the 72nd Precinct found the bar’s roll down gate to the premises locked with patrons still inside the bar. The licensees’ employees were uncooperative with the inspection team, and initially refused to allow inspection of the premises’ basement. After gaining entry, the inspection team found six patrons using ketamine in plain view at the bar; all six were arrested for possession of a controlled substance. Most disturbingly, the enforcement team discovered fifteen meagerly dressed women hiding from the inspection team in the basement boiler room directly under the bar. Investigators also documented numerous fire hazards in addition to alcohol at the premises that was purchased from an unauthorized source.
The NYPD additionally reports arrests for the possession of ketamine on January 1st, 2nd 19th and December 24, 2017, in addition to an assault on December 19, 2017. On March 6, 2018 the SLA charged M3 with nineteen violations, including operating a disorderly premises for suffering and permitting illicit drug activity and assaults, failing to permit an inspection, becoming a focal point for police attention, purchasing alcohol from an unauthorized source, and numerous fire and code violations.
“The alarming history of locking their patrons inside the establishment, concealing persons in a basement boiler room during inspection, and allowing controlled substances to be used inside this establishment is nothing short of startling, as is their utter lack of cooperation with authorities,” said Counsel to the Authority Christopher R. Riano. “I commend the Authority and the NYPD for their efforts in closing this premise, which will help alleviate the burden they have placed on both the police and their community.”
The State Administrative Procedure Act authorizes a State agency to summarily suspend a license when the agency finds that public health, safety, or welfare requires emergency action. When the SLA summarily suspends a license, it also serves a Notice of Pleading alleging one or more disciplinary violations. In invoking a summary suspension, the SLA has deemed the violation to be sufficiently serious upon initial review to warrant an immediate suspension. The SLA’s decision to summarily suspend a license is not a final determination on the merits of the case. The licensee is entitled to an expedited administrative law hearing before an Administrative Law Judge. An order of summary suspension remains in effect until such time as it is modified by the SLA or a reviewing Court.