8 clubs in drug raid will lose licenses

AUSTIN (KXAN) - The detention hearing for 10 people arrested following an FBI raid of downtown nightclubs last week began Tuesday morning with the suspects' entrance in green jumpsuits.

The FBI raid of four downtown nightclubs left 10 people arrested and charged with federal crimes -- including firearms, money laundering and drug trafficking that allegedly dates back to December 2007.

Hussein Ali Yassine, his two brothers and their executive assistant were in the group arrested in connection to the raid on several Sixth Streets bars between Neches and Trinity streets.

At the same time, the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission has said it will hold a hearing in the near future and plans to cancel eight of the liquor permits Yassine Enterprises holds for its clubs in Downtown Austin.

Based on the initials on jail suits -- some of them with green-and-white-stripes -- the suspects are being housed in different county jails throughout the area in accordance with federal contracts with local jails meant to ease overcrowding.

Each suspect walked bound by shackles and handcuffs before taking a seat inside the small, crowded courtroom, which was standing-room only. Some 60 friends and family members packed into the courtroom and stood in aisles, many of them emotional, crying into tissues.

Most of the 10 suspects have separate attorneys, though some are being represented jointly.

Represented by defense attorney Joe Turner, Roial general manager Sami Derder, 38, and Amar Thabet Araf, 29, left the courtroom after each posted $25,000 bond. Both are charged with conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and distribution of cocaine.

Friends and family of those suspects hugged each other in relief at their release.

Another suspect was able to walk out of the courtroom after posting bond, though his name is not yet clear. All suspects who posted bond will have to go back to the county jail where they are being held to change clothes and fill out paperwork.

The judge denied bond to two of the Yassine brothers, Steve and Mike -- meaning they'll stay in jail even though friends and family were present and ready to put up a good sum of money to get them out.

There is fear he is a flight risk, and before making his decision, the judge pointed out that Steve drives a Maserati but hasn't paid taxes in four years.

Still, Steve Yassine's defense attorney argued that drug agents should have taken him off the streets back in 2008 if they thought he was such a danger to society.

A Drug Enforcement Administration agent took the stand and testified that they have recorded conversations -- both audiotapes and videotapes -- of drug sales and illegal gun sales from 3 1/2 years ago. The agent said videos show bags of money being carried into a club for a drug transaction.

The agent also said the only female suspect in this case is Mike Yassine's executive assistant and sister, Marisse Marthe Ruales, also known as "Madi." He said Ruales wrote checks throughout a two-year time period to complete money laundering and drug transactions, with the proceeds going into an account for Yassine Enterprises.

According to financial documents, her mortgage and car payments were coming out of that account, and the agent said she has not been reporting income on her tax returns.

Ruales shook her head throughout the testimony and appeared to be implying that those things were not true.

DEA officials said she lied to investigators about her role in all of this after she was arrested.

Meanwhile, the father of the three Yassine siblings, Ali Yassine, has said his "sons are clean" and that he was told no drugs were found during the raids. 

Hussein is also known as Mike Yassine, who owns multiple bars in the Sixth Street District and other areas of Downtown Austin.

People arrested in FBI raid and list of charges

Hussein Ali Yassine, also known as "Mike," 40

• conspiracy to launder monetary instruments
• three counts of money laundering

Mohammed Ali Yassine, also known as "Steve," "Steve Austin" and "Hammudih," 38

• money laundering
• two counts of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine
• two counts of distribution of 500 grams or more of cocaine
• transferring a firearm knowing it is to be used in a drug trafficking crime

Hadi Ali Yassine, 35

• conspiracy to launder monetary instruments
• two counts of money laundering

Marisse Marthe Ruales, also known as " Madi," executive assistant to Yassine brothers, 33

• conspiracy to launder monetary instruments
• four counts of money laundering

Alejandro Melendrez, also known as "Alex" and "Cueta," 42

• two counts of distribution of cocaine

Amar Thabet Araf, 29

• conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine
• distribution of 500 grams or more of cocaine

Sami Derder, general manager of Roial, 38 

• conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine  
• distribution of cocaine

Edgar Orsini, 40

• conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine