Federal indictments made public Thursday charge 11 people, including the owner of several downtown nightclubs, with crimes including cocaine distribution, money laundering, conspiracy and federal firearms violations. Ten are currently in federal custody.

Club owner Hussein “Mike” Yassine of Yassine Enterprises is charged with money laundering and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments.

Yassine Enterprises owns Roial, Hyde, Malaia, Treasure Island, Kiss n’ Fly, Pure, Spill and Fuel, all located downtown.

Government agencies including the FBI, DEA, DPS, APD and the state comptroller's office raided Yassine’s nine downtown venues Tuesday morning. Officials could be seen carrying away boxes and items, including liquor bottles.

Veteran restaurant bar owner Bob Woody has been in business downtown for 30 years. He said the allegations of cocaine dealing and money laundering on such grand scale is unheard in the downtown bar scene.

"I have not heard of anything on any scale like this in Austin, Texas ever before," he said.
According to federal indictments, at least $200,000 in drug trafficking was laundered through the downtown hot spots.

Claude Roberts says he worked as a Treasure Island door man. The allegations of organized crime don't surprise him.

"During my time there, they ran the company very mob-like and the most suspicious thing was that they paid you in cash,” he said.

One block down the street at the Dirty Dog Rock and Roll bar, owner Chris Weinheimer says he knows the owners, and is shocked to hear they are accused of such serious crimes.

"Met them before, great guys and I would never, ever imagine anything like this,” he said. “Sometimes you can pinpoint a person of how they are but no, they're just another normal bar owner down the street."

The federal and state officials suspect otherwise. For Bob Woody, he's concerned Sixth Street's reputation may take a temporary hit.

"I feel like it hurts our street, but it also makes it stronger because if this is a bad operator, now we're going to have that many more good ones, so to speak,” he said.

Woody estimates the nine bars involved employed 300 people, generating revenue of $1 million a month.

Next Tuesday morning, a federal judge will have a detention hearing for the 10 arrested.

Here’s a breakdown of the indictments:

• Hussein Ali Yassine, known as “Mike,” 40 – conspiracy to launder money and money laundering

• Alejandro Melendez , known as “Alex” or “Cueta,” 42 – Charged with distribution of cocaine

• Mohammed Ali Hassine, known as “Steve Austin” or “Hammudith,” 38 – conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and distribution of 500 grams or more of cocaine, transferring of a firearm to be used in a drug trafficking crime

• Amar Thabet Araf, 29 – conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and distribution of 500 grams or more of cocaine

• Sami Derder, 38 – conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and distribution of 500 grams or more of cocaine

• Edgar Orsini, 40 – conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and distribution of 500 grams or more of cocaine

• Karim Faiq, 29 –distribution of 500 grams or more of cocaine.

• Nizar “Nino” Hakiki, 32 – distribution of 500 grams or more of cocaine, transferring of a firearm to be used in a drug trafficking crime

• Marisse Marthe Ruales, known as “Madi,” 33 – conspiracy to launder money and money laundering

• Hadi Ali Yassine, 35 – conspiracy to launder money and money laundering

• An unidentified person has also been charged with conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and distribution of 500 grams or more of cocaine.