Former Oak Park Gay Nightclub Owner Charged With Arson, Insurance fraud

By Jon Graef in News on Nov 2, 2013 7:30PM

Image via ABC 7 screen grab.

Perhaps taking the classic directive of "let the motherfucker burn" a bit too literally, the former owner of suburban Oak Park's only gay nightclub was charged by local police with two counts of arson and one count insurance fraud for allegedly trying to burn down his own club, the Velvet Rope Ultra Lounge.

While former owner Frank Elliot was arrested Friday, according to the Chicago Tribune, Oak Park police said right off that they were investigating the fire as an act of arson. Oddly enough, it turns out their suspicions were correct.

Oak Park Police Chief Rick C. Tanksley told Oak Park Patch that the incident was a "troubling one" for the Oak Park community because of the "derogatory messages" Elliot said were written on the restaurant walls. The wall of the restaurant was removed as evidence.

Elliot was scheduled to appear in bond court Saturday. He faces almost thirty years in prison if convicted.