Texas man arrested for attempting to pay to have two city officials killed, arrest affidavit states

(CBS/AP) ARLINGTON, Texas - Officials say Arlington strip club owner Ryan Walker Grant was arrested Monday for attempting to pay to have two city officials killed.

CBS DFW reports the FBI confirmed Grant had been arrested, but they refused to comment further, instead pointing to the federal arrest record.

A statement from the city of Arlington says FBI agents thwarted Grant's alleged plot against Mayor Robert Cluck and attorney Tom Brandt.

The affidavit states that Grant attempted to have Cluck and Brandt murdered because they were involved in the shutdown of his Flashdancer strip club.

Grant said he stood to lose $800,000 each year if his license was revoked and he could no longer operate. In January, the city ordered the club shuttered until 2013.

The affidavit says Grant contacted an unidentified individual on April 3 and asked to speak in person about some "formal business."

According to the affidavit, "Grant stated, 'I really need somebody to take a vacation up here to do a job from down south, man.'"

Grant then began speaking in code, eventually referring to having someone murdered as "watching a movie," according to the affidavit.

Later that day, Grant hosted an individual at his Kennedale home, where he allegedly handed over photos and phone numbers of two "individuals associated with the City of Arlington" who were involved in the revocation of Flashdancer's license, according to the affidavit.

Grant asks the person to find someone who lives in Mexico to carry out the murders, routinely using a racial epithet when referring to his hopeful hires, the affidavit says. He allegedly wanted Mexicans to carry out the crimes because "they could go back to Mexico after the murders were completed."

Grant allegedly promised $10,000 per murder victim, payable once his targets were killed.

Later that day, Grant was arrested by FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration officials.

A call the Associated Press made to Cluck's office Wednesday wasn't immediately returned. Brandt, a Dallas attorney working for the city, says he's been advised by the FBI not to comment.