Trouble for Girls Gone Wild
 

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PANAMA CITY BEACH -- The head of a company that produces Girls Gone Wild videos was arrested on racketeering and drug charges after parents complained to police that he told underage girls to say on camera that they were 18, police said Thursday.

Search warrants on five locations and a private Gulfstream jet turned up videotapes to corroborate the stories of five girls who said they stripped and acted out scenes on camera although producers knew they were underage, police said.

Joe Francis, chief executive officer of Mantra Entertainment, was arrested at his condominium Wednesday evening. Three other employees were also arrested.

Francis, 30, and Mark Schmitz, 26, were charged with prostitution and sexual exploitation. Francis was also charged with drug trafficking. The other two employees were charged with drug possession.

Mantra Entertainment spokesman Bill Horn said they deny all charges.

Police said they seized a 2002 Ferrari, electronic equipment, waiver documents and a safe containing footage of young women baring flesh.

Panama City Beach is the nation's leading spring break destination, attracting as mnay as 400,000 college and high school students in March and April.

Four 17-year-old girls and a 16-year-old came across a Girls Gone Wild van Monday evening and were asked to go to a motel room to act out nude scenes in front of a video camera, police said. Two did, and were paid $100 for their performances, police said.

"One of the 17-year-old girls came clean to her mother, and they called us," said Bay County sheriff's spokeswoman Ruth Sasser.

Police said they found video to confirm that Francis told the 16-year-old to say she was 18 when he filmed her baring her breasts on video.

Area officials had started feuding with the video company earlier. Mayor Lee Sullivan and law enforcement officials threatened to arrest anyone violating a public nudity ordinance as well as those who encouraged such lawbreaking.

The producers went to court, asking a federal judge to declare that certain activity associated with the filming would not be automatically illegal and issue a temporary restraining order preventing authorities from making or threatening arrests.

They dropped the restraining order request March 12 after getting a promise that police would not interfere with their constitutional rights.

heh damn

oh oh

yea, you would think that they would be smarter than that!
Why jepordize everything.

I think that the cops set them up nad fucked them with no lube...



Ha

lol, yea maybe the cops did set them up. They knew the cops were watching them big time so they would have to be complete dumb asses to even try something illegal.

"Four 17-year-old girls and a 16-year-old came across a Girls Gone Wild van Monday evening and were asked to go to a motel room to act out nude scenes in front of a video camera, police said. Two did, and were paid $100 for their performances, police said.
"


Thats some serious shit there.

Not to bright was he? Um, let's see.. Maybe I am a target now and might wan't to extra careful..Naaaaaaa, why would anyone want to target me?

Maybe he missed the news letter that ever DA in the country would love to get his hand's on him to make a name for themselves.

In that situation the only way they can set you up if you are stupid and careless.

When you become that wealthy and in the public eye, you assume you will be set up and take extra measures against it.

Especially if your product is already controversial :2 cents:

:helpme

ouch

One of the most intelligent comments so far, low key is the ans

no doubt!

Joe & the PC Mayor were on O'Reilly a few weeks back and were totally bitch fighting on air....


Joe taunting and the Mayor saying "I'm gonna get chaaaa..."


If Joe was knowingly playing with that underage fire then he should get burnt....

no doubt about it...

another dumbass blows a good thing..