Girls Gone Wild founder faces tax charge
 

PENSACOLA, Fla. - A federal judge ruled Thursday that the multimillionaire founder of the Girls Gone Wild empire should be sent to Nevada to face charges there once he finishes serving a jail sentence in Florida.

Joe Francis, 34, should be released from Bay County custody Tuesday after serving a 35-day sentence for contempt of court. Florida prosecutors want Francis to remain in custody for unresolved 2003 criminal charges involving filming minors in sexual situations on Panama City beach.

But Federal Magistrate Judge Larry Bodiford ruled that Francis should first face federal tax evasion charges in Reno, Nev.

Joe Grammer, a spokesman for State Attorney Steve Meadows, said the state would appeal Bodiford's ruling to U.S. District Judge Richard Smoak. Francis has repeatedly clashed with Smoak over a federal civil lawsuit involving the filming of underaged girls.

Grammer said Florida authorities believe Francis should remain behind bars even if he is sent to Nevada.

"Our position is that there are outstanding warrants that remain. If the judge in Nevada says that he will be let out on bond, there is still an active warrant in Florida and that would keep him from being released," he said.

Francis also faces legal problems in California where his probation for violating federal laws designed to prevent the sexual exploitation of minors could be revoked.

Calls to Francis' two Los Angels-based attorneys and his public relations firm were not returned Thursday. Francis makes an estimated $29 million a year from videos of young women in sexually provocative situations.

Smoak ordered Francis jailed during negotiations in a civil lawsuit brought by the women who were underage when they were filmed by his company in 2003.

its somewhat sad, he flaunted it and now is paying the price.

damn. It's never a good sign when states are suing each other to find out who gets to hammer you first.

that sucks....

damn

he was too arrogant..but doesn't deserve this

If Girls Gone Wild makes the owner $29 million a year, how is it hard for him to pay his fucking taxes?
I would figure that his taxes are approx $14 million a year.... that leaves $15 million to spend... or over a million a month...
is it really that hard to live on a million a month?

That would explain the 4 times a day GIRLS GONE WILD DVD SPAM to my email

It looks like they are trying to get everything they can get right now. The Justice system has proven itself time and time again to be harder on certain people... and they definitely have hard ons for people in the adult industry.

A normal guy could beat this easily. He's going to have to fight hard to stay free.

Sad but true. I wish him luck.

Was Joe Francis ever on GFY?

It's hard to say. Because of who he is he will have a harder time, however that guy from Survivor that just went to jail didn't claim 1.3 million in earnings and he got 51 months. 1.3mil is a lot, but it is a hell of a lot less than what Joe is facing. If Joe just made a bookkeeping mistake they will work with him if he pays up, if he knowingly tried to hide it he is deep shit.

Joe's woes are bigger than that.

There have been some reports that as a result of Francis' most recent legal troubles, that he may have violated the terms of his 2257 probation (he had received 2 years probation for pleading guilty to two felony counts).

As a result, he could possibly be sitting in jail for a few years or more on the probation violation while his Federal tax case winds it way through the courts...not good for Joe.

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Everyone wants a piece of Joe's ass

They have got their colective claws into Joey and they will never let go.
Whith his cash you think he would have just paid his taxes.
Probably got some real bad advice from an enron style accountant.

He's going to pay a year's profit trying to get out of this shit I guarentee.

anything with underage ... is just silly

Funny GGW Parody on YouTube - Prison Guys Gone Wild

You may have to be signed up on YouTube (free) to see, since it has mature content.

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