'Girls Gone Wild' Boss Heads to Florida
 

Monday, March 10, 2008 8:22:32 PM
By SANDRA CHEREB

"Girls Gone Wild" founder Joe Francis is being released from a Nevada jail so he can return to Florida to face charges related to the filming of underage girls.

His lawyer told a federal judge in Reno on Monday that Florida has agreed to lift its no-bail arrest warrant against the filmmaker, who is being held here on federal tax fraud charges. Francis has amassed a fortune marketing videos of young women, posing bare-breasted and in provocative situations.

Francis, accompanied by his lawyers, was to travel to the East Coast on Tuesday, and appear in a Panama City, Fla., courtroom the following day to filming of girls during spring break, defense lawyer Fred Atcheson said during a brief hearing before U.S. Magistrate Robert McQuaid.

"Florida is not going to arrest him," Atcheson told the court. "What happens in Florida, I believe, will conclude the matter."

Atcheson gave the court a $1.5 million cashier's check to cover Francis' bail on the tax charges, and assured the judge that other conditions required for his release also would be met.

Francis, who turns 35 on April 1, has been jailed on both sides of the country for nearly a year, caught in a tug-of-war between federal prosecutors in Nevada and state attorneys in Florida.

His legal troubles began five years ago in Panama City, where he still faces four felony and two misdemeanor charges -- all that remain from an initial 73-count indictment stemming from the spring break filming. His lawyers contend the underage women lied about their ages to an independent camera operator, and that none of the footage was used.

The incident also spurred a civil lawsuit brought by seven women. When court-ordered mediation in that case collapsed, a federal judge in Florida sentenced Francis to 35 days in jail for contempt of court.

Though he initially posted bail in the Florida criminal case, authorities there revoked it after Francis was charged with having contraband -- $700 and prescribed anti-anxiety medication -- while serving his jail sentence.

It was also during that time that a federal grand jury in Reno indicted Francis and his companies, Mantra Films Inc. and Sands Media Inc., on tax fraud charges. A federal judge ordered Francis extradited to Nevada to face those charges over the objections of Florida prosecutors.

But Florida's revocation of bail meant Francis could not post bond in the tax case without fear he would be re-arrested and sent back to the Sunshine State.

The federal government alleges the companies claimed more than $20 million in phony deductions in 2002 and 2003, and that Francis used offshore accounts to conceal income.

That trial is set for August. The charges carry a possible prison term of up to 10 years in prison and $500,000 in fines.

Sig spot worth gold!

Man all that money and not paying taxes. Bold move.

just plain greedy man, theres no point in having all that money if your gonna be in jail all the time :2 cents:

Sigs gone wild!!!

Always in some BS...

maybe he should have left the country WITH his money instead of just sending the cash off.

Being rich doesn't mean you make smart decisions in life.

Eh it's hard for us to really judge him for stuff life this.

Some drama for people like him are just out of their own control.

he should just skip the country while out on bail, I'm sure he has millions stashed somewhere

living a low profile life somewhere is better than being in prison

this is serious..

i feel sorry for joe

hope yall have fun... good luck ")

That's got to suck.

That was witty. :)

They're doin him dirty on that shit. Some whack as people trying to lock mother fuckers up on bull shit. Makes me sick.

yeah but you gotta pay taxes, like man why didn't he just pay taxes

ID love to work for his company

Live by the sword,die by it

always pay your taxes

Heading back to Florida during March Break, love the irony.

He's been in jail here in Reno for a year because he didn't want to post bail because as soon as he did he would be extradited to FL. Sucks he had to wait a year in Jail for FL to come to its senses and drop its no bail arrest warrant.

I don't think it's that big of a deal. I'm sure he wants to be out of jail and he'll cover all fees.

I wonder if when all of his legal problems are solved if they will lift the 99% shave at GGWCASH????

my sig is pretty wild, too....

really...just wondering....got proof?

Definitely the government is nobody you want to fuck with.

Mark

I guess that is the price you pay to be famous.

He Knew This Could Happen. If You Dont Want To Pay Taxes Move To The Bahamas.

Update By RAQUEL MARIA DILLON

Joe Francis is back to work promoting his "Girls Gone Wild" products after returning to California from Florida, where he pleaded no contest to child abuse and prostitution.

Francis claimed during a Beverly Hills news conference Thursday that he was victorious in the Florida court case, where he was sentenced to time served and fines. The case involved filming of underage girls.

The producer of videos showing young women in sexually provacative situations is now touting a new "Girls Gone Wild" magazine and tequila.

Francis recently returned to Florida after months in jail in Reno, where he still
evasion charges that carry a penalty of up to 10 years in prison.

"no contest to child abuse and prostitution'

that way easy for him.

I have all but stopped promoting them, but things went from good (~!:250) to laughable. I would love to post all of the sickeningly low stats, but since they changed their reporting ALL of the stats before 3/32008 are gone.

Is anyone making sales with GGW?

The guy is just an idiot. Yea, he got lucky with the whole GGW craze, but a dumb shit none the less.

I've been thinking to stop promoting them