Girls Gone Wild Busted: $2.1M fine

[fbrdphreak]

http://money.cnn.com/2006/09/12/news/companies/girls/?postversion=2006091214

'Girls Gone Wild' firm fined $2.1 million
Entertainment company pleads guilty to federal charges of not including ages of female participants on tape.
September 12 2006: 2:53 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The entertainment company that produces "Girls Gone Wild" films pleaded guilty Tuesday to charges stemming from the failure to document the ages of female performers in their sexually oriented productions.

The Justice Department announced that Mantra Films of Santa Monica, Calif., entered a plea agreement in a federal court in Panama City, Fla.

Authorities said Joseph Francis, founder of Mantra Films and a related firm, MRA Holdings, also agreed to plead guilty to deferred charges to be filed later in Los Angeles, and to pay fines and restitution totaling $2.1 million.

The "Girls Gone Wild" videotapes - often featuring young semi-nude women partying heavily - are widely advertised on some cable television channels.

Mantra Films specifically pleaded guilty in the Florida courtroom to charges that it failed to create and maintain age and identity documents for performers in its sexually oriented films, and that it failed to label its videotapes and DVDs as required by federal law.

Court documents say alleged violations included productions titled "Ultimate Spring Break," "Girls Gone Wild on Campus Uncensored," "Totally Exposed Uncensored and Beyond," and "Girls Gone Wild College Girls Exposed/Sexy Sorority Sweethearts."

The Justice Department said the case is the first filed under a law passed by Congress designed to prevent the sexual exploitation of children.

The law, which prosecutors call Section 2257 - is intended to protect minors by requiring producers to create and maintain age and identity records for every performer in sexually explicit movies and other media.
Label making for tapes

Distributors must label their tapes and discs with the name of the custodian of the records and their location, prosecutors said.

"Today's agreements ensure that Girls Gone Wild will comply with an important law designed to prevent the sexual exploitation of minors and puts other producers on notice that they must be in compliance as well," said Assistant Attorney General Alice Fisher.

Officials said Francis will pay $500,000 and his firms, Mantra and MRA Holdings, will together pay $1.6 million. The case does not shut down "Girls Gone Wild."

Under terms of the deal, after three years the Los Angeles charges against MRA will be dismissed if the company fully complies with the record-keeping laws and has made full restitution.

'Girls Gone Wild' rivals such as New Frontier Media (up $0.15 to $8.75, Charts) and Playboy (up $0.11 to $9.25, Charts) have also used adult movies, Internet and other media outlets to gain viewership and hopeful participants.

About damn time!

 

[Runes911]

Man I was wondering how long it would take for someone to post this. Six hours, hmm your slacking ATOT.

 

[dr150]

$2.1 is chump change for that dude.

He has a his own jet airplane and XXL sized mansion.

That $2.1M will only dent his gas money budget for his plane.

 

[MisterJackson]

As slummy as this guy may be you all hate him because he's the face of this problem and making sick money from it all. Taking him out will do nothing. Someone else will take his place. He only makes the MILLIONS he makes because we as a society label this stuff so taboo and men everywhere fork over lots of money to watch it in private.

I think if there were less social stigma attatched with this along with a better method of teaching young men how to respect women we see a lot less of this going on.

And when you demonize him, please remember that the unreal standards we hold women to are what urge them to take their clothes off and go wild like this. We've instilled a sense of apathy in young women that's truly appaling.

That said.....SHOW ME THEM TITTIES!!!

 

[Gatecrasher3]

i thought he got busted for coke or something...

 

[cKGunslinger]

$2.1M? Oh noes! He'll run 1 less late-night ad for a whole 3 days! :laugh:

 

[Alex]

lol
whatever im sure that dude doesnt care.
hes made his cash already

 

[Demon-Xanth]

The law being discussed requires them to have a copy of a photo ID such as a drivers license and keep a CURRENT address of everyone who appears for a period of about two years. (meaning, if someone moves, they have to track them down)

 

[fbrdphreak]

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
The law being discussed requires them to have a copy of a photo ID such as a drivers license and keep a CURRENT address of everyone who appears for a period of about two years. (meaning, if someone moves, they have to track them down)

Interesting

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
The law being discussed requires them to have a copy of a photo ID such as a drivers license and keep a CURRENT address of everyone who appears for a period of about two years. (meaning, if someone moves, they have to track them down)

Interesting

It's the same new law that all adult film producers are required to follow.

 

[rudder]

He found the right gig... get hundredw and hundreds of girls drunk and get them to flash thier boobs and other stuff for free. Then sell the results on DVD.

 

[randay]

He got rich off of young titties, I'm pretty sure you could stab him in the neck and he'd still die happy.

 

[IceBergSLiM]

Originally posted by: rudder
He found the right gig... get hundredw and hundreds of girls drunk and get them to flash thier boobs and other stuff for free. Then sell the results on DVD.

girls were getting drunk and voluntarily taking there clothes off long before he came around to take vids of it.

young girls seek recognition, attention, and sexual validation in copious amounts when they are younger.....he was just filling a need in the market place.

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: BigJ

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
The law being discussed requires them to have a copy of a photo ID such as a drivers license and keep a CURRENT address of everyone who appears for a period of about two years. (meaning, if someone moves, they have to track them down)

Interesting

It's the same new law that all adult film producers are required to follow.

That's retarded

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak
About damn time!

Who are you? on the Morality Police staff??? :roll:

 

[JS80]

so basically he got away with rape?

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: JS80
so basically he got away with rape?

Another self pro-claimed American MP (Morality Police) :roll:

 

[JS80]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: JS80
so basically he got away with rape?

Another self pro-claimed American MP (Morality Police) :roll:

Joe Francis accused of rape

i love GGW...wtf are you talking about?

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: JS80

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: JS80
so basically he got away with rape?

Another self pro-claimed American MP (Morality Police) :roll:

Joe Francis accused of rape

i love GGW...wtf are you talking about?

Your link says (Immoral) as well.

That was 2004, what was the outcome?

 

[JS80]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: JS80

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: JS80
so basically he got away with rape?

Another self pro-claimed American MP (Morality Police) :roll:

Joe Francis accused of rape

i love GGW...wtf are you talking about?

Your link says (Immoral) as well.

That was 2004, what was the outcome?

I interpreted it as gov't went after his company because they had nothing on the rape case. But it's just my tinfoil hat opinion.

 

[pennylane]

Girls With Low Self-Esteem. Lol.

 

[yowolabi]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: JS80

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: JS80
so basically he got away with rape?

Another self pro-claimed American MP (Morality Police) :roll:

Joe Francis accused of rape

i love GGW...wtf are you talking about?

Your link says (Immoral) as well.

That was 2004, what was the outcome?

No evidence of rape, no drugs in her bloodstream. Link

So, no he didn't get away with rape. There's no reason to believe he ever raped anyone.

 

[jpeyton]

I'm pretty sure he wipes his ass with $100 bills every morning.

 

[funboy6942]

The case does not shut down "Girls Gone Wild."

About damn time for what? The government dipped into his pockets through a technicality and he still can continue to produce his films.
I could understand the "about damn time" comment if they took his butt to jail and stoped him from doing what he has been but 2.1m is nothing and he can continue to make the tape and rake in the bucks.

 

[tm37]

I like to rewind the tape and pretent the girls have learned their lesson /attell