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Underage 'Girls Gone Wild' lead to 22 chargesBy Associated Press,© St. Petersburg Times published April 26, 2003 PANAMA CITY, Fla. - Girls Gone Wild producer Joe Francis is now facing 22 criminal charges, including filming underage girls involved in sexual activity. Francis, 30, was arraigned Thursday in Bay Circuit Court on charges of racketeering and conspiracy to engage in racketeering activity, both first-degree felonies that carry up to 30 years in prison. He also faces three counts of promoting the sexual performance of children; four counts of conspiracy to promote the sexual performance of children; two counts of using children in sexual performances; four counts of procuring persons younger than 18 for prostitution; two counts of conspiring to procure persons under 18 for prostitution; two counts of selling, distributing or offering to distribute or possessing with intent to distribute obscene material; two counts of prostitution; and one count of trafficking in hydrocodone. Many of the charges name Mantra Films Inc. and Aero Falcons LLC as co-defendants. Mantra Films produces the Girls Gone Wild videos. Francis and his staff were in Panama City Beach in February, March and April to tape a spring break special. He was arrested April 3 on prostitution, sexual exploitation and drug trafficking charges. Some of his employees have also been charged. Francis' attorney, Daniel Petrocelli, said from his office in California that the state's case is weak. "What they did was take one incident and try to cobble it together to support a (racketeering) claim and it's transparent," he said. "The charges against Mr. Francis are reckless and irresponsible." Racketeering is when someone intentionally sets up an illegal moneymaking operation and uses the funds to support a business. The charges list several girls by their initials only, all younger than 18, who investigators said were filmed on March 31 engaging in sexual activity. Petrocelli said the girls identified in the charges all told the video producers they were older than 18, some said it while being videotaped, and one or more had signed a waiver declaring themselves older than 18. l  © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
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