'Girls Gone Wild' Founder Pleads in Tax Case

The founder of the "Girls Gone Wild" video empire has entered a guilty plea to two misdemeanor counts of filing false tax returns in a plea deal that will allow him to avoid further jail time. Joe Francis will also have to pay $250,000 in restitution.

Actual sentencing in the case is scheduled November 6.

Under the plea agreement, Francis admitted underreporting $563,000 in income on his tax returns. He was accused by federal prosecutors of claiming more than $20 million in fraudulent deductions.

The federal judge also ruled that any tax liabilities of Francis or his companies between 2002 and 2008 be handled in civil court, not criminal courts.

"I'm happy to finally be able to redirect my attention to the business at hand, which is to provide quality entertainment for our millions of fans around the world," Francis said in the statement.

See Also:
Plea Deal Ends 'Girls Gone Wild' Founder Tax Case

Background:
The Legal Troubles of Joe Francis

What Is Your Opinion?
Discuss The Joe Francis Case

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