"Girls Gone Wild" Founder Arrest Ordered

Joe Francis fails to appear at a hearing in his tax evasion case

By: Michael Snowden | WKRG-TV
Published: February 02, 2009

» Comments | Post a Comment

LOS ANGELES (AP) - A federal judge in California has issued an
arrest warrant for "Girls Gone Wild" founder Joe Francis because
he failed to appear at a hearing in his tax evasion case.
U.S. attorney's office spokesman Thom Mrozek said U.S. District
Judge S. James Otero issued the warrant Monday in Los Angeles.
Francis did not immediately respond to a call seeking comment.
The hearing was to address his request to hire a new attorney.
Francis is accused of claiming more than $20 million in bogus
business expenses on his corporate tax returns, including $3.8
million for a home in Mexico and $10.4 million in phony consulting
services.
He has pleaded not guilty. His trial is scheduled for March.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)