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Jul. 01, 2008
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Video maker sued by LV hotel

Wynn Las Vegas says 'Girls Gone Wild' boss owes $2 million

By ARNOLD M. KNIGHTLY
REVIEW-JOURNAL

Scratch the NBA, but add "Girls Gone Wild" founder Joe Francis to Steve Wynn's short list -- short on funds that is.

Wynn Las Vegas, which sued June 12 seeking payment for an outstanding bill for a fundraiser that took place during last year's All-Star Weekend, has been paid in full by an unnamed party, property spokeswoman Jennifer Dunne said Monday.

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But on Friday, the Strip resort sued Francis, saying the 35-year-old owner of the video franchise featuring college students in sexually provocative situations, owes the company $2 million in unpaid gambling debts dating back to February 2007.

Francis, who has not been formally served the court papers, said through a representative Monday that he has no debt with the resort.

"As far as Mr. Francis is concerned, his obligations to the Wynn hotel have been fully lived up to per prior agreements," said Ronn Torossian, a spokesman for Mantra Entertainment, Francis' production company.

A Wynn Las Vegas representative declined to comment on the lawsuit.

News of the lawsuit against Francis comes a day after Wynn Las Vegas said it erroneously named subsidiaries of the National Basketball Association as defendants in its June 12 lawsuit seeking to recover $50,000 for the Alonzo Mourning Charities fundraiser.

Mourning, a former NBA star, is a co-defendant in that lawsuit.

Wynn's attorneys, who were preparing to amend the lawsuit when it received payment for the outstanding bill, will now file a request to dismiss that lawsuit, Dunne said.

"Wynn Las Vegas and the NBA have enjoyed a long-standing, productive business relationship," Dunne said. "Wynn Las Vegas will continue to support the NBA in their endeavors and regrets any inconvenience this error may have caused."

According to the lawsuit, Wynn Las Vegas extended $2.5 million in credit to Francis on Feb. 16, 2007, and an additional $300,000 two days later.

Francis made a $800,000 payment later that month, but the rest has yet to be paid, according to court papers filed in Clark County District Court.

The lawsuit is just the latest legal trouble facing Francis.

Francis is free on $1.5 million bail pending a trial on tax evasion charges in Reno.

Francis was booked into Washoe County Jail in June 2007 on two counts of federal tax evasion. He decided to remain in jail in Nevada rather than be sent back to Florida, where he faced charges of child abuse and prostitution.

He was released in March after pleading no contest to several charges under an agreement that allowed him to walk free after nearly a year in jail.

He pleaded no contest to one count of felony child abuse and two counts of misdemeanor prostitution. He also pleaded no contest to two additional child abuse counts on behalf of his company, Mantra Films.

Francis also pleaded guilty in a 2007 case to having sleeping pills and cash in his cell at Bay County Jail.

The charges stem from a case involving the filming of underage girls during spring break in 2003 in Panama City, Fla.

Francis makes an estimated $29 million a year on his "Girls Gone Wild" videos.

The federal charges claim Francis' companies claimed approximately $20 million in fraudulent business deductions. He is also accused of using offshore accounts to hide income.

No date has been set for the tax evasion trial.

Contact reporter Arnold M. Knightly at aknightly@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3893. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Please enter your name Name: Please enter your email Email: Please enter a comment COMMENTS : (word count limit is 300) You have reached the maximum number of words allowed Current Word Count: Jeff wrote on July 03, 2008 02:22 PM: JOE FRANCIS IS A LOSER. STEVE WYNN NEEDS TO GO AFTER HIM AND GET EVERY DOLLAR FROM THIS PATHETIC WANNABE HIGH ROLLER. Dave wrote on July 01, 2008 03:48 PM: It makes for interesting copy. One Jew versus another. May the best Jew Wynn. The Gambler wrote on July 01, 2008 03:21 PM: The guy in charge of table games should be shot over at the Wynn. Why would they give a lowlife like Joe Francis a $2.5 million credit line? Who approved that decision? Who? That is the guy this article should be about. My guess is he is some Wynn cronie who is still gainfully employed. Also, how do you lose $2.5 million gambling? Don't these idiots ever win? All I can say is, WOW. Remember, all the player got was some chips WORTH $2.5 million. He then gave said chips back to the casino via losing. Casino didn't lose a penny when you think about it. Not only that, a chump like Francis probably tipped over $50k to the dealers and scantily clad/soon to be in one of his videos cocktail waitress. So everyone wins except for Francis. lv h8r wrote on July 01, 2008 02:40 PM: I can only hope this great country finds it in their power to make this guy's life a living hell. What a despicable human being, making a living off of filming intoxicated young women...while ripping off uncle sam and casinos at the same time. Perhaps if these girls knew the money you are making off of them they would have thought better of posing for your cameras. joe wrote on July 01, 2008 02:00 PM: This is pocket change to him! Paul wrote on July 01, 2008 10:46 AM: This looks like it was written by a 3yr old. Did you actually go to journalism school or does the RJ just hire people off of the streets these days? Spelling Police wrote on July 01, 2008 08:12 AM: "Is this some new work program for grade school grammer students?" Well, considering that you misspelled GRAMMAR, you'd fit right in! On topic: BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!! What, slutty girls taking their tops off and making out with each other not paying the bills, Joe?! mark wrote on July 01, 2008 07:42 AM: I thought the same thing Sal. Also the headline sucks. I thought maybe a slot machine company or sign maker was being sued. Grab the reader's atention RJ. You're losing subscribers already and raising the price 25 cents. Give us a reason to buy. Sal Saveg wrote on July 01, 2008 06:26 AM: Wow, what an awful story! I am not talking about the content, (both stories). I am talking about the writing! It was like having the last channel button stuck on your TV remote and watching two stations flip back and forth throughout the story. Is this some new work program for grade school grammer students? mark wrote on July 01, 2008 04:42 AM: Business as usual in todays America. Pay first then pump. Americans just won`t pay their bills and businessess have more hidden charges and fees that seem to never end.