“Girls Gone Wild” Founder Behind Bars

In an update from a previous Gossip Girls report, the founder of the ”Girls Gone Wild“ video empire, Joe Francis, was taken into federal custody in Bay County.

The sheriff’s office reported that Francis surrendered to federal marshals early Monday morning in Panama City on contempt of court charges. He was later booked into the jail, where he reportedly will stay until he sees the federal judge on Thursday.

A press release issued by U.S. Marshal service on Tuesday said that Francis was arrested after stepping off of a privately chartered jet.

According to CBS reports, “Francis, who makes almost $30 million a year through the videos of girls baring their breasts and in other sexually provocative situations, drew the contempt order during negotiations in a federal civil lawsuit brought by seven women. They were underage when they were filmed by his company on Panama City Beach during spring break in 2003.”

Meanwhile, an appeals court has denied an emergency motion from Francis asking that he be allowed to remain free pending an appeal of the order. Not surprisingly, Francis has said he plans on settling the case to avoid jail time.

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