opinion

Laws Gone Wild!

Joe Francis, owner of Girls Gone Wild franchise, made news back in September of entering into a settlement with DOJ for violating 2257 with underage models. The settlement included paying a fine of $1.6M.

In recent news, Francis and his attorney had to do community time in addition to paying the fine as reported in this xbiz article.

The closing paragraph of the xbiz article:

When Francis entered his plea in front of Morrow in September, the judge explained to him that he could have received up to 10 years in prison. Francis told the court at the time that no minors would ever appear in a Mantra film again.

So with all the hoopla and chatter from DOJ about 2257, they allow for a settlement, rather than a solid conviction over 2257?

Could it be that maybe the 2257 case wouldn't be strong enough to get a conviction?

It would seem the push for a conviction that carried 5 years in jail and a chilling message to all pornographers about having 2257 records in order would have been the stronger message.

I am sure there are more details to the story, but oh look.. boobies.....

It would appear that paying some money and sweeping up dirt from public streets is good enough to keep kids from being used in video (the next time it happens).

Too bad for pedophiles that they don't have alot of money to be offered a similar deal.

Crime doesn't pay, but porn does.

Copyright © 2026 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More Articles

opinion

How Native Spanish Speakers Help Pleasure Brands Expand Across Latin America

Latin America's Spanish-speaking markets represent an exciting growth opportunity for the pleasure products industry. Across the region, conversations about sexual wellness are becoming more open, specialty retailers are expanding their assortments and shoppers are seeking products that reflect their lifestyles and values.

Rin Musick ·
profile

How Sexual Wellness Brands Can Use Emotional Marketing to Build Loyalty

Adult businesses have never had access to every marketing tool available to mainstream brands. Platform rules, advertising restrictions and content policies can limit the options for sex toy manufacturers and retailers. Add a difficult economy and more cautious consumers, and relying on tactics that worked a few years ago may no longer be enough.

Kate Kozlova ·
profile

WIA: Kristin Zuri-Godskind Draws on Deep Expertise to Elevate Sportsheets

After 18 years in the pleasure products industry, Kristin Zuri-Godskind has experienced the business from nearly every angle. Her career has taken her through retail, merchandising, management, distribution, sales, product education and manufacturing, giving her a perspective shaped as much by the sales floor as by the relationships she has built along the way.

Ariana Rodriguez ·
opinion

Why Retail Expertise Is Essential When AI Tools Analyze Store Data

Somewhere in one of our stores, someone scanned a barcode into a quantity field. The number entered was 8,388,607. At $19.99 per unit, that made a single line item worth roughly $167 million. The number was so large that the import failed immediately.

Zondre Watson ·
trends

Why Adult Retailers Need Better Training on Disability, Chronic Health

Every customer who walks into an adult store brings a different body, comfort level and set of needs. Retail staff already know how to ask the basics: Do you prefer vibration or suction? Are you using water-based or silicone lubricant? Do you have a latex allergy? What size are you comfortable with?

Mersy Love ·
profile

YourVids' Gino on Listening, Learning and Putting Creators First

Get Gino talking about the work creators pour into their careers, and his passion quickly becomes contagious. He deeply appreciates the people powering the business and has firm ideas about what they deserve in return.

Jackie Backman ·
profile

Vendo CEO Mitch Platt Reflects on 20 Years of Lessons and Evolution

More than 20 years ago, three entrepreneurs in Barcelona began gathering over beers to pitch, dissect and routinely destroy one another's business ideas. The ritual was simple: One person arrived with a concept, while the other two tried to expose every weakness. Any proposal that survived earned another look. Most did not.

Jackie Backman ·
profile

Abby Rose on Camming, Connection and Creative Chaos

Abby Rose has mastered the art of viewing life through rose-colored glasses, finding the good in even the most challenging circumstances. With the bubbly charm of Elle Woods and the steely determination of G.I. Jane, she pairs a resilient spirit with a deep love for bringing people together.

Jackie Backman ·
opinion

How to Avoid the Hidden Risks of AI-Generated Legal Documents

Artificial intelligence can write a contract in seconds, but that does not mean it can write the contract your business actually needs. Across the adult industry, operators, creators and producers are increasingly using generative AI to prepare model releases, performer agreements, privacy policies, takedown notices, employment documents and responses to regulators. The appeal is obvious: Legal work is expensive, AI is fast and the resulting document often looks impressively professional. That polished appearance is exactly what makes the practice dangerous.

Corey Silverstein ·
profile

Anastasia's Bedroom Founder Chelsea Mani Bridges Ecommerce With Local Events

Chelsea Mani spends her weekends at local markets, where she displays an assortment of lingerie ranging from new lace bodysuits and silky robes to carefully sourced, cleaned and pressed vintage pieces. Passersby stop to examine the fabrics, ask questions and sometimes find themselves opening up unexpectedly.

Jackie Backman ·
Show More