Torture Portal Owner Indicted on 8 Obscenity Counts

NEWARK, N.J. — Pornographer Barry Goldman, who operates Torture Portal, Masters of Pain and Bacchus Studios, has been charged by a federal grand jury in Newark, N.J. with distributing obscene DVDs through the mail.

Goldman was charged with eight counts of sending DVDs containing allegedly obscene films from Jersey City to addresses in Montana and Virginia.

The indictments for 18 U.S.C. § 1461 and § 1467 include the films “Torture of a Porn Store Girl,” “Defiant Crista Submits” and “Pregnant and Willing.” The videos all were mailed in 2006 and 2007.

The Justice Department is seeking forfeitures of all copies of the movies, as well as proceeds from the sale of the movies.

Regulators also are seeking the forfeitures of domain names MastersOfPain.com and TorturePortal.com, as well as an email address, SirBNY@aol.com.

Bonnie Hannon, the Justice Department’s lead attorney in the case, would not discuss with XBIZ on why the indictment was made at the mailings’ point of origin in Hudson County, stating it is not the agency’s policy to discuss pending cases.

Hannon works for the agency’s Criminal Division’s Obscenity Prosecution Task Force. Investigation of the case was conducted by the FBI’s Adult Obscenity Squad based at the Washington field office.

The obscenity case, originally filed in Montana, was changed to New Jersey, according to an XBIZ source. But in the midst of an appeal, the government dismissed the case, claiming it is not their policy to file obscenity charges in the place of receipt in the absence of other contacts by the defendant with the place of prosecution.

If convicted, Goldman faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of $250,000 on each of the eight counts charged in the indictment.

Copyright © 2024 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 News

Age Verification: FSC's Mike Stabile Reports from the Frontlines

Two years into the religiously-inspired crusade to ban free access to adult material in the U.S. through carefully drafted "age verification" legislation, the constant onslaught of state-by-state proposals and laws — many of them copied from each other — can be hard to follow.

Written Erotica Platform 'Hevvn' Launches

Hevvn, a new platform aimed at erotica writers seeking to publish, promote and profit from their work, debuted Thursday.

Sssh.com's Angie Rowntree Speaks at Brown University

Sssh.com founder Angie Rowntree spoke at a Brown University class last week, discussing several topics related to adult filmmaking.

Bella Rolland Toplines 'The Sex Impulse' From Sweet Sinner

Bella Rolland headlines "The Sex Impulse," the latest release from Mile High Media studio brand Sweet Sinner.

Online Industry Veteran Joe E. Passes Away

Online industry veteran Joe E has passed away, according to friends and industry associates.

Judge Acquits Backpage Defendants of Most Charges Before 2nd Retrial

A federal judge acquitted former co-owner of Backpage.com Michael Lacey and two co-defendants on most of the counts remaining from the protracted trial launched against the website operators by the Justice Department in 2018.

Adult Time Partners With Animation Studio 3DGspot

Adult Time has signed a deal to distribute content on its streaming platform from animation studio 3DGspot.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp Signs Age Verification Bill Into Law

Republican Gov. Brian Kemp this week signed into law a bill that includes provisions requiring age verification for viewing adult content in Georgia, mirroring legislation being sponsored around the country by anti-porn religious conservative activists.

AEBN Publishes Popular Searches by Country for February, March

AEBN has released the popular searches from its straight and gay theaters in more than three dozen countries during February and March.

Willow Ryder, Angelina Diamanti Topline 'Lesbian Neighbor Affairs'

Willow Ryder and Angelina Diamanti headline "Lesbian Neighbor Affairs," from Girlfriends Films.

Show More