Another Webmaster Arrest Made in Florida

Andrew Kevin Craft, 38, was taken into custody at his home in Pensacola, Fla., June 26. According to authorities, Craft served as the general manager for a site owned and operated by webmaster Clinton Raymond McCowen, aka Ray Guhn.

As XBIZ reported earlier, both McCowen and his partner, Kevin Patrick Stevens, were arrested on charges of racketeering, engaging in prostitution and the manufacture and sale of obscene material.

An article in the Pensacola News Journal reported that Craft had been booked on the same three charges.

An Escambia County Sheriff’s deputy told XBIZ that Craft had been released at approximately 8 p.m. June 26 on a $75,000 bond.

“This is an important case given the allegations of prostitution,” attorney Lawrence G. Walters told XBIZ. “California is the only jurisdiction where the issue has been adjudicated in favor of the industry.”

Ironically, allegations of prostitution may eventually be blunted by 2257 record-keeping provisions, which have been a source of industrywide concern. In an article published in XBIZ World in September 2005, Walters speculated that issues of federal preemption — a legal doctrine that cedes power to federal authorities over the states in specific areas of law — might make life difficult for state and local authorities seeking to prosecute pornographers.

“The silver lining to 2257 might be preemption,” Walters said. “The federal government can’t establish compliance procedures for something that is illegal.”

If convicted of third-degree felonies, the three men could serve up to five years in prison for each count.

McCowen owns and shoots content for CumOnHerFace.com. Stevens was his producer and site programmer. According to authorities, Craft worked for the site and recruited models.

The arrests culminate a months-long investigation into the operations of McCowen’s company, Global Technologies Inc., doing business as Ray Guhn Productions. McCowen’s website is part of the Cash Titans affiliate program.

Assistant State Attorney Russ Edgar, who led the investigation into the site’s operations, said he expects that more arrests will be made in the coming weeks.