WASHINGTON — Evil Angel owner John Stagliano has been charged with multiple counts of federal obscenity violations. Stagliano was indicted by a federal grand jury in Washington, D.C., Assistant Attorney General Alice S. Fisher of the Criminal Division announced today.

Stagliano, Evil Angel Productions and John Stagliano Inc. were charged with seven counts of operating “an obscenity distribution business and related offenses.” The charges stem from the mail and Internet distribution of two movies.

The movies named in the indictment are "Milk Nymphos" directed by Jay Sin, "Storm Squirters 2" directed by Joey Silvera and a trailer from Belladonna's "Fetish Fanatic 5."

Stagliano and his related companies were charged with “three counts of using a facility of interstate commerce to sell and distribute DVDs containing obscene films together with a movie trailer in violation; two counts of using a common carrier for the conveyance or delivery of DVDs containing obscene films in interstate commerce; one count of engaging in the business of selling or transferring an obscene film and a movie trailer; one count of using an interactive computer service to display an obscene movie trailer in a manner available to a person under 18 years of age; and one count seeking forfeiture of certain assets of the defendants.”

"We're in the business of distributing pornography that depicts porn actors having consensual sex," Evil Angel publicist Tricia Devereaux told XBIZ. "I don't know anyone more passionate about their love of this business and their right to be a part of it than John."

When reached by phone this evening, Stagliano told XBIZ he had not yet been served with the indictment, but said, "I know I haven't done anything that violates obscenity laws, and I'm confident that this will have a positive resolution."

The Justice Department’s press office did not respond to an inquiry by post time.

Stagliano and Evil Angel are represented by Al Gelbard, who successfully defended JM Productions principal Jeff Steward in an obscenity case late last year. The government dropped all charges against Steward and JM for lack of evidence.

Pamela Satterfield of the Justice Department’s Obscenity Prosecution Task Force, is prosecuting the case with support from the Washington, D.C.’s U.S. Attorney’s Office.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Adult Obscenity Squad. The Los Angeles Police Department also assisted in the investigation.