'Girls Gone Wild' Founder Says 3 Execs Embezzled

LOS ANGELES — Mantra Entertainment founder Joe Francis, in a suit filed at Los Angeles Superior Court, said that three top executives embezzled from the company.

Francis said Michael Barrett, Roman Pelikh and Will L'Heureux set up a sham company called WMR Marketing Inc. in 2002 to illegally funnel Mantra funds.

The allegations said that the trio illegally procured hundreds of thousands of dollars from his production company, Mantra Films, and then conspired to have him arrested for tax evasion to keep him from finding out.

XBIZ was unable to find any registry with California’s secretary of state or any other information about WMR.

According to the suit, the trio made "hundreds of thousands of dollars" of fraudulent expenses and reimbursements by 2004 against Mantra Films, which produces “Girls Gone Wild.”

Francis claims that after Barrett resigned in 2004 as the company's chief financial officer he contacted the IRS and falsely accused Francis of tax evasion.

Francis, according to the suit, said that Barrett was "hoping that the IRS would prosecute and incarcerate Francis, thereby removing the possibility" that he would "catch the ongoing theft.”

"While Barrett was secretly trying to get Francis investigated by the Reno [Nevada] division of the IRS to recover his bounty from the mistaken books he previously prepared, provided and vouched for to Francis' tax return preparers, he never disclosed any problem to Francis," the suit said.

Francis was indicted in April 2007 on two counts of tax evasion in Reno, Nev., for illegally deducting $20 million in false business expenses.

Calls to Francis attorney David Schack of K&L Gates went unreturned by post time.

Related:  

Copyright © 2025 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

Violet Myers, Megan Faith Star in Latest From Slayed

Reigning XMAs Premium Social Creator of the Year Violet Myers stars with Megan Faith in the latest release from Vixen Media Group studio imprint Slayed.

Coco Bae Returns to Brazzers

Coco Bae stars with Danny D. in the latest release from Brazzers, titled “The Cock Collector.”

GirlsDoPorn Owner Michael Pratt Pleads Guilty to Sex Trafficking

Michael Pratt, former owner of the rogue website GirlsDoPorn, pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California on Thursday to sex trafficking and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking charges, according to a report by City News Service.

Penthouse Names Kira Shine June's 'Pet of the Month'

Penthouse Magazine has named model Kira Shine as Pet of the Month for June.

Jade Greene Makes Her Reality Kings Debut

Jade Greene has made her Reality Kings debut alongside multi-XMAs winner Mick Blue in "Ski Boat Skeet."

Federal Judge Grants Partial Halt of Florida AV Law

The United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida, Tallahassee Division, has granted a preliminary injunction against HB 3, the state's age verification law, as a lawsuit filed by two online trade associations challenging the law makes its way through the courts.

Aylo Releases Statement on Suspending Access to Pornhub in France

Technology and media company Aylo, which operates adult sites including Pornhub, YouPorn, and Redtube, has released a public statement regarding its decision to block access to its sites in France.

Vicki Chase Stars in Dorcel's 'M.I.L.F.S. Vol. 2'

Vicki Chase headlines the latest feature from Dorcel, titled “M.I.L.F.S. Vol. 2.”

Anastasia Doll Headlines 'All Girl Sex Addict' From Harmony

Anastasia Doll stars in the latest title from Harmony Films, “All Girl Sex Addict.”

Blake Blossom, Madison Wilde Topline 'The Art of Kissing 4' From Sweetheart Video

Blake Blossom and Madison Wilde headline the fourth volume of “The Art of Kissing” from Mile High Media studio imprint Sweetheart Video.

Show More