ForbiddenVideos.com Operators Convicted on Obscenity Charges

DALLAS — The operators of ForbiddenVideos.com on Monday were convicted by a federal jury on obscenity and conspiracy charges.

The Justice Department accused Clarence Thomas "Tom" Gartman and Brent Alan McDowell of running a website that advertised and distributed videos and streaming media that included scenes of rape, sexual torture, and urination and defacation in conjunction with sex acts.

Gartman was convicted in U.S. District Court in Dallas on one count of conspiracy to distribute obscene materials and one count of mailing obscene materials and aiding and abetting. McDowell, a former Houston cop, was convicted of one count of mailing obscene matter and aiding and abetting.

Both defendants, who began their Internet operation in 1998, were charged in an indictment returned by a Dallas grand jury in May 2004.

A third defendant, Lou Anthony Santilena, was acquitted of all charges.

The probe into the ForbiddenVideos.com case was a multiagency investigation. The FBI, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Dallas Police Department worked together to provide evidence for the indictments and prosecution, which was handled by the Justice Department’s Obscenity Prosecution Task Force.

The task force was established last year by the Justice Department’s Criminal Division to focus on the prosecution of adult obscenity nationwide.

Gartman, 35, could face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $500,000 fine. McDowell, 37, faces a possible maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The pair currently live in Las Vegas and remain on bond until sentencing, which is scheduled on June 15.

ForbiddenVideos.com was identified during a probe into another case involving Garry Layne Ragsdale and wife Tamara Michelle Ragsdale, who were convicted three years ago by a federal jury.

That case was appealed to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, where the convictions were upheld. Later, the couple appealed its case to the U.S. Supreme Court. Justices declined to hear the Ragsdales’ case in February.

“With these convictions, six defendants in three different cases have been convicted … in recent months of distributing obscene material,” U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper said in a statement.

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

UK Lawmaker Calls for Appointment of 'Porn Minister'

Baroness Gabrielle Bertin, the Conservative member of Parliament who recently convened a new anti-pornography task force, is calling for the appointment of a “minister for porn,” according to British news outlet The Guardian.

FSC Toasts Jeffrey Douglas for 30 Years of Service

n the very same evening when the adult industry was hit hard by the Supreme Court ruling supporting Texas’ controversial age verification law, HB 1181, members of the Free Speech Coalition board, staff and supporters gathered to celebrate Jeffrey Douglas’ 30 years as board chair — a fitting reflection of his reputation as an eternal optimist.

TTS Opens UK Testing Location

Talent Testing Service (TTS) has opened a new U.K. location in Ware, Hertfordshire.

FSC: Age-Verification Laws Go Into Effect South Dakota, Georgia, Wyoming on July 1

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has published a statement regarding new age verification laws set to go into effect tomorrow in South Dakota, Georgia, and Wyoming.

FSC Responds to Supreme Court Decision on Texas AV Law

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has released a statement responding to last week's Supreme Court decision on FSC v. Paxton, the Texas age verification law.

Sex Work CEO Debuts Upgraded 'GPTease' AI Assistant

Sex Work CEO has introduced the new Canvas in-chat editing feature to its AI-powered, NSFW text generator, GPTease.

UPDATED: Supreme Court Rules Against Adult Industry in Pivotal Texas AV Case

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday issued its decision in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, striking a blow against the online adult industry by ruling in support of Texas’ controversial age verification law, HB 1181.

North Carolina Passes Extreme Bill Targeting Adult Sites

The North Carolina state legislature this week ratified a bill that would impose new regulations that industry observers have warned could push adult websites and platforms to ban most adult creators and content.

Supreme Court Ruling Due Friday in FSC v. Paxton AV Case

The U.S. Supreme Court will rule on Friday in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, the adult industry trade association's challenge to Texas’ controversial age verification law, HB 1181.

Ofcom: More Porn Providers Commit to Age Assurance Measures

A number of adult content providers operating in the U.K. have confirmed that they plan to introduce age checks in compliance with the Online Safety Act by the July 25 deadline, according to U.K. media regulator Ofcom.

Show More