DOJ Issues Obscenity Indictment

ORLANDO, Fla. — The Justice Department has indicted Danilo Simoes Croce, a Brazilian man accused of operating websites that offered "obscene videos for download or delivery in the U.S.,” according to a criminal complaint filed in the middle district of Florida.

According to the 12-page indictment, Croce is accused of dealing in allegedly obscene material that included “videos depicting bukkake, fisting, and depictions of defecation, urination and vomiting in conjunction with sex acts."

If convicted, Croce could face five years in prison and a $150,000 fine.

Adult entertainment industry attorney Lawrence Walters told XBIZ that none of the material detailed in the indictment is per se obscene, adding that mainstream films such as “Jackass” and “Team America” have depicted scenes with scat content without being considered obscene.

“The government will still have to prove that the material is obscene based on the community standards test,” Walters said. “However, Orlando is a fairly conservative area, which means that the jury will be drawn from a relatively conservative group of people.”

The Croce indictment, which is the result of a three-year undercover investigation lead by postal inspector Linda Walker, is the latest obscenity case brought by the Justice Department under the Bush administration.

In 2005, Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez and FBI Director Robert Mueller issued a communication to the FBI’s 56 field offices calling the prosecution of hardcore pornography a “top priority.”

“The government appears to be making good on its promise to gear up and prosecute what they deem to be obscene material,” Walters said. “If there is a silver lining with cases such as this, it is that the government focus appears to be on the fringe of the industry.”

According to the indictment, Croce did business as Dragon Films.

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