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Things have gone from bad to worse for GIRLS GONE WILD creator JOE FRANCIS just days after his arrest for contempt of court in Florida, the multi-millionaire has been charged with tax evasion.
A federal grand jury in Reno, Nevada returned an indictment on Tuesday (10APR07) charging Francis deducted more than $20 million (£10.2 million) in false business expenses on his companies’ 2002 and 2003 corporate income tax returns.
According to the indictment, Francis used offshore bank accounts and entities purportedly owned by others to conceal income he earned during 2002 and 2003.
If convicted, Francis faces up to 10 years in prison and fines of up to $500,000 (£256,000). Francis is scheduled to appear in court on 22 May (07).
He was arrested at Panama City airport in Florida on Monday morning (09APR07) as he was on his way to turn himself into authorities on a contempt of court charge.
US District Judge Richard Smoak ordered his arrest last week (ends06APR07), saying the 34-year-old should be jailed until he agrees to participate in mediation talks aimed at ending a four-year-old legal battle with seven underage women, who sued the Girls Gone Wild boss after he filmed them in sexual situations.

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