Santa Monica-based Mantra Films Inc., which produces “Girls Gone Wild” videos has pleaded guilty as part of a plea deal, to failing to maintain age and identity documentation on performers who appear in its videos.
Mantra Films, which is owned by Joe Francis, pleaded guilty to charges that it failed to keep documents outlining the identity and age of performers in its videos which feature young women exposing their breasts, stripping nude and masturbating in front of a camera.
The company entered its plea in Panama City Fla., before U.S. District Court Judge Richard Smoak. MRA Holdings LLC, also entered into the agreement, according to the Justice Department.
The pleas means the two companies, both owned by Francis, will have to pay $2.1 million in fines and restitution, with about $1.6 million of it coming from the companies and the remaining $500,000 coming from Francis himself.
According to court papers distributed by the Justice Department, “Girls Gone Wild” producers admitted filming, producing and distributing sexually-explicit material in 2002 and 2003 in violation of the record keeping law, known as Section 2257 of Title 18, Part I, Chapter 110 of the United States Code.
Under Section 2257, the producer of any book, magazine, video or film is required to keep records of anyone performing sexually explicit acts after July 3, 1995, such as their name and date of birth along with documents providing proof of such information, including other names the performer has used.
The company pleaded guilty to three counts of failing to keep records and to seven counts of improper labeling.
MRA Holding pleaded guilty to 10 labeling violations.
Under the plea deal, the court will dismiss the charges in three years if MRA Holding complies with its obligations under the plea deal. The company said it agreed to allow an outside firm chosen by the government to monitor its records to ensure it complies with the record keeping law.
