Girls Gone Wild founder Joe Francis misses court date, Arrested

Los Angeles, February 3: Joe Francis, the founder of the 'Girls Gone Wild' empire, has been arrested by U.S. marshals after he failed to appear for a Los Angeles court hearing in his big tax evasion case.

Francis was taken into custody on Monday afternoon when he showed up more than five hours late for the court hearing.

A bench warrant was issued for the adult-video entrepreneur by a Los Angeles federal judge early Monday after Francis failed to appear in the court at the set time. The hearing was scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. but Francis showed up at 1:30 p.m.

Even Francis could not be reached by telephone 30 minutes after the hearing's scheduled start, forcing US District Judge S. James Otero issue the bench warrant for his arrest.

Francis finally showed up with his attorney Melissa A. Weinberger in the afternoon, telling the judge that he was suffering from the flu.

"He's been as sick as can be," Weinberger told the reporters outside the courtroom, adding that Francis was battling flu but U.S. marshals handcuffed him and took him away.

Weinberger said that she would immediately try to have Francis released after he is processed by the federal marshals.

The GGW mastermind pleaded not guilty to felony tax evasion charges last summer in federal court in Los Angeles. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Francis is accused of illegally deducting more than $20 million in fake business expenses from his corporate returns in 2002 and 2003, including 3.8 million dollars for his Mexico home and 10.4 million dollars in sham consulting services.

Yesterday’s hearing was to consider a request from his attorneys-of-record, the Bernhoft Law Firm, to end its relationship with Francis and withdraw as his legal representatives for his tax evasion trial on basis of "strategic differences of opinion".

Francis’ tax trial is scheduled for Mar. 31. If convicted, the "Girls Gone Wild" founder could face up to 10 years in prison.