Girls Gone Wild creator Joe Francais is finally a free man. Francis is out on bail, after producing a $1.5 million cashiers check today, and being imprisoned in a Reno jail for almost a year.

His legal troubles began five years ago in Panama City, where he still faces four felony and two misdemeanor charges — all that remain from an initial 73-count indictment stemming from the spring break filming. His lawyers contend the underage women lied about their ages to an independent camera operator, and that none of the footage was used.

A federal grand jury in Reno last April indicted Francis and his companies, Mantra Films Inc. and Sands Media Inc., on tax fraud charges.

The government alleges the companies claimed more than $20 million in phony deductions in 2002 and 2003, and that Francis used offshore accounts to conceal income. That trial is set for August. If convicted, Francis could face up to 10 years in prison and $500,000 in fines.

[Source: AP Press]

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