Girls Gone Wild Execs Charged with Bribery of Sheriff Officials, Prison Workers
July 27, 2009 by Dasha Black
Filed under Entertainment, Gossip
Aaron Weinstein, a video and marketing executive who worked with “Girls Gone Wild” producer Joe Francis on several projects, bribed sheriff’s officials and a jail worker in exchange for preferential treatment for Francis while he was in prison last year, according to Reno prosecutors in a statement last week. Weinstein was charged with three bribery counts in a grand jury indictment made public last Friday. Several Washoe County Sheriff’s officials and jail worker also face charges for accepting bribes in the matter.
“I’m very disappointed the U.S. Attorney’s Office chose to stretch the law to the extent they have in hopes of pursuing an investigation that should have never occurred,” says David Houston, a Reno lawyer representing Francis in a pending tax-evasion case in California, according to the Associated Press.
According to the indictment, Weinstein provided former sheriff’s deputy Ralph Hawkins with multiple gifts, including $3,200 in cash and four tickets to an Oakland Raiders football game in exchange for bringing Francis food from outside prison. He is also charged with providing former inmate classification specialist Mary Boxx with a TV, a home entertainment system and an airline ticket in return for Boxx bringing unauthorized items into the jail.
Weinstein is also alleged to have given former Washoe County Sheriff Sgt. Michon Mills a Cartier watch valued at approximately $4,500 and a $5,000 Saks Fifth Avenue department store gift card. The Information states that in return, Mills helped provide special benefits for Francis, including protecting him and making sure he had “almost unrestrained access to telephones.”
And while Francis’ lawyer says the investigation is something of a sham, Hawkins pleaded guilty July 17 and is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 21. Boxx is scheduled for a court appearance Aug. 24.
The charges against all four in the case carry a maximum penalty of up to two years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count.
No related posts.
