The Register® — Biting the hand that feeds IT

Feeds

Net pornographer jammed up in Federal probe

Pam and Tommy may laugh last

  • print
  • alert

Agentless Backup is Not a Myth

Federal officials in the USA are investigating renowned Internet pornographer Seth Warshavsky and his on-line porn company, Internet Entertainment Group (IEG), on suspicions of credit-card fraud and income tax evasion, the Washington Post reports.

It wasn't long ago that IEG won praise in the mainstream press as one of the Internet's original commercial successes. Warshavsky attracted considerable media interest when he acquired and distributed a video of model Pamela Anderson having sex with her husband Tommy Lee. But the company has suffered a string of legal difficulties since allegations of credit card overcharging began to surface last year.

Several IEG employees testified to the allegations of overcharging, but the sworn statements were sealed when Warshavsky settled a lawsuit. Warshavsky then sued two former managers and the lawyer involved in the claim, alleging they violated a non-competition clause in their contracts and stole a company e-mail list.

Warshavsky has maintained that all the overcharges were accidental and that customers have since been reimbursed.

Now it appears that the Feds are investigating Warshavsky for possibly laundering money through foreign bank accounts to evade US income tax. Four potential witnesses have been interviewed by Assistant US Attorney Mark Bartlett and representatives from the Internal Revenue Service and the FBI.

Warshavsky said he has not been notified by the Feds, but had heard that he was under investigation. "If that is the case and there is an investigation, I'm sure they won't find any wrongdoing, and they'll drop it," he told the Post on Monday.

Warshavsky has hired a new chief accountant and says he is concentrating on putting his financial affairs in order. As for the tax evasion allegations, perhaps he will revive his previous legal strategy and cop to depositing money off shore 'accidentally'.

Well, a thing like that could happen, you know. ®

Customer Success Testimonial: Recovery is Everything

More from The Register

 breaking news
BBC-featured call centre slapped with hefty fine for unwanted calls
PPI pests: Swansea-based firm stung for £225k by ICO
Microsoft to open Windows Stores inside 600 Best Buy locations
Product showcases 'must be seen to be believed'
 breaking news
What did the Lehman Brothers implosion look like to a techie?
Insider tells all about the Gnab Gib at Lehmans
 breaking news
The only Waze is Google: Ad giant tipped to gobble map app 'for $1.3bn'
Pac-Man-satnav-ish upstart in bidding war with Apple, Facebook
 breaking news
1-in-10 e-tomes 'are self-published'... most are 'rubbish' says book ed
Publishing man scoffs at go-it-alone writers, ursines still fouling in forests
 breaking news
Facebook RSS reader said to uncloak June 20
Secret event scooped by Scottish developer?
 breaking news
O2 averts strike action over mass Capita outsourcing deal
Details of new agreement not yet released