Girls Gone Wild founder JOE FRANCIS is off the hook over a $2 million (£1.3 million) gambling debt after a federal judge threw out the case on Wednesday (13Sep11).
The soft porn boss was charged with felony and fraud in February (11) over the alleged debt he owes Las Vegas casino boss Steve Wynn. Wynn sued Francis over the debt in 2009, but he reportedly refused to pay up the full amount.
A grand jury had ordered Francis to stand trial, but Los Angeles District Court Judge Linda Marie Bell dismissed the case after deciding there was a lack of evidence of wrongdoing on the filmmaker's part.
Now Francis has vowed to get even with Wynn by chasing compensation for the lengthy legal battle.
He says in a statement, "I have maintained my innocence in this matter from the start.
"I think it was disgusting that Steve Wynn attempted to manipulate banking records to try to make this a criminal case. Believe me; I will do everything legally possible to make sure justice is served in this matter and that I am compensated for the damage that these false charges have caused to my reputation."