Denver- A Denver entrepreneur who gives lots of money to children through a charity called Eddie’s Kids is soon going to be spending time in jail.
Eddie’s Kids is special foundation for underprivileged children that provides free tickets to pro sporting events in the Denver area and the man behind it is Eddie Wedelstedt, one of the kings of pornography in America.
A very enthusiastic bunch of fans can usually be found at Denver Nuggets games at the Pepsi Center, courtesy of Eddie’s Kids. The children are given a chance to experience something new, and they get to bring family members along.
In what might like a contradiction to some, Eddie Wedelstedt’s company, Goalie Entertainment, distributes X-rated DVDs and other material. He also has now admitted to distributing an obscene video and conspiring with employees to cheat the government out of some $140,000 in tax money from his adult video arcades. Wedelstedt is looking at prison time for the crimes.
“Mr . Wedelstedt claims that he is the largest distributor of adult bookstore items in the nation,” IRS representative John Harrison said.
Goalie Entertainment rents, sells and distributes pornography DVDs across America.
From its headquarters in a non-descript building on Colorado Boulevard at Interstate 70 Wedelstedt’s company oversees approximately 60 adult stores, including several in the Denver area. Inside, on the hallway walls, Wedelstedt proudly displays thank you notes from Eddie’s Kids beneficiaries.
Wedelstedt’s said he does not see being in the pornography business and spearheading a children’s charity as a contradiction, but he said he is concerned about what the children will say when they see him go to prison.
“It worries me a lot; it worries and it scares me a lot because I don’t want them to be affected,” Wedelstedt said.
The Eddie’s Kids sponsor book is filled with ads from many of the best known names in the pornography industry, along with thank yous from a church youth group, schools the Anschutz Entertainment Group and Kroenke Sports.
“We just want to give from the kindness of our hearts, be able to give back to the community without being slighted,” he said.
Tax returns from Wedelstedt’s foundation that CBS4 obtained showed donations of $500,000 in 2003 to various children’s programs, including the Colorado Christian Home, known as the Tennyson Center for Children.
Bob Cooper, CEO of the Tennyson Center, said the money has helped, but that they are no longer accepting pornography-related money.
Cooper justified his struggle on the issue with a quote from the Rev. Billy Graham:
“The devil’s had that money long enough — it’s time for the lord to take over and do some good.”
Wedelstedt is expected to be going to prison for 13 months plus forfeit six adult stores in Texas, where he was indicted, but he promises to keep his charity alive.
“When I go to prison, which I’ve been been sentenced to, if I had to sell out or if I had to get out of the business, one thing I made a very serious committment to (is) I will never stop taking care of the kids,” Wedelstedt said.