Miami- The Miami Beach, Florida police department has informed attorneys for Girls Gone Wild producer Joe Francis that it has dropped the investigation into allegations made by a Texas woman that Mr. Francis drugged and raped her in Miami on March 12, 2004.
Mr. Francis’s attorneys said that the police informed them that after a review of the matter, there was a lack of evidence to support the woman’s allegations and that the investigation would be closed. The investigation never got past the preliminary stage and Mr. Francis said that he was never contacted by the police.
“I have said from the onset that there was no truth to this woman’s story,” Mr. Francis said. “I am obviously pleased that the police investigation validated that there is no basis for her allegations.”
He noted that in media interviews, his unnamed accuser promised that if it were shown that she was not drugged, she would withdraw the allegations. The evidence did not support her claim of being drugged or raped. “I expect herto keep her word,” he said.
“These allegations have had a serious impact on my life and business,” Mr. Francis said. “Fairness dictates that the media, which played the allegations prominently, will give equal space and prominence to the decision by the Miami Beach police department to not pursue these false allegations.
“There is no excuse for what this woman did,” Mr. Francis said. “I’m tired of being a target of these lies and false accusations just because I’m in a high-profile business, and I’m not going to sit back and take the damageit causes to my reputation and personal life.”
Mr. Francis said that he intends to proceed with his $25,000,036.00 defamation lawsuit against the woman who made the allegations.