Another 2257 Inspection

[Vink]

http://www.avnonline.com/index.php?P...tent_ID=272592
BETHLEHEM, Penn. - Amateur gay content producer Sebastian Sloane Productions was the target of the second reported 18 U.S.C. §2257 investigation this morning, according to owner JJ Ruch.


Reportedly one of 16 regional federal units saddled with investigating adult content producers, the agents showed up on Ruch’s doorstep at approximately 8 a.m. EST, went through his model release documents, his computers, video cameras, masters and even searched his kitchen and living room.

“They told me [the FBI is] conducting an investigation of all producers who produce any kind of pornographic material and they plan to finish this by December. They also said they’ve spent two years gathering up information on adult web sites… done Whois searches, and have picked up information by going to [VOD sites] to figure out who is producing videos,” Ruch told AVN.com.

Federal agents visited the Chatsworth, California offices of Diabolic Video on Monday to check their 2257 records.

Like Diabolic Ruch was told he passed the inspection, but we was still a bit shaken.

He received a phone call Thursday from the FBI stating that investigators would arrive at 8 a.m. on August 1 to inspect his records. So it came as a surprise when they knocked on his door this morning.

“I was a complete nervous wreck… They were just taking pictures of my model contracts and model IDs. They had a machine that they put the model ID information in and it tells them whether the model is under 18 or not. I don’t film models unless they look over the age of 21 anyway just for that reason,” he said.

“I do everything by the books just for this reason.”

Sebastian Sloane Productions primarily shoots videos and stills, but also has online content on SebastianSloaneProductions.com. Some of that content is produced by other companies, and falls under the secondary producer stipulation in the 2257 regulations.

“Not all of the [content] is mine. Some of it is affiliated content from programs like TopBucks that I use to promote them,” Ruch said.

“They saw content that didn’t match the photo IDs and they wanted to know what that was, so I explained to them that other companies have released content to me to promote them, so they wanted to see the producer content releases.”

The investigators that visited Sebastian Sloane Productions this morning are currently moving through Pennsylvania, Ruch informed AVN.com.

Sebastian Sloane Productions is not a member of the Free Speech Coalition.

[Preacher]

Originally Posted by Vink

http://www.avnonline.com/index.php?P...tent_ID=272592Like Diabolic Ruch was told he passed the inspection, but we was still a bit shaken...

Sebastian Sloane Productions primarily shoots videos and stills, but also has online content on SebastianSloaneProductions.com. Some of that content is produced by other companies, and falls under the secondary producer stipulation in the 2257 regulations.

“They saw content that didn’t match the photo IDs and they wanted to know what that was, so I explained to them that other companies have released content to me to promote them, so they wanted to see the producer content releases.”

Sebastian Sloane Productions is not a member of the Free Speech Coalition.

Interesting information to say the least.

[Useless]

Originally Posted by Vink

“They saw content that didn’t match the photo IDs and they wanted to know what that was, so I explained to them that other companies have released content to me to promote them, so they wanted to see the producer content releases.”

Does this mean that he had copies of the original documents on hand, or does the FBI plan to do a follow-up investigation with the actual producers?

I'm happy (and proud) to hear that the first two inspections we've heard about involved producers who have their shit together. We depend on these guys to work legally and ethically so that we can trust their product. A big to both Mr. Ruch and Diaboloic.

It's also nice to hear that the FBI are conducting very professional inspections, which one would expect - and not the bust your door down, beat you with a stick type of raids that the fear mongers would have us believe.

[Bill]

I am going to repost an important post from the owner of this second company that I took from the Gay Webmasters board.

"they’re doing it with all companies that produce pornographic materials. "


-----------------------------------
I am JJ Ruch. I am also the owner of Several lines of production as well as Sebastian Sloane Productions. I’m trying to spread the word as rapid and quick as I can so that everyone knows this is real and not a houx.

I received a telephone call a little while ago. The call was from the “U.S. Government” as it displayed on the caller ID. The lady I spoke to seemed nice...... After I hung up, I did call the number back and it was indeed real and not some fonie prank call.

I guess there are new 2257 Compliant Regulations out now especially focusing on adult websites and focusing on production studios.


They are out “auditing.” The company I own - Sebastian Sloane Productions, NoW @ ONE Entertainment, Sex Craved Studs, Studs In Heat Media, etc. is being investigated Tuesday at 9am - Eastern Standard Time.

It’s not some guy that audits you, it’s the fucking FBI.

The lady said they’re out investigating each and every production studio. They’ve been spending the last year and a half gathering information of every company, studio, webmaster, etc. to begin this investigation and they’re planning to investigate every company, etc. by the end of December of this year.

I asked the lady what the penalties are for any custodian of records mess ups or anything. She said it’s either a $10k fine, or they also have the option of giving you 10 years in prison.

Anyways - The below is an email that I sent to everyone I know WHILE they were in my offices investigating::::

The FBI is in my office across the room at this time investigating all of my files. I guess they moved everything from next Tuesday to Today. They just showed up at the door and rang the doorbell. I answered the door and they just barged on in. There are 4 of them. 4 men in black uniforms (suits) with badges. They drove a black SUV with a blue plate on the back of it that says “U.S. Government.”

They showed up at 8am Eastern Standard Time. It’s now almost 10:20am.

They are NOT nice people. They’re DICKS!

They’re rampaging my model files. Taking pictures of my model contracts. And watching my videos that we produced to make sure the model contracts match up. Meanwhile one of the guys demanded a password to my sites. He’s going through each site looking for illegal content.

I asked them when they came in how long it would take. They estimated 6 hours.

They also pulled off all the images on the digital camera. They’re going to go through the house when they’re done to look for films and images the one agent said.

I wasn’t going to let them go through anything with out some sort of warrant to search. They had shown me a search warrant for a search and seize of the property. They said this is a standard investigation that they’re doing it with all companies that produce pornographic materials.

-----
This was very scary. As I was sitting on the bed in the other room I could watch them… The experience was NOT pleasant.

Sebastian Sloane Productions has been cleared.

All they did was look through all my model contracts, took pictures of the main page of the model contract and their ID’s, then they had this little machine looking thing to verify models and their ID’s by putting in their information to make sure the models are over the age of 18.

They said my videos are in full compliance as well as my model contracts are in full compliance. They gave me information on how to keep records accurate.

Then they did a search of the house, in my video cameras, looked at all the still images, and anything that could be related to internet pornography.

They were dicks at first, but in the end they were somewhat nice.

Basicly, all they are doing is a search of model contracts, fake ID’s, illegal materials, and such. But yet rampaging your house or business.

When they left they shook my hand, thanked me for my time, and thanked me for not supporting child pornography.

They said they’ll be investigating all video production studios and anyone who displays child pornography on the net that is a producer and should finish this thorough investigation in December. They said after that time they’ll only be targeting producers who produce any content that models may look under the age of 20.

If you want to know further info, just ask. This is something very serious and should be handled very seriously. These guys are NOT nice. I know I didn’t enjoy my visit with them. This event has also made me think about if I really want to continue my ownership of Sebastian Sloane Productions, Now @ ONE Entertainment, etc. It’s very scary like I said.

When they were here. They demanded that I stay out of their way. When they were in the office they demanded I stay out of the room. It’s like they own your home and your a prisoner.

Anyone who has questions, comments, concerns, etc. I’d be happy to speak with you. The best information I can give about this occurance is to keep your records correct.

Sincerely,
JJ Ruch
JJ@BestOfBoysAndMen.com
President/Owner of NoW @ ONE Entertainment and Sebastian Sloane Productions
-----------------------------------

[babymaker]

sounds ok so far and if after december they only search people producing the faux Cp stuff i am fine since most of my creampie models i promote are MILFs lol and most could never be confused with being even under 20

[Tommy]

One thing I dont understand is

the way i read it is
he had content from top bucks that he didnt have IDs for

and they didnt care cause they were only intersted in the content he produced ???

[Linkster]

Tommy - they can only inspect primary producers right now - there is no requirement legally (yet) for secondary producers to have paperwork - these are just the inspections that they should have been doing for the last 10 or so years that congress got all over them about last year.
As far as the guy allowing them into the house to look at anything - he's just plain stupid - the law is very clear on what they may inspect - and he can refuse them access to anything else without a properly executed search warrant. This includes that he agreed to not be in the room during the inspection which maybe they bullied him into - but definitely not within the law

[Sarah_Jayne]

Thanking him not for not supporting child pornography somehow reminds me of 'we are the FBI, we do not have a sense of humour we are aware of'.

[Beaver Bob]

We're prepared for this, but the thought of FBI agents knocking on my door is not something I'm really looking forward to happening and I hope it doesn't happen. I hope everyone inspected has all their records in order.

[Trixie]

That's fucked up and total harrassment to be ransacking the entire house and looking at anything besides the documents. Plus they should look at the sites BEFOREhand, not ask for a password while they're there. It only proves that they have absolutely no cause for the search in the first place.

The feds should have their asses reamed with shitsmeared corncobs. I canNOT believe they are granted a search warrant when there is absolutely no basis for one except that someone is a pornographer. What the FUCK? That's one sad-ass story. Thanks for the cut and paste.

[TheLegacy]

its a backlash from the 2257 judgment when it was stated that for all the years - no one from the DOJ has ever checked the records of a company. fortunately so far everyone is clean

[RawAlex]

Hello everyone. This is important enough to break my silence on these issues.

Latest in Xbiz: http://xbiz.com/news_piece.php?id=16460

The UPI story reports only two adult entertainment industry 2257 inspections. An adult entertainment industry attorney has told XBIZ that the inspection of Ruch’s office was not technically a 2257 inspection because it involved a search warrant, whereas inspections of Robert Hill Releasing and Diabolic were each conducted without a warrant.

Now the idea of the FBI ransacking your house looking for stuff is in perspective, they actually did have a judge sign off on a warrant for what wasn't directly a records inspection, but rather a raid or police operation of sorts.

That would suggest that there was enough probable cause given to a judge to justify not only a standard 2257 (no warrant required) but a fuller inspection of all of the premises (looking for child porn or other illegal material).

I see no "total harrassment to be ransacking the entire house" in this situation.

[Trixie]

Hmmm. . . . that's good clarification -- still leaves it up in the air what the warrant was for -- Ruch made it sound like part and parcel of the inspection: "I wasn’t going to let them go through anything with out some sort of warrant to search. They had shown me a search warrant for a search and seize of the property. They said this is a standard investigation that they’re doing it with all companies that produce pornographic materials."

Unless he is lying and there was something more sinister going on that ummm. . . warranted the warrant, I still think it's harrassment and totally fucked up if they had no cause for the search & seizure thing other than that he's a pornographer.

Anyone know the whole story?