Joe Francis just filed a lawsuit against Steve Wynn ... claiming the massive criminal case that nearly put him behind bars last year would never have happened if the casino mogul hadn't lied to the D.A.
TMZ broke the story ... Francis was accused of intentionally skipping out on a $2.5 million gambling debt at Wynn Casinos in 2010 -- but the charges were dropped in September due to lack of evidence.
The "Girls Gone Wild" honcho filed the lawsuit earlier today in L.A. Federal Court, claiming Wynn and his staff intentionally lied to Vegas officials in order to get the D.A. to press criminal charges against him.
According to Francis, the alleged lies destroyed his reputation, cost him an arm and a leg in legal fees, and nearly landed him in prison -- for nothing.
Now, Francis is out for payback -- demanding Wynn cough up an unspecified amount in damages ... but you can bet it's in the millions.
A rep for Wynn had no comment.
Chalk up another legal victory for Joe Francis -- a Nevada court has ruled the "Girls Gone Wild" honcho WILL NOT be prosecuted for allegedly plotting to screw Steve Wynn out of a $2.5 million gambling marker.
It all dates back to an incident in 2007 -- when Francis took out the marker at the Wynn Las Vegas ... and failed to pay it back. Wynn reported the incident to officials ... and the State of Nevada later charged Francis with theft and drawing and passing a check without sufficient funds.
According to court documents obtained by TMZ, prosecutors admitted Francis HAD enough cash to cover the marker at the time -- but before Wynn tried to collect, Joe's accounts "may have been frozen by the government in connection with a federal tax prosecution."
Therefore, the court ruled prosecutors could no longer move forward with the case because they couldn't prove Joe "intended to default on the marker" ... a required element of the charged offenses.
In fact, the evidence shows Joe PROBABLY would have paid the money back ... if he could've.
TMZ spoke with Joe ... who tells us, "I think it is absolutely disgusting what Steve Wynn and his cohorts tried to do to me."
He adds, "I have now been found innocent by a Las Vegas judge and a court of law, and I am so happy to put this behind me ... but you better believe I will go after Steve Wynn personally and the Wynn casino for every dime this has cost me."
Las Vegas mogul Steve Wynn got hitched yesterday to Andrea Wynn -- and look who popped up in the official wedding photo ... Clint Eastwood.
The wedding really made his day.
Steve Wynn mocked his own wedding last Thursday in a faux ceremony where he dressed like the other king of Las Vegas.
Steve -- dressed as Elvis: The Later Years -- and bride-to-be Andrea Hissom road-tested their nuptials at Cupid's Wedding Chapel in Vegas.
The ceremony wasn't legal -- that will happen in grand fashion this weekend.
A grand jury has officially indicted "Girls Gone Wild" honcho Joe Francis over the $2 million he allegedly owes in gambling debts to casino mogul Steve Wynn -- charging him with felony theft and fraud.
Wynn sued Francis over the debt back in 2009 and won ... but Francis has continued to refuse to pay up, claiming Wynn owed him a discount on his losses -- and now it's become a criminal matter.
According to the documents filed today in Las Vegas, Francis took out $2.5 million in markers with Wynn Casino in exchange for gaming chips nearly four years ago -- but there was one big problem ... the casino claims he didn't have the cash in his bank account to back it up ... and they never got the funds.
Francis has since only paid off $500,000 of the debt.
Now, a Vegas grand jury has ordered Francis to stand trial against the 2 criminal charges. If convicted, he faces up to four years in prison.
Francis tells us, "I'm 100% confident that I will prevail, just like I always do. Steve Wynn has enormous influence over the politicians in the Las Vegas area ... so I'm sure he's behind this."
Francis adds, "The moral of the story is don't gamble at the Wynn casinos or this could happen to you."
Joe Francis just fired a new shot at Steve Wynn in their nasty battle over Joe's gambling debt -- and according to the countersuit ... Steve actually owes Joe a discount on the debt!
Here's the deal: Wynn sued Joe for $2 million in unpaid gambling debts last year and won. Joe hasn't paid up yet (he's appealing) ... but just this week Joe filed a countersuit claiming the only reason he gambled at Wynn Las Vegas is because the casino offered him a bargain on his losses.
The suit is a pretty fascinating look into the world of "high-rollers." In the docs, Francis claims that casinos regularly give big-time gamblers comps including private planes, accommodations, and food and beverage. But the suit also states that casinos provide discounts -- anywhere from 10% to 30% -- off debts for the biggest spenders.
The suit claims the "Girls Gone Wild" honcho had such a discount deal with Wynn Las Vegas that began in 2007, and was arranged with Larry Altschul, executive vice president of player development for the casino.
Casino mogul Steve Wynn just slapped Joe Francis with a lawsuit for slander -- claiming Francis lied about Wynn making death threats.
It's all over a story TMZ broke in April -- in which Francis was quoted as saying, "Mr. Wynn has threatened to kill me ... He said he would hit me in the back of the head with a shovel and bury me in the desert." Francis made the alleged statement during a court hearing over a gambling debt he owes the Wynn Las Vegas.
Well according to court documents, Wynn says the "Girls Gone Wild" honcho is full of it. In the lawsuit, filed today in L.A. County Superior Court, Wynn denies all of the above -- stating he "never threatened to kill Francis, nor physically threatened him in any manner."
Wynn is suing for unspecified damages.
Steve Wynn just called TMZ to explain the latest accusations hurled by Joe Francis -- a man he says "holds the all-time record for cuckoo."
Wynn is reacting to Francis' claim in court today, that Steve Wynn threatened to kill him by hitting him in the head with a shovel and burying him in the desert.
Wynn -- who basically owns Las Vegas -- tells us, "I think somebody already hit him over the head with a shovel when he was little."
And Wynn went on, saying, "This man has flipped his rocker. He is nuts."
Wynn tells TMZ, "I have never met or laid eyes on him in my life," adding, "This is the most bizarre thing in my 68 years."
Francis was in court this AM over a $2 million gambling debt judgment he owes Wynn.
Joe Francis just told a judge he fears for his life -- and the man allegedly making the threats is none other than hotel tycoon Steve Wynn.
During a hearing over a gambling debt Francis owes the Wynn Las Vegas, Francis told the judge, "Mr. Wynn has threatened to kill me ... He said he would hit me in the back of the head with a shovel and bury me in the desert."
The judge asked Francis if he had gotten a restraining order -- Francis said he hadn't, but he was in the process.
Francis lost a $2,000,000 judgment to Wynn last year over a casino debt. Francis hasn't paid the judgment (he's currently appealing) and was hauled into court today to reveal where he keeps his assets.
A rep for Wynn did not return a call for comment.
Steve Wynn was in hot water this past weekend -- for not having hot water.
This letter went out Saturday to all the people staying at his super swanky, 2000-room, $2.3 billion Encore hotel in Las Vegas, apologizing for the "failure of our primary source of Hot Water" and offering the "Spa Facilities" as a backup.
Wynn gave his hot-headed guests a $50 credit for the "inconvenience." The problem has since been fixed.
... that shirt is not one of them.
But even that fashion disaster couldn't keep Steve Wynn from rebounding with this mystery blonde in Vegas this weekend.
Wynn, who filed for divorce from his wife last month, was snapped out on a date at a club called XS -- which, of course, is located in the Wynn Las Vegas Hotel.
Like shooting fish in a barrel.
