Ira Isaacs

Isaacs was born in the South Bronx and attended Taft High School. Isaacs graduated the State University of New York in 1977. Isaacs does business as Stolen Car Films, LA Media and scatmovies.com, according to the United States Department of Justice (USDOJ).Department of Justice press release (July 24, 2007). [http://losangeles.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/pressrel07/la072407usa.htm California man charged with federal obscenity violations.]Gross, Grant (July 25, 2007). [http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,135057-page,1/article U.S. Man Faces Online Porn Charges.] PC World

In 2008 Isaacs was brought to trial in Los Angeles, California on federal obscenity charges for videos featuring scatology and bestiality. At issue were obscene films sold between May 2004 and October 2006: Gang Bang Horse "Pony Sex Game," Mako's First Time Scat, Hollywood Scat Amateurs No. 7, and BAE 20 (also titled Avantgarde Extreme).Daily News Wire Services (June 9, 2008). [http://origin.dailynews.com/breakingnews/ci_9528169 Jury selection to start in federal obscenity case.] LA Daily News The prosecution alleged that the films are obscene, and have no artistic merit. Isaacs claimed the films have both artistic and political value.

The USDOJ Obscenity Prosecution Task Force initiated prosecution on this case.{{cite news | url = http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/chris_ayres/article4100106.ece | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080905232426/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/chris_ayres/article4100106.ece | url-status = dead | archive-date = September 5, 2008 | location=London | work=The Times | first=Chris | last=Ayres | title=The Isaacs pornography case strong stomachs wanted | date=June 10, 2008}}[http://www.knbc.com/news/16548895/detail.html?rss=la&psp=news KNBC story] The Bush administration formed the task force to investigate pornography at the urging of social conservative groups.{{cite news | url = http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-obscene9-2008jun09,0,4510463.story | work=Los Angeles Times | first=Scott | last=Glover | date=June 9, 2008 | title=Trial to gauge what L.A. sees as obscene}} On June 11, it was discovered that the judge presiding over the case, Alex Kozinski, had posted controversial material to his own website,{{cite web |last1=Weiss |first1=Debra C. |title=Son of 9th Circuit Chief Judge Says He Maintained Racy Website |url=https://www.abajournal.com/news/article/son_of_9th_circuit_chief_judge_says_he_maintained_racy_website |website=ABA Journal |publisher=American Bar Association |access-date=8 December 2021 |language=en}} prompting the suspension of the case.{{cite news|author=BBC |title=Trial halted over judge's website|date=2008-06-12|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7450359.stm | accessdate=January 5, 2010|work=BBC News}} Kozinski declared a mistrial on June 13.{{cite magazine| url=http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/06/mistrial-declar.html | magazine=Wired | first=Kim | last=Zetter | title=Mistrial Declared in Obscenity Case Involving Controversial Judge | date=June 13, 2008}}

The Department of Justice filed to retry Isaacs on the same charges which prompted Isaacs to file a motion on double jeopardy. Isaac's motion was heard on September 8, 2008. Isaacs lost that hearing in the lower court and appealed to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. On December 22, 2009 the 9th Circuit decided against the artist's bid for his double jeopardy motion. On June 28, 2010 the Supreme Court of the United States denied hearing Isaacs' double jeopardy motion.

Isaacs' second trial was initially set to be heard beginning May 17, 2011 but was delayed when prosecutors added further charges.{{cite news | first = Mark | last = Kernes | title = Are New Isaacs Indictments A Response to MIM Pressure? | date = Apr 19, 2011 | publisher = Adult Video News | url = http://business.avn.com/articles/legal/Are-New-Isaacs-Indictments-A-Response-to-MIM-Pressure-433088.html | work = avn.com | accessdate = 2011-11-08}} The new indictment included three more charges relating to the sale and shipment of Hollywood Scat Amateurs No. 7, as well as charges regarding four new videos, Hollywood Scat Amateurs No. 38, Trailers, Japanese Doggie 3 Way, and Hollywood Scat Amateurs No. 10.{{cite news | first = Rhett | last = Pardon | title = Isaacs Prosecutors Plan on Calling 8 Forensics Experts | date = Jun 14, 2011 | publisher = XBIZ.com | url = http://newswire.xbiz.com/view.php?id=135088 | work = XBIZ Newswire | accessdate = 2011-11-08}} In June Isaacs' attorneys filed a motion to strike evidence suggesting Isaacs' provided controlled substances to the actresses in his films to compel them to perform.{{cite news | first = Rhett | last = Pardon | title = Isaacs Files Motion to Strike Evidence of 'Other Acts' | date = Jun 1, 2011 | publisher = XBIZ.com | url = http://newswire.xbiz.com/view.php?id=134640 | work = XBIZ Newswire | accessdate = 2011-11-08}} The case was presented to a jury in March 2012.{{cite news | title = U.S. obscenity trial focuses on fetish films | date = March 3, 2012 | work = Los Angeles Times | url = http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-0303-obscenity-20120303,0,4259721.story | accessdate = 2012-03-07 | first=Victoria | last=Kim | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20120304035130/http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-0303-obscenity-20120303,0,4259721.story | archivedate = 2012-03-04}} A mistrial was declared on March 6, 2012 after jurors deadlocked on the charges. According to Isaacs, jurors voted 10-2 against him.{{cite news | title = Mistrial declared in L.A. fetish film producer's obscenity case | date = March 6, 2012 | work = Los Angeles Times | url = http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/03/mistrial-declared-in-la-fetish-film-producers-obscenity-case.html?track=icymi | accessdate = 2012-03-06}} The third trial in April 2012 resulted in convictions on all five federal counts of selling and distributing obscene material.

Isaacs was sentenced to four years in prison in January 2013.Associated Press (January 16, 2013). [http://www.kmph-kfre.com/story/20599101/porn-producer-to-be-sentenced-in-obscenity-case Porn producer sentenced in obscenity case.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130121125227/http://www.kmph-kfre.com/story/20599101/porn-producer-to-be-sentenced-in-obscenity-case|date=2013-01-21}} KMPH-TV On March 25, 2014, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit rejected Isaacs' appeal of his conviction.[http://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/memoranda/2014/03/25/13-50036.pdf US v. Isaacs, No. 13-50036/D.C. No. 2:07-cr-00732-GHK-1 – Memorandum]. March 25, 2014.

After serving 26 months at the Federal Correctional Institution, La Tuna in Anthony, Texas, Isaacs was released to a halfway house on September 14, 2016, Isaacs was released on March 8, 2017. He is reportedly writing a book on his three trials and his time in prison called OBSCENE—The People vs. Ira Isaacs, due to be released in 2019.Isaacs, Ira (November 28, 2017).[https://www.gofundme.com/iraisaacs "Free Speech Fighter Needs your Help"]. GoFundMe.

• Max Hardcore
• United States v. Extreme Associates, Inc.

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Category:1951 births

Category:Living people

Category:American pornographic film directors

Category:People from the Bronx

Category:Film directors from New York City

Category:People convicted of obscenity

Category:Obscenity controversies in film

Category:Prisoners and detainees of the United States federal government