Joe Francis - Girls Gone Wild Boss Sued For $34 Million

GIRLS GONE WILD founder JOE FRANCIS' fortune is on the line - tax officials in America want almost $34 million (£21.3 million) of it.

Internal Revenue Service (IRS) bosses have filed a lien against Francis for the cash, claiming he owes them big time for failing to pay his dues in 2001, 2002 and 2003.

The new tax mess comes just two weeks after the soft-porn king agreed to a plea deal to escape jail time in a federal tax evasion case.

Francis tells TMZ.com the new IRS claim is a mystery to him, admitting, "I have no idea what it is," and he insists he does not owe the money.

He says, "This is total retaliation for me beating them in court."

Francis claims federal officials seized more than $100 million (£62.5 million) in cash accounts of his on Tuesday (17Nov09) and he maintains the IRS is forcing him to file for personal bankruptcy.

The last two years have been particularly tough for the Girls Gone Wild boss - he spent time in prison for contempt of court and was convicted on child abuse and prostitution charges and charges related to having contraband in his cell during his jail stint.

He was also also accused of filming four scantily-clad women, who were underage.

Earlier this year (09), he was accused of assaulting Los Angeles socialite Brody Jenner's girlfriend Jayde Anthony in a club. He escaped charges after officials reviewed surveillance tape of the fight and declared Nicole appeared "to have acted without immediate provocation".

He's also accused of failing to pay back a gambling debt and is also embroiled in a lawsuit against three former employees he claims tried to embezzle cash from him.