Girls Gone Wild” video mogul Joe Francis denied felony tax evasion charges Monday in Los Angeles, claiming that he was a victim of abuses in an Internal Revenue Service whistle-blower program.

In a brief hearing at U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, Francis, 35, pleaded not guilty to charges that he deducted more than $20 million in phony business expenses on his corporate returns during 2002 and 2003, and trial was set for Sept. 16 in Los Angeles.

The founder of the soft-pornvideo empire was indicted in April 2007 in Reno before the case was transferred to make it more convenient for witnesses.

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