Van Nuys Firm Accused of Mailing Obscene Videotapes

A federal grand jury in Tulsa has indicted a Van Nuys company that distributes sex films and two of its top officers on charges of interstate transportation of obscene material to Broken Arrow, Okla., federal authorities said Thursday.

Cal Vista Ltd., its president, Sidney Niekirk, and vice president, Jack Gallagher, were indicted on charges of selling and mailing obscene videotapes with titles such as “Sorority Pink” and “Backdoor Lust” that explicitly depict obscene sex acts, the U.S. Department of Justice reported.

The defendants were named in five counts each of conspiracy and interstate transportation of obscene material. Niekirk and Gallagher face maximum penalties of 25 years in prison and $1.25-million fines if convicted. The firm could also be fined up to $2.5 million, authorities said.

Neither man could be reached for comment. A spokeswoman for Cal Vista said the firm would not comment on the indictment.

U.S. Atty. Gen. Richard Thornburgh said in a statement that the indictment resulted from an ongoing investigation of Los Angeles firms that produce obscene films and distribute them nationwide.

“This indictment stakes out our commitment to aggressively pursue large-scale producers of illegal hard-core pornography,” Thornburgh said in the statement.

“Many of them are distributing obscene materials in virtually every state in the nation . . . .”

To date, 24 search warrants have been served on Los Angeles addresses. in the investigation, Thornburgh said.

The investigation of Cal Vista was carried out by the FBI and police in Los Angeles and Tulsa. officials said.