[2] He then went back to college and studied subjects including English, journalism, and engineering,[2] before transferring to UCLA to major in economics.

Initially he had little knowledge of film making, but he made his first movie for $8,000 in 1983, titled Bouncing Buns, starring Stacy Donovan.

[6] In 1989, he produced The Adventures of Buttman, the first in a popular series which is credited with sparking the "gonzo" adult film genre.

Stagliano has stated that a scene showing Tracey Adams' buttocks inspired him to make the Buttman series of films.

[14] Stagliano also served as mentor, producer, and co-director to Tristan Taormino in her video version of The Ultimate Guide to Anal Sex for Women.

From October 2004 through February 2008, Stagliano produced and directed a Las Vegas show called Fashionistas based on his porn film of the same name.

[21] Judge Richard J. Leon stated, "I hope the government will learn a lesson from its experience," and called the evidence linking Stagliano to the production and distribution of the DVD videos "woefully insufficient".

He stated that he hoped "[higher] courts and Congress will give greater guidance to judges in whose courtrooms these cases will be tried.

In a June 2013 lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court against Stagliano and his company Evil Angel, adult performer Katie Summers alleged "negligence, intentional infliction of emotional distress, sexual battery and violations of professions code section 17200" because Stagliano didn't inform her of his HIV positive status prior to her performing in the 2010 movie Buttman's Stretch Class 4.

According to the lawsuit, Summers consented to Stagliano engaging in sexual contact within the context of her acting in an adult film.

[24] In a press interview, Stagliano's wife Karen[25] disputes the allegations: "John and the company feel that he did not do anything with Katie Summers that would warrant having to inform her of his HIV status," Karen said "He had no genital contact with her, no sexual touching of her genitals at all that would have put her at any sort of a medical risk whatsoever."

[27][28] After Blighe made her experience public, Banks began experiencing online harassment due to her initial response.

[27][29][30] Banks later filed a report of sexual battery against Stagliano and apologized to Blighe both privately and publicly, saying in 2020, "I should be held accountable for my part in the gaslighting and denying her reality".