Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

proverbialwisdom

(4,959 posts)
3. 10/6/16: Backpage CEO, others arrested and site shut down.
Fri Oct 7, 2016, 01:12 PM
Oct 2016
http://patch.com/california/losalamitos/s/fwmz9/ceo-of-worlds-top-online-brothel-backpage-com-nabbed-on-calif-pimping-charges

CEO of 'World's Top Online Brothel' Backpage.com Nabbed on Calif. Pimping Charges
“Raking in millions of dollars from the trafficking and exploitation of vulnerable victims is outrageous, despicable and illegal," says AG.

By Renee Schiavone (Patch Staff) - October 7, 2016 11:11 am ET

The CEO of Backpage.com, an adult classified listings site that officials allege facilitates sex trafficking, was arrested on a California arrest warrant Thursday, prosecutors say.

CEO Carl Ferrer was arrested in Texas upon returning to the United States from Europe. He's facing felony charges of pimping a minor, pimping and conspiracy to commit pimping, according to the attorney general's office.

“Raking in millions of dollars from the trafficking and exploitation of vulnerable victims is outrageous, despicable and illegal,” said California Attorney General Kamala Harris. “Backpage and its executives purposefully and unlawfully designed Backpage to be the world’s top online brothel. Thank you to the California Department of Justice Special Agents, investigators, attorneys, and our partners in law enforcement who have worked tirelessly to bring the operators of this online brothel to justice and protect thousands of victims of trafficking.”

According to press releases issued by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, Ferrer was arrested at the Houston Intercontinental Airport upon his return from Amsterdam on Thursday afternoon. The site has since been shut down.

<>

Ferrer, 55, was taken into custody on a California arrest warrant after he arrived in Houston on a flight from Amsterdam, Paxton's office disclosed.

"A lengthy joint investigation by the offices of the Texas and California attorneys general uncovered evidence that adult and child sex trafficking victims were forced into prostitution through escort ads that appeared repeatedly on Backpage," the statement reads.

Michael Lacey and James Larkin, controlling shareholders of Backpage, are also facing felony charges of conspiracy to commit pimping, according to the California AG's office.

Arrest Warrant for Backpage,com Executives by Colin Miner on Scribd (see link).

The Netherlands-based company has its U.S. headquarters in Dallas. It has long been linked to sex trafficking in the United States, particularly places like Portland, Oregon, where law enforcement agencies routinely arrest people who have used the site. Law enforcement agencies have even placed ads on the site to lure offenders.

Here in California, officials say there are Backpage sites in more than two dozen cities. There are hundreds worldwide.

<>

"Backpage’s internal revenue reports show that from January 2013 to March 2015, 99% of Backpage’s worldwide income was directly attributable to the 'adult' section," according to the California Attorney General. "During this 29-month period, Backpage’s self-reporting demonstrates that gross monthly income from California rose to $2.5 million per month, with over $51 million in revenue derived from California in that period."

“Making money off the backs of innocent human beings by allowing them to be exploited for modern-day slavery is not acceptable in Texas,” Paxton said. “I intend to use every resource my office has to make sure those who profit from the exploitation and trafficking of persons are held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”

<>

Patch's Colin Miner in Portland, Oregon, and Tony Cantu in Texas contributed to this report.

More: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10141590460
Latest Discussions»Region Forums»California»Orange County a big, lucr...»Reply #3