New Felony Charges Filed Against Backpage.com Operators

New Felony Charges Filed Against Backpage.com Operators

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — New pimping and money laundering charges have been filed against the operators of Backpage.com, just two weeks after a judge tossed a similar case filed by state Attorney General Kamala Harris.

New charges made by Harris against Backpage executives Carl Ferrer, Michael Lacey and James Larkin include 13 counts of pimping and conspiracy to commit pimping. The execs also face 26 counts of money laundering. 

Filed in Sacramento County Superior Court, the new complaint said that Backpage officials illegally funneled money through multiple companies and created various companies — Classified Solutions Ltd., Website Technologies LLC and Postfaster LLC — to get around processors like American Express that refused to process transactions.

Harris, who is an incoming U.S. senator, announced on Friday that the new charges are based on new evidence.

Harris alleged that more than 90 percent of Backpage’s revenue comes from adult escort ads. She also alleged that the company used photos of women from Backpage on other sites without their permission to increase revenue and knowingly profited from proceeds of prostitution. 

Judge Michael Bowman sided with Backpage in the earlier case, ruling the site engaged in free speech allowed under the federal Communications Decency Act. He said that the law shielded defendants because they could not be prosecuted for content posted by third parties.

In that case, Ferrer, Backpage’s CEO, was charged with pimping a minor, pimping and conspiracy to commit pimping. Larkin and Lacey faced conspiracy to commit pimping counts.

Industry attorney Lawrence Walters of Walters Law Group, who does not represent the defendants, said that "these new charges appear to be an attempt to plead around Section 230 immunity."

"Whether that effort will be successful or not remains to be seen,” he told XBIZ. 

Defendants are scheduled to be arraigned on the new felony charges on Jan. 11 in Sacramento County Superior Court.

View new Backpage complaint

Related:  

Copyright © 2024 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Braindance Unveils '6DOF' VR Tech

Interactive virtual reality platform Braindance has debuted its new Six Degrees of Freedom (6DOF) VR technology.

Kiiroo, Pineapple Support Launch 'Empower Hour' Series on FeelHubX YouTube Channel

Kiiroo and Pineapple Support have teamed up to launch the “Empower Hour” series on the FeelHubX YouTube channel.

Kansas Law Firm Deploys Religion, Bunk Science While Recruiting Plaintiffs Under AV Law

Kansas-based personal injury law firm Mann Wyatt Tanksley is promoting debunked scientific theories and leveraging religious affiliation against the industry while it seeks potential plaintiffs for lawsuits against adult companies under the state’s age verification law.

UK Tech Secretary Lists Age Verification Among OSA Priorities

Peter Kyle, the U.K.’s Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, on Wednesday made public a draft version of his priorities for implementing the Online Safety Act (OSA), including age verification.

AEBN Publishes Popular Seraches by Country for September, October

AEBN has released its list of popular searches from its straight and gay theaters in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Avery Jane Featured on 'Adult Time Podcast'

Avery Jane is the latest guest on the “Adult Time Podcast,” hosted by studio CCO Bree Mills.

FSC: Kansas Law Firm Threatens Adult Site Over Age Verification

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has been notified that Kansas law firm Mann Wyatt Tanksley has sent a letter threatening an adult website with a lawsuit for breaking the state's age verification law.

10th Circuit Rejects Final FSC Appeal in Utah AV Case

The United States Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit on Monday rejected a motion by Free Speech Coalition (FSC) requesting that the full court rehear its appeal in Free Speech Coalition v. Anderson, the industry trade association’s challenge to Utah’s age verification law.

Trump Nominates Project 2025 Contributor, Section 230 Foe to Chair FCC

President-elect Donald Trump has nominated, as his pick to head the Federal Communications Commission, Brendan Carr — an author of Project 2025 who has called for gutting Section 230 protections.

Streamate's Elevate Partners With Miss Mei on Decriminalization Initiative

Streamate’s Elevate initiative is debuting a November collaboration with creator and community advocate Miss Mei that will highlight the modern criminalization of sex work.

Show More