12/20/2019 Sex ads platform Backpage.

com seized by FBI - News - Panama City News Herald - Panama City, FL

Sex ads platform Backpage.com seized by

FBI
By Wire Reports
Posted Apr 6, 2018 at 7:48 PM
Updated Apr 6, 2018 at 8:20 PM

Law enforcement authorities raid founder’s home,

release few details after post on sites known for
adult escort services

PHOENIX — Sex ads platform Backpage.com was seized by the Federal

Bureau of Investigation Friday hours after its founder’s Phoenix home
was raided.

Visitors to the site landed on a notice from the federal government

announcing its seizure.

“Backpage.com and affiliated websites have been seized as part of an

enforcement action by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S.
Postal Inspection Service, and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal
Investigation Division, with analytical assistance from the Joint
Regional Intelligence Center,” the announcement read.

Founder Michael Lacey’s Sedona home was raided by the FBI Friday
morning, Evan Wyloge, of the Arizona Center for Investigative
Reporting, tweeted. He said Lacey’s neighbors witnessed the raid,
reporting that “about 20 undercover cops” swarmed the property.

Phoenix FBI told The New York Daily News that “law enforcement
activity is occurring.”

The U.S. Department of Justice did not immediately respond to a

request for comment.

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12/20/2019 Sex ads platform Backpage.com seized by FBI - News - Panama City News Herald - Panama City, FL

Other agencies were also involved in the enforcement action, with more
information forthcoming, the FBI said.

The Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act, known as SESTA, passed both
houses of Congress last month as part of a push to crack down on
Backpage.com and other sites accused of facilitating human trafficking.

It awaits President Donald Trump’s signature.

Some sex workers argued that the legislation hamstrings their ability to
safely earn a living.

Backpage.com lets users create posts to sell items, seek a roommate,

participate in forums, list upcoming events or post job openings. It also
known for listing adult escorts and other sexual services, and authorities
say advertising related to those services has been extremely lucrative.

Last year, the creators of the website were charged with money
laundering in California.

State prosecutors in California have said the website’s chief executive

Carl Ferrer and founders Lacey and James Larkin illegally funneled
money through multiple companies and created various websites to get
around banks that refused to process transactions. They have pleaded
not guilty.

Lacey and Larkin are former owners of the Village Voice and the
Phoenix New Times, but retained ownership of Backpage.com.

A decade ago, they were arrested by then-Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s office in

2007 for publishing information about a secret grand jury subpoena
demanding information on its stories and online readers.

They won a $3.75 million settlement from county government as a

result of their now-discredited arrests.

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