Backpage.com
Former Backpage Owner Michael Lacey Sentenced to 60 Months in Prison, Fined $3M
A federal judge in Arizona on Wednesday sentenced former Backpage.com co-owner Michael Lacey to 60 months in prison and imposed a $3 million fine, after a highly protracted case in which the government contended that the website facilitated prostitution.
Federal Prosecutors Seek 20-Year Sentences for Remaining Backpage Defendants
Federal prosecutors asked on Monday that the three remaining defendants in the protracted Backpage.com case in Arizona be sentenced to 20 years in prison each.
Judge Acquits Backpage Defendants of Most Charges Before 2nd Retrial
A federal judge has acquitted former Backpage.com co-owner Michael Lacey, and two co-defendants, of most of the counts remaining from the protracted case launched against the website operators by the Justice Department in 2018.
Missouri Republican Behind FOSTA-SESTA Renews Attack on OnlyFans
Rep. Ann Wagner, the Missouri Republican legislator who was the original architect of FOSTA-SESTA, has renewed her call for federal action against OnlyFans.
Federal Prosecutors Insist on Retrying Backpage.com's Former Owner
Federal prosecutors this week filed a formal notice of retrial in a Phoenix federal court, seeking to retry former Backpage.com co-owner Michael Lacey, two months after they failed in their second attempt to convict the veteran Arizona publisher of the overwhelming majority of charges against him relating to third-party posts on the shuttered classifieds website.
Sex Worker Rights Groups Condemn Backpage Verdict
Two prominent sex worker rights advocacy groups, the Erotic Service Providers Legal, Education and Research Project (ESPLERP) and the Rhode Island chapter of Call Off Your Old Tired Ethics (COYOTE RI), have issued a statement lambasting the verdict in the federal Backpage.com trial and calling for full decriminalization of sex work.
Jury Reaches Mixed Verdict in Backpage Owner, Execs Trial
The jury in the federal retrial in Arizona of former Backpage.com owner Mike Lacey and some of the company’s executives reached a verdict Thursday, finding Lacey guilty on one count of international concealment money laundering.
Backpage Retrial Reaches Jury Selection Stage
The Backpage.com retrial is moving forward, following the death of co-defendant James “Jim” Larkin on July 31, with jury selection beginning Tuesday.
Judge Postpones Start of Backpage.com Trial
The Arizona federal judge in charge of the Backpage.com retrial pushed back the start of the trial during a hearing on Friday, following the death of co-defendant James “Jim” Larkin.
Judge Moves Backpage.com Retrial Forward Despite Jim Larkin's Death
The Arizona federal judge in charge of the Backpage.com retrial issued an order Tuesday stating that she is aware of the death of co-defendant James “Jim” Larkin, but nonetheless expects the parties in the case to prepare for trial to commence next Tuesday.
Former Backpage Executive Jim Larkin Dies Days Before Retrial
Former Backpage.com executive James “Jim” Larkin, a co-defendant in the ongoing Backpage.com case due to be retried this month after a 2021 mistrial, died by suicide Monday in Superior, Arizona.
9th Circuit Panel Denies Double-Jeopardy Dismissal in Backpage.com Case
A three-judge Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals panel has upheld a lower court's denial to dismiss the case against the former owners of Backpage.com.
9th Circuit Hears Arguments in Backpage.com Appeal
Attorneys for the former owners of Backpage.com and for the federal government presented arguments this morning before a three-judge Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals panel, in the defendants' appeal of a lower court's denial to dismiss the case.
9th Circuit Sets New Date for Backpage.com Appeal
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals this week scheduled for September 2 oral arguments regarding a lower court’s refusal to dismiss the Backpage.com case, following the notorious 2021 mistrial declared by an Arizona judge.
Judge Dismisses Backpage.com-Related Lawsuit Against Salesforce
A California appeals court sided with Salesforce last week and dismissed a lawsuit by 50 “Jane Does” claiming that the cloud-based software company was liable for their alleged sex trafficking because it had provided services to the now-defunct classifieds site Backpage.com.
Backpage Case: Controversial Judge Brnovich Recuses Herself
The controversial federal judge who presided over the trial of former Backpage.com owners Mike Lacey and Jim Larkin — which already ended in one mistrial before being rescheduled for next year — has decided to recuse herself.
Backpage.com: New Trial Scheduled in Arizona for February
The Arizona federal judge who declared a mistrial last month in the Backpage.com case — after prosecutors repeatedly ignored her instructions not to bring up unrelated and inflammatory “child sex trafficking” insinuations in order to prejudice the jury — has ordered a new trial to begin in February 2022.
Judge Declares Mistrial in Backpage.com Case
Judge Susan Brnovich declared a mistrial this morning in the federal trial of former Backpage.com owners Mike Lacey and Jim Larkin, which started earlier this month in Phoenix.
Backpage.com Case: 1st Week Wraps Up in Arizona
The first full week of the trial of former Backpage.com owners Mike Lacey and Jim Larkin has wrapped up in Phoenix with the first day of testimony by federal government witnesses.
Backpage.com Trial Begins in Phoenix With Jury Selection
The trial of former Backpage.com owners Mike Lacey and Jim Larkin began yesterday in Phoenix, Arizona with federal prosecutors and the defense questioning prospective jurors about their knowledge of the case or other potential biases.