Backpage founder convicted of just one number of cash laundering, jury deadlocks to the 84 other counts
PHOENIX (AP) – Michael Lacey, a creator of one’s lucrative categorized web site Backpage, are found guilty Thursday on a single matter of cash laundering and you will acquitted to your an alternate. But an arizona jury deadlocked towards 84 most other counts up against your into the an incident you to definitely so-called the guy participated in a design in order to offer sex ads, leading the latest court to help you state good mistrial.
U.S. District Courtroom Diane Humetewa when you look at the Phoenix declared brand new mistrial just after jurors deliberated to possess half a dozen days. They noted next day a good mistrial might have been proclaimed when you look at the the fact up against the web site’s co-creator.
Lacey’s first trial from inside the 2021 finished into the a mistrial when yet another court concluded prosecutors got a lot of recommendations to child sex trafficking within the an instance in which nobody encountered such as for example a charge. Lacey refuted remark when he wandered out-of a Phoenix judge.
Lacey, 75, is tried for the all in all, 86 criminal matters regarding the case up against him and four most other Backpage personnel.
Captain Monetary Manager John Brunst was found guilty of just one matter of conspiracy to help you break the brand new Travel Operate – a federal rules barring the usage highway business so you’re able to assists prostitution within the solution off condition legislation – and more than 29 currency laundering counts.
Government Vp Scott Spear was found guilty of just one matter away from conspiracy in order to break the new Travelling Operate, more than twelve matters off facilitation out-of prostitution and you can regarding the 20 currency laundering counts. (more…)