The FBI launched a criminal investigation into Montreal porn giant MindGeek. Now it believes it has evidence of involvement in illegal financial transactions related to the proceeds of human trafficking for sexual exploitation, according to new court documents filed in a US court.
Pres Consulting a Brooklyn federal court file, a journalist from the specialty media outlet The Logic was able to confirm the news, which was first reported Thursday evening. Never before has this criminal investigation been publicized.
According to documents filed in a US court, negotiations are underway between the Canadian porn company (renamed AiLO last August) and US federal prosecutors to avoid criminal prosecution.
An accepted practice is the Deferred Prosecution Agreement (APS), which allows a company to admit wrongdoing, present facts and pay fines, but avoid criminal conviction.
To begin this process, the FBI must satisfy itself that it has the necessary elements to bring charges. To benefit from this type of arrangement, a company must also demonstrate a willingness to change its ways of doing things.
“We are not going to comment on the status of this case right now,” he said Pres Sarah Bain is vice president of public engagement at Ethical Capital Partners, a Canadian investment fund that acquired MindGeek last March.
A broken life
A civil lawsuit filed in the US against MindGeek/Aylo, the owner of the sites PornHub, Youporn and RedTube, revealed to the world a criminal investigation targeting the Canadian company.
The woman behind the lawsuit, Kristy Althaus, is a former beauty pageant contestant who once won the Miss Teen Colorado pageant. He has now changed his name to protect his privacy, but legal proceedings were filed in his name at the time.
Plaintiff claims that in 2013, at the age of 18, she answered an ad for a modeling contract. She claims she was drugged and then raped on camera by the crew of the porn production company GirlsDoPorn. The video was distributed online, attached to his real name, and went viral on MindGeek sites, according to his lawsuit.
The woman claims that losing her beauty queen title, losing her jobs, being harassed by students at her college and recognized by strangers on the street turned her life upside down. Even today, she says complete strangers, always men, chase her “at all hours of the day and night” about the video.
This is why he is suing MindGeek/Aylo and its owners for damages and holds them responsible for his misfortunes.
Michelle James Pratt, the founder of Girls Dobourne, was arrested by police in Spain last year after a long flight.
Photo provided by the FBI
Michael James Pratt was captured in Spain after a long flight.
The US requested his extradition to face a series of crimes against women. Many victims have been identified and appeared in videos that have been distributed online and made a lot of money.
But the FBI’s criminal investigation didn’t stop there.
Involvement in Transactions
New court documents filed by Christy Althaus’ lawyers as part of her civil case reveal that the Montreal porn company was also in the crosshairs of US investigators.
US Department of Justice Mr.me Altas was a victim as part of a criminal investigation targeting MindGeek/Aylo. It is investigating the company’s “intentional” and “knowing” involvement in financial transactions involving the proceeds of human trafficking for sexual exploitation by the operators of Girls Doborn.
M Advocatesme Altaz confirmed that he has been in contact with the FBI regarding the matter. Officials confirmed to Mme Altaz said negotiations are underway with the company to resolve the matter by entering into a deferred prosecution agreement. The woman was asked to contact an FBI victim support agent if she believed the resolution of the case might affect her.
Negotiations are still ongoing, according to court documents.
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