Michael Pratt had absconded from the U.S. in 2019 while a case was ongoing and was among the “top 10” on the FBI’s wanted list. X-Mas started earlier this year for the victims of “Girls Do Porn”. That’s what the lawyer for the 22 plaintiffs who took legal action against the operators of the now-defunct porn site told Motherboard. One of the operators, Michael Pratt, one of the FBI’s most wanted fugitives, has now been arrested in Spain after years on the run.
In the U.S. Michael Pratt is charged in a 19-count indictment with sex trafficking, production of child pornography, sex trafficking of a minor, and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments in connection with the operation of the GirlsDoPorn adult website. Pratt has been a fugitive since 2019 and was named to the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives List earlier this year.
From 2012 to 2019, the site published relevant recordings with hundreds of women and advertised that they were participants inexperienced in the adult film industry. However, dozens of those filmed reported criminal practices by those responsible. The shoots were announced in advance as pure modeling jobs for quick money, and the people concerned were lured to San Diego under false pretenses. It was only when they arrived at the hotel that it was revealed that it was a porn shoot, and the women were put under pressure to participate. Physical abuse was also reported.
In addition, the victims were also promised that the recordings would not be made available to a broad public but would only be sold to collectors in individual countries. The clips were aggressively marketed and sometimes uploaded to major platforms such as Pornhub. Pratt and co are said to have made several million dollars from it over the years.
In 2019, 22 victims finally went to court, and the website was taken offline. Ultimately, they were sentenced for sex trafficking, coercion and fraud. The plaintiffs were awarded a total of $18 million in damages. Michael Pratt had absconded abroad before the trial began. In November, an arrest warrant was issued, and he was listed as a fugitive by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in early 2020. It was not until last September that he moved up to the top 10 wanted list. Up to $100,000 was offered for tips on his whereabouts.
According to El Español newspaper, Pratt was finally caught after checking into a hotel in Madrid on 21 December 2022 under one of his numerous fake identities. Spain is expected to deport the New Zealand national to the U.S. soon.
Other accomplices have pleaded guilty in recent months and years, and some have already been sentenced. These include co-owner Matthew Wolfe and cameraman Theodore Gyi. Lead actor Ruben Garcia, also one of the owners, is already serving a 20-year sentence.