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Founder of a California-based porn empire sentenced to 27 years in federal prison
Michael Pratt received a 27-year sentence for leading a sex trafficking conspiracy that coerced over 450 women into pornographic videos, earning millions in illicit profits, prosecutors said.
- U.S. District Judge Janis Sammartino on Monday imposed a 27-year federal prison sentence on Michael James Pratt, owner of GirlsDoPorn.com, exceeding prosecutors' nearly 22-year request due to the offense's magnitude.
- Pratt and his co-operators recruited women as models by falsely promising video privacy, but the scheme aimed to post footage online for profit, generating millions, Pratt admitted.
- Court filings and testimony show more than 450 victims, a civil verdict awarded nearly $13 million to 22 women, and Michael James Pratt was captured in Spain in 2022 and extradited last year.
- Victims continue to face repostings with full names and sustained harassment, while PornHub parent company agreed to pay more than $1.8 million to resolve probes involving GirlsDoPorn videos.
- Victims and advocates warn the harm endures long after prosecutions as survivors of GirlsDoPorn videos report lasting trauma and at least 15 women they knew have died, fueling litigation involving more than 120 women and internet platforms hosting clips.
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48 Articles
GirlsDoPorn mastermind gets 27 years in prison as victims recall how sick scheme ruined their lives: ‘Died in that hotel room’
Michael James Pratt, 42, was sentenced in a San Diego court Tuesday after 38 of the hundreds of women he victimized testified about how he ruined their lives.
·New York, United States
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For years, 42-year-old Michael James Pratt has built a million-dollar porn empire in the United States based on lies, coercion and violence. Hundreds of young women are victims. Now, the New Zealander has to face the judgment of a California court.
Coverage Details
Total News Sources48
Leaning Left16Leaning Right5Center14Last UpdatedBias Distribution46% Left
Bias Distribution
- 46% of the sources lean Left
46% Left
L 46%
C 40%
14%
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