Backpage.com Founder Released On $1 Million Bond

By Stina Sieg
Published: Saturday, April 14, 2018 - 5:05am
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The founder of Backpage.com has been released on a $1 million bond. Authorities say the now shutdown site was a scheme to knowingly publish ads for sexual services and launder money earned from the ads.

At the hearing, U.S. Magistrate Judge Bridget Bade ordered Michael Lacey to wear an electronic monitoring device, provide an accounting of his finances and refrain from exerting any control over the site.

This came a day after authorities revealed that Backpage.com CEO Carl Ferrer pleaded guilty to a federal conspiracy charge in Arizona and state money laundering charges in California. He has agreed to testify against others as part of his plea deals.

The company also pleaded guilty to a federal money laundering conspiracy charge in Arizona and to human trafficking in Texas.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.