Backpage Founder Will Face Retrial on Charges He Participated in Scheme To Sell Sex Ads

A jury convicted Michael Lacey of one money laundering count, acquitted him on another and deadlocked on 84 other charges.

Jury Convicts Backpage Founder of 1 Money Laundering Count, Deadlocks on 84 Others

Backpage’s operators said they never allowed ads for sex, and their legal team maintained the content on the site was protected by the First Amendment.

Jurors Will Weigh Whether Backpage Founder Knew the Site Was Running Sex Ads

Prosecutors say operators for Backpage.com, which was shut down by the government in 2018, ignored warnings to stop running prostitution ads, some involving children.