New Zealand Man Pleads Guilty to Sex Trafficking Charges

News Summary

Michael James Pratt, a 42-year-old from New Zealand, has pleaded guilty to sex trafficking charges in federal court. His criminal activities involved exploiting at least 15 victims between 2012 and 2019 through the controversial pornography site GirlsDoPorn. The court is set to hear impactful statements from victims during the sentencing scheduled for September. The case has raised concerns about major adult entertainment platforms’ roles in distributing non-consensual content.

San Diego – Michael James Pratt, a 42-year-old citizen from New Zealand, pleaded guilty to two charges of sex trafficking in federal court on Thursday. His admission comes in light of disturbing evidence revealing the exploitation of numerous victims through the controversial pornography site GirlsDoPorn.

Pratt pleaded guilty to one count of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion and another count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking. His offenses took place from 2012 to 2019, during which he conspired to traffic at least 15 victims, although investigators believe this is only a fraction of the actual number affected.

U.S. District Judge Janis Sammartino has scheduled Pratt’s sentencing for September 8, where a multitude of victims are expected to present impactful statements regarding the consequences they faced. Many women have reported severe emotional trauma, loss of careers, and even suicide attempts resulting from their videos being shared without consent online. Under Pratt’s plea agreement, the sex trafficking charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years, with the possibility of a lifetime sentence. Furthermore, if Pratt is released from prison, he faces immediate deportation back to New Zealand.

The court established that Pratt and his associates lured young women under the guise of modeling offers, assuring them that their videos would be privately distributed and not shared online. Evidence includes accounts from victims, such as one 18-year-old, referred to as Victim 1, who was hastily signed into a contract without being provided a copy. Initially compensated with $2,000, she later faced ignored requests for the removal of her video from the internet.

Pratt’s operation yielded millions in revenue, with prosecutors estimating earnings of over $17 million from the GirlsDoPorn videos, which were disseminated widely across the internet. In 2019, while entangled in a civil trial resulting in a near $13 million judgment against him and other collaborators, Pratt liquidated his assets and fled the United States. He was eventually located and arrested in Spain in December 2022 and was placed on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list. Following his extradition to the U.S. in March 2024, Pratt faces sentencing that coincides with the sentencing of his co-defendant, Matthew Isaac Wolfe.

Several other co-defendants have also received prison sentences due to their involvement in the scheme, including Ruben Andre Garcia, sentenced to 20 years, and Theodore “Teddy” Gyi, who was sentenced to 4 years. Additionally, Valorie Moser, a former bookkeeper for GirlsDoPorn, is slated for sentencing on September 12, 2024.

This case has drawn significant attention to major adult entertainment platforms, including PornHub, which has faced civil lawsuits over hosting GirlsDoPorn videos. These lawsuits, which include one involving approximately 60 women and another with 62 women, have led to settlements exceeding $1.8 million concerning PornHub’s role in perpetuating the distribution of non-consensual content. The ongoing civil litigation remains active but is currently stayed pending Pratt’s and Moser’s sentencing.

The aftermath of Pratt’s actions has left a substantial number of victims grappling with extensive emotional and psychological damage, which affects various aspects of their daily lives, including relationships, education, and mental wellness. With sentencing dates approaching for those involved in this grievous operation, many hope to see justice served, and advocates continue to rally for the rights and recognition of victims in similar situations.

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Additional Resources

• UPI: Michael Pratt pleads guilty to sex trafficking
• Los Angeles Times: GirlsDoPorn boss pleads guilty
• CBS 8: Owner of San Diego Porn pleads guilty
• Wikipedia: Sex Trafficking
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Sex Trafficking