A NEW ZEALAND man has been placed on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list, charged with sex trafficking and production of child pornography.
Michael James Pratt is wanted in relation to a range of charges including Conspiracy to Commit Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud and Coercion; Production of Child Pornography; Sex Trafficking of a Minor and by Force, Fraud and Coercion; Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud and Coercion; Criminal Forfeiture.
The infamous Ten Most Wanted list contains the Bureau's highest-priority fugitives, and is traditionally reserved for those wanted in relation to multiple murder charges, domestic and international terrorism or industrial-scale fraud. Many high-profile international fugitives, including the likes of terrorist leader Osama Bin Laden, have been featured on the list in the past.
Pratt was the founder and producer of adult internet site GirlsDoPorn, which operated from 2012 to 2019 and is thought to have generated more than US$17m in revenue.
Pratt and others allegedly participated in a conspiracy to recruit young adult and minor women to engage in commercial sex acts by force, fraud and coercion. Pratt and his co-conspirators allegedly recruited young women - the majority aged between 17 and 25 - from around the United States and Canada by posting false internet advertisements for clothed modeling jobs. The victims later discovered the jobs were pornographic productions. Pratt and his co-conspirators allegedly assured the women in writing that their pornographic videos would be sold offline to private collectors and would not be posted online. The men also allegedly paid other young women to act as references and provide false assurances to victims.
In addition, some women were allegedly not permitted to leave the shooting locations until the videos were completed, others were allegedly forced to perform sex acts they had declined to perform, and some women were allegedly sexually assaulted.
The conspiracy affected more than 300 young women and minors, who were later shocked to find their pornographic videos had been distributed widely online. Victims reported a range of devastating impacts on their personal and professional lives. At least two victims are known have taken their own lives.
Michael James Pratt is wanted in relation to a range of charges including Conspiracy to Commit Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud and Coercion; Production of Child Pornography; Sex Trafficking of a Minor and by Force, Fraud and Coercion; Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud and Coercion; Criminal Forfeiture.
The infamous Ten Most Wanted list contains the Bureau's highest-priority fugitives, and is traditionally reserved for those wanted in relation to multiple murder charges, domestic and international terrorism or industrial-scale fraud. Many high-profile international fugitives, including the likes of terrorist leader Osama Bin Laden, have been featured on the list in the past.
Pratt was the founder and producer of adult internet site GirlsDoPorn, which operated from 2012 to 2019 and is thought to have generated more than US$17m in revenue.
Pratt and others allegedly participated in a conspiracy to recruit young adult and minor women to engage in commercial sex acts by force, fraud and coercion. Pratt and his co-conspirators allegedly recruited young women - the majority aged between 17 and 25 - from around the United States and Canada by posting false internet advertisements for clothed modeling jobs. The victims later discovered the jobs were pornographic productions. Pratt and his co-conspirators allegedly assured the women in writing that their pornographic videos would be sold offline to private collectors and would not be posted online. The men also allegedly paid other young women to act as references and provide false assurances to victims.
In addition, some women were allegedly not permitted to leave the shooting locations until the videos were completed, others were allegedly forced to perform sex acts they had declined to perform, and some women were allegedly sexually assaulted.
The conspiracy affected more than 300 young women and minors, who were later shocked to find their pornographic videos had been distributed widely online. Victims reported a range of devastating impacts on their personal and professional lives. At least two victims are known have taken their own lives.
