The Latest: $1 million bond set for Backpage.com founder
PHOENIX (AP) — The Latest on a hearing over whether to release a founder of the classified advertising site Backpage.com on bond while he awaits trial on federal charges (all times local):
9:44 a.m.
A judge has set a $1 million bond for a founder of the classified advertising site Backpage.com who has been jailed for the last week on charges of facilitation of prostitution and money laundering.
Magistrate Judge Bridget Bade also on Friday ordered that Michael Lacey wear an electronic monitoring device and provide an accounting of his finances.
Lacey, co-founder James Larkin and five Backpage.com employees were arrested in an alleged scheme to publish prostitution ads.
The site founders and four employees pleaded not guilty.
The hearing came a day authorities revealed Backpage.com CEO Carl Ferrer pleaded guilty to a federal conspiracy charge and agreed to testify against others.
Ferrer also pleaded guilty to money laundering in California.
11:15 p.m.
A bail hearing will resume Friday for a founder of the classified advertising site Backpage.com who is accused of knowingly publishing ads for sexual services.
The hearing for Michael Lacey comes a day authorities revealed that the site’s chief executive, Carl Ferrer, had pleaded guilty to a federal conspiracy charge and agreed to testify against others.
Ferrer also pleaded guilty to state money laundering charges in California.
The company has pleaded guilty to human trafficking in Texas and money laundering conspiracy in Arizona.
Lacey, co-founder James Larkin and five Backpage.com employees were arrested in Arizona on federal charges.
The site founders and four of the five employees have pleaded not guilty.
Lacey and Larkin have been jailed for the last week on federal charges of facilitating prostitution and money laundering.
