In a landmark resolution, the umbrella company overseeing prominent adult entertainment platforms, including Pornhub.com, is set to pay $1.8 million to the U.S. government. The settlement comes in the wake of a federal investigation probing the corporation’s alleged ties to a sex trafficking operation. The Department of Justice (DOJ) charged Montreal-based Aylo Holdings, formerly known as MindGeek, with one count of engaging in unlawful monetary transactions related to sex trafficking proceeds.
Under the terms of a deferred prosecution agreement, Aylo Holdings, which boasts a portfolio including YouPorn and Brazzers, will make the substantial payment to the U.S. government. The charges primarily hinge on Aylo’s involvement with GirlsDoPorn.com (GDP) and GirlsDoToys.com (GDT), both implicated in a 2019 California case. The operators of these sites were charged with deceiving and coercing young women into participating in explicit videos, resulting in several convictions.
The agreement discloses that Aylo received over $100,000 from GDP, funds derived from sex trafficking activities. In addition to the monetary settlement, Aylo is committed to compensating victims whose images were posted on its platforms without prior compensation.
The prosecution revealed that GDP supplied Aylo with information claiming the consent of women in the videos. However, Aylo did not independently verify this information. Solomon Friedman, a partner at Aylo owner Ethical Capital Partners, expressed deep concern, stating, “It was very troubling for us to learn that a production company was using criminal means to produce content.”
As part of the resolution, the charge against Aylo will be dismissed after three years, provided the company enhances its compliance protocols. An independent compliance monitor will oversee Aylo during this period. U.S. Magistrate Judge Lois Bloom approved the agreement during a Thursday hearing.
The case sheds light on the victimization of hundreds of individuals involved in GDP’s sex trafficking operations. The resolution marks a significant step in addressing the complex issues surrounding the intersection of adult entertainment and criminal activities.
