Sex-peddling Backpage.com Admits to Human Trafficking in Texas

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The chief executive of a website that authorities have dubbed an "online brothel" pleaded guilty to California money-laundering charges Thursday, while the company itself pleaded guilty to human trafficking in Texas.Carl Ferrer will cooperate in prosecuting Backpage.com's creators and will serve no more than five years in state prison under a California plea agreement. He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy and three counts of money laundering in California.Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said the company pleaded guilty to human trafficking in Texas.Ferrer also agreed to make the company's data available to law enforcement as investigations and prosecutions continue. The guilty pleas are the latest in a cascade of developments in the last week against the company founded by the former owners of the Village Voice in New York City, Michael Lacey, 69, and James Larkin, 68.  Continue reading...