Backpage.Com Shut Down As Federal Government Makes Moves

PHOENIX, AZ – The FBI Friday raided the Sedona home of the founder of classified ads site, Backpage.com. Hours later, the site was shut down.

"backpage.com and affiliated websites have been seized as part of an enforcement action by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division," according to a posting on the site's homepage.

The shutdown came hours after the FBI arrived at the home of Michael Lacey, who founded the site and was the publisher of newspapers including the Phoenix New Times.

The notice on Backpage indicates that the feds are working with the attorneys general of California and Texas. It also says that in addition to the FBI, the Justice Department's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section is involved.

The move on Friday follows recent action in Congress. (Get Phoenix Patch's daily newsletter and real-time news alerts. Or, find your local Patch here and subscribe).

Last week, the Senate approved a bill intended to stop online sex trafficking – something that Backpage.com has been repeatedly linked to by law enforcement officials. The House had already passed a similar bill.

The legislation was prompted by the 2016 arrest of Backpage.com's chief executive officer, Carl Ferrer on felony trafficking charges including pimping of a minor and conspiracy to commit pimping.

Groups that fight sex-trafficking have long accused the site of hosting sex traffickers and people looking to traffic in minors.

A Senate committee determined two years ago that while Backpage deleted references to children in sex ads, they did allow the ads to remain on the site.

Backpage is not without its supporters.

Several people in the sex worker industry have said that Backpage adds a level of security to workers because the site makes to easier to find victims.

Like us on Facebook. Also, download the free Patch iPhone app or free Patch Android app.

This is breaking news story and is being updated.

Image via Colin Miner