The FBI has updated its Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list and one of the new additions to the top 10 is Michael James Pratt, co-owner of a pornographic website.
Authorities shared that Pratt is wanted for his alleged involvement in a conspiracy to recruit young females to engage in commercial sex acts by force, coercion, and fraud. In total he has been charged with 19 felonies and a warrant for his arrest was issued in 2019.
The 39-year-old is the alleged owner of two adult websites, "GirlsdoPorn" and "GirlsdoToys," according to U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman.
Grossman added that Pratt was charged in the Southern District of California for sex trafficking crimes in connection with a "scheme to deceive and coerce young women to appear in sex videos on those websites."
Pratt was also accused of recruiting hundreds of women across the U.S. and Canada from 2012 to 2019 by FBI Special Agent Stacey Moy, NBC 7 reported.
Moy added that most of the videos were recorded in San Diego inside home rentals and hotel rooms.
In order to get the women into the videos, Moy said Pratt lured them with "false promise of legitimate clothed modeling jobs." Once in the rooms or homes, Pratt then "forced or coerced them into participating in pornographic videos."
"Pratt operated these sites as a front to force for commercial sex acts, which generated more than $17 million in revenue for Pratt and his co-hosts," Special Agent Moy said.
Making it even worse, Pratt allegedly promised the victims their identities would be kept private, and the videos wouldn't be posted online, Moy said.
Pratt, a New Zealand native, has since taken down the websites. However, officials shared that the videos still exist.
The FBI is encouraging victims to come forward with any information on Pratt. Anyone with information leading to his arrest will also receive a reward of up to $100,000.
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