Rentboy.com Is Shut Down In Prostitution Sting, Michael Lucas Speaks Out
The US gay community, especially the sex-worker community, was recently flabbergasted over the federal raid of Rentboy.com. The news, which shook the intersecting worlds of porn, porn stars, and hookers, broke as federal agents in New York stormed into the headquarters of Rentboy.com arresting seven people and seizing documents and computers, as NBC New York is reporting. The site is already offline.
Despite operating for the last 18 years, since the dawn of the web, basically, in 1997, federal prosecutors have apparently been building a case against Rentboy, a company they say grossed over $10 million between 2010 and 2015.
Charges include money laundering and prostitution, and Kelly Currie. U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, issued a statement saying, “As alleged, Rentboy.com attempted to present a veneer of legality, when in fact this Internet brothel made millions of dollars from the promotion of illegal prostitution.”
Also, prosecutors point to the open secret that the place is a hub of prostitution, even though it has always advertised itself as an escort service offering “companionship,” saying that the site even allows Rentboy users to choose the “sexual services they are willing to perform and the price charged.”
The seven people arrested, including CEO Jeffrey Hurant (pictured below), are charged with conspiring to violate the Travel Act by promotion prostitution, and could all face up to five years in prison.
Soon after the arrest, CEO Jeffrey Hurant and his employees were all out on bond, and while publications like the NY Daily News are dancing on the grave of the website, tons of people have come out in defense of sex work, railing against the ridiculous waste of time and government resources that this raid represented, and even The New York Times has taken up the debate.
Hurant was pressed by reporters coming out of court in Brooklyn on Tuesday, and he had this to say: “Twenty years we’ve been doing it [running Rentboy.com]. And I don’t think we do anything to promote prostitution. I think we do good things for good people and we bring good people together. And I hope that justice will be done in the end.”
Meanwhile, onetime escort turned porn star and porntrepreneur Michael Lucas had this to say on Facebook:
“Nobody is understanding the real story behind the downfall of RentBoy. Authorities have just unemployed thousands of young young men and screwed landlords on getting paid their rent. Families are ruined by all the escorts going back to their mothers’ basements because the party is over. That’s a walk of shame nobody wants to do… I think what is most sad is they robbed aging homosexuals from romantic lovemaking that they were able to find on this social media platform. But let’s be realistic, darlings, the website may be over but the world’s oldest profession can never die. It will only come back stronger, more profitable and younger looking with the help of the world’s best plastic surgeons.”
About author
You might also like
Official Film Poster of Pamela Adie’s “Under The Rainbow” Documentary Out
Remember Pamela Adie’s documentary, Under The Rainbow, whose trailer was released in April? Well, the poster for the film is out. Designed by Toast Creatives, the poster leaves you no
Actor Jeremy Renner Doesn’t Care If You Think He’s Gay
“As a general rule, I don’t respond to questions about my personal life. I’m not going to try to prove what I am or am not. It’s silly, right? When
India’s top court decriminalizes gay sex, overturning more than 150 years of anti-LGBT legislation
India’s Supreme Court has struck down a colonial-era law criminalizing consensual gay sex, overturning more than 150 years of anti-LGBT legislation. Section 377, an archaic law imposed during British rule
21 Comments
ken
August 28, 06:59The use of the phrase “bring good people together” by Hurant is really really interesting. Well, I guess the people on rentboy must be very GOOD to have stayed for over 20years!
Mandy
August 28, 07:05You think those who go on rentboy are bad people?
#Chestnut
August 28, 07:23But wait o, was their business really a crime? Were they forcing or harassing or extorting or blackmailing or assaulting anyone? I’ve always found it hard to understand why prostitution is an actual crime – whether it’s a MORAL act,is another issue entirely (hey Max,how u doin?)- but a CRIME?when two consenting adults agree on sex-for-money,without anyone getting hurt; it’s almost like saying two gay adults having consensual sex must go to prison.
I’m sure it’s just badbelle ppl (maybe competitors sef) that have remembered their matter. With a name like “RENTboy”,all these years,what did the authorities think the site was for?(Hey Keredim,how u doin?hehe..). They weren’t exactly trying to keep their business a secret,if u ask me.
Pink Panther
August 28, 07:28LOL! Chestnut, you’re just too messy. Look at you peppering your comment with unsolicited hellos and his.
#Chestnut
August 28, 07:40Hian! PP,u’re just an Alakoba someborri! So I can’t say ‘hi’ to my peeps again on dis blog?hian.
ken
August 28, 07:43Unfortunately, prostitution is in that intersection btw law and morality. Its been legalized in many countries tho.
Max
August 28, 09:45@Chestnut, this might come as a shock to you, but I’m not against prostitution. Its just like any other business. You have a product to sell. The name of the peoduct is #GoodTime/HappyEnding, and there are people willing to buy. Nobody is hurting each other. I like official prostitutes, people who own their craft. And I despise the unofficial ones who keep lying about it and being all silly, while doing it at the back.
Food for thought; isn’t it better to get fucked and get paid #NostringsAttached, than to let some stupid boy fuck you and break your heart, in the end you lose your worth and get heart broken, without any gain.
#JustAthought
Pink Panther
August 28, 10:09Wow. Max, you’re just full of surprises this morning.
Keredim
August 28, 13:26Max are you ok??!???
Maybe you are preparing us for a surprise announcement very soon..Sex twice in a month with 2 different people? ??
My Jesus is Alive???
Pink Panther
August 28, 15:05Hahahahahahahahaa!!! Keredim, atink ya helping me to see
Peak
August 28, 09:19“a company they say grossed over $10 million between 2010 and 2015.”
” think what is most sad is they robbed aging homosexuals from romantic lovemaking that they were able to find on this social media platform.”
Where is Keredim when u need him. Oga do u need more incentive to tell u that this is the ideal business you should go into when retirement hits you? (I hear its around the corner by the way). As ur business development manager, I think its high time u come home so we can set up shop ASAP! We already having hopefuls gunning for employment already. We have DL Politicians, Captains of industries, business moguls, entertainees husbands and wives and the list goes on (ready made market). How much more convincing do u need again dakun? Stop jumping from coast to coast and come home so we can make some cool mula. 10M no be joke ooo, and it’s even in dolls.
Max
August 28, 09:47Kinda interested in that business. It looks highly lucrative. A lot of men out there are being controlled by their impulse and looking for a good time. So why don’t we use that to our advantage. #JustAthought.
Chuck
August 28, 15:21There’s also a lot of cheap labor/ raw material – young students that you can pay cheap and market for high prices due to their virginity etc
Max
August 28, 18:51You see, we have a prospective business 🙂
Chuck
August 28, 19:24Indeed!
Sinnex
August 28, 09:35Eeeyah….
Dennis Macaulay
August 28, 10:32Keredim!!!
Have you checked if your name is on the data base?
kacee
August 28, 11:12O chimo
Khaleesi
August 28, 12:07LMAO … Michael Lucas is funny as hell, but also spot on! I struggle to fully understand why America devotes so much time and resources criminalising prostitution, is it on moral grounds or is it due to the strong link between prostitution, human trafficking and gang related violent crime … the considerable law enforcement resources spent chasing down prostitutes would be much better spent checking the high rates of gun violence …
keredim
August 28, 14:09Hey guys,
I am here. Thanks for your concern. No I am not on their database. I don’t use them. We had an inkling this might happen to them. Either this or hackers would get hit them.
The key to this business, is discretion. Let us not be fooled by its popularity on line. Clients are loyal and pay a premium for that discretion.
Thanks Peak, but I already have a nice business model and business is good. The Naija branch is working just great – Just ask my Pimp Panther (PP).
Pink Panther
August 28, 15:06*calmly counting Naira bills*