Michael James Pratt, founder of the California-based porn website GirlsDoPorn, was sentenced to 27 years in federal prison on Monday in San Diego. Pratt pleaded guilty in June to charges of sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion. Prosecutors stated that Pratt and his co-defendants used deceptive modeling offers to recruit hundreds of women, many in their late teens, for adult videos.
Pratt’s operation involved luring women with false promises that their videos would not be released online. However, the videos were uploaded to sites like PornHub, where they amassed millions of views. The women were often coerced into completing shoots through threats of lawsuits, canceled flights, and exposure. Some victims were trapped in hotel rooms by camera equipment blocking exits.
During the sentencing, over 40 women testified, sharing harrowing accounts of their experiences, including being plied with drugs and alcohol, coerced into signing contracts, and subjected to sexual assault. Many victims described long-term trauma, including depression, anxiety, and suicide attempts. U.S. District Judge Janis L. Sammartino emphasized the magnitude of Pratt’s offenses, adding time to his sentence due to his role as the leader of the trafficking scheme.
Pratt was arrested in Spain in December 2022 after being on the FBI’s Most Wanted list. His co-conspirators have also been sentenced, with Ruben Andre Garcia receiving 20 years, Matthew Wolfe 14 years, and Theodore Gyi four years. The case highlighted the extensive damage caused by Pratt’s operation, as victims continue to deal with the aftermath of their exploitation.
Pratt apologized during the hearing, stating, “I apologize to everyone I impacted. It was never my intention to harm anyone.” Despite his apology, victims expressed empowerment and relief at the sentencing, with one stating, “Today is the day we all get to reclaim our lives.”
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