Michael James Pratt, the fugitive founder of the now-defunct adult website GirlsDoPorn, pleaded guilty Thursday in San Diego federal court to sex trafficking and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, concluding a long-running criminal case that has gripped the adult industry and victims’ rights advocates for nearly a decade.

Pratt now faces a potential decades-long prison sentence. His sentencing in September will mark the final legal milestone in a case that has reshaped the landscape of digital adult media and forced an industry reckoning on ethical standards and victim protection.

He has had been on the run since 2019, when he fled the U.S. after federal charges were filed against him and several associates. He was ultimately captured by the Spanish National Police in Madrid in December 2022 and extradited to the U.S. in early 2024. He initially pleaded not guilty, but Thursday’s plea marks a major turning point in the landmark federal case. Sentencing is scheduled for September.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Pratt and his co-conspirators lured young women to San Diego under false pretenses, promising modeling work or adult films that would never be published online or only shared privately overseas. In reality, the content was systematically distributed across free and paid porn platforms, generating over $17 million in revenue.

Victims were often coerced, threatened, or deceived. Some were told their return flights would be canceled or that they would be sued if they refused to participate in sex acts. The operation also included fake “reference girls” who falsely reassured recruits that the work was discreet and safe.

The fallout was devastating. In prior sentencing hearings and a civil suit that ended with a $12.75 million verdict, victims described how their videos were circulated widely, sometimes sent directly to family members, employers, and friends. The resulting public exposure triggered mental health crises, substance abuse, and in some cases, suicidal ideation.

Several of Pratt’s associates have already been convicted:

• Ruben Andre Garcia, actor and recruiter, received 20 years in prison.
• Matthew Isaac Wolfe, Pratt’s former business partner, was sentenced to 14 years.
• Alexander Brian Foster received 1 year for producing a video intended to dox and intimidate the women who had filed the civil suit.

At the time the crimes were committed, GirlsDoPorn was a content partner with Pornhub, one of the world’s largest adult sites. Parent company Aylo (formerly MindGeek) settled a criminal investigation with the Eastern District of New York, admitting it accepted money tied to trafficking operations. Under a Deferred Prosecution Agreement, Aylo agreed to pay $1.8 million, admit wrongdoing, and submit to third-party compliance monitoring.

The GirlsDoPorn case has had far-reaching implications, becoming one of the most high-profile sex trafficking cases involving online pornography in U.S. history. It has triggered renewed scrutiny of performer consent, platform accountability, and the legal frameworks governing adult content production.

With Pratt’s guilty plea, every defendant in the case has now admitted guilt, closing a dark chapter in the adult entertainment world and delivering long-awaited vindication for the 22 women who initially came forward.