Authorities have arrested a suspect in connection with the 2021 fire that destroyed the unfinished mansion of Feras Antoon, then-owner of Pornhub parent company MindGeek (now Aylo).

Montreal police confirmed the arrest of Claudy Lafond, 39, who now faces multiple charges, including arson, possession of incendiary materials, and breaking and entering. Lafond, already in custody for an unrelated attempted murder charge, will appear before a judge at the Montreal courthouse sometime today.

The fire occurred in the early hours of April 25, 2021, when two individuals were spotted breaking into the luxury property on Jean-Bourdon Avenue in the city’s Ahuntsic-Cartierville borough. At the time, the residence was still under construction and listed for sale at over $19 million.

By the time officers arrived, flames had spread rapidly, damaging the main building and an adjacent structure. Residents in the area were temporarily evacuated as a precaution. No injuries were reported.

The property belonged to Feras Antoon, a co-owner of MindGeek, the Montreal-based company known globally for operating adult websites including Pornhub, YouPorn, and RedTube. Antoon stepped down from his executive role in 2022 but continued to hold a shareholder position in the company.

Notably, the arson took place just two months after Antoon testified before Canada’s House of Commons ethics committee, which was investigating allegations that Pornhub had hosted non-consensual, exploitative, and underage content. That high-profile inquiry brought intense scrutiny to both the site and its corporate leadership.

In addition to the charges linked to the Antoon mansion fire, Lafond has also been charged with setting another blaze just one week earlier, on April 18, 2021, at Restaurant Chez Chantal in Saint-Calixte, about 50 kilometers northwest of Montreal.

Police say the investigation remains active and that additional arrests are possible.

Authorities have not publicly linked the arson to Antoon’s role at MindGeek or the parliamentary investigation, and no motive has been disclosed. However, given the timing and target, the incident remains under close watch as more details emerge.