Federal authorities have begun seizing cryptocurrency tied to Michael Pratt, founder of the now-defunct adult site GirlsDoPorn, following his arrest on multiple criminal charges including sex trafficking and conspiracy.
According to a forfeiture notice from the FBI, the agency has already secured 0.61 BTC—worth about $51,500—from one of Pratt’s wallets. The broader seizure effort, authorized in July 2024, targets three wallets believed to hold approximately 8.13 BTC (valued at $840,000 today).
Pratt, originally from New Zealand, launched GirlsDoPorn in 2007 and ran the operation until 2019. The site was taken offline in 2020 after lawsuits and criminal probes revealed that women had been deceived or coerced into performing in adult films.
Prosecutors allege that Pratt laundered profits through digital assets to avoid detection. His arrest in Spain in late 2022, and subsequent extradition to the U.S. in 2024, has reignited asset recovery efforts linked to the illicit enterprise.
Timeline: From Most Wanted to U.S. Custody
Michael Pratt was first charged by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in October 2019 for sex trafficking-related offenses. By that time, he had fled the country, prompting federal authorities to issue charges in absentia.
In 2022, the FBI added Pratt to its Ten Most Wanted list and offered a $50,000 reward for tips leading to his arrest. He was eventually captured in Spain in December of that year, where he had been living under a false identity.
Pratt was extradited to the United States in March 2024 and now awaits trial.
Scheme Used Lies, Coercion, and Online Exploitation
The GirlsDoPorn operation allegedly relied on deception to lure women into adult film shoots. According to court documents, victims were recruited through fake modeling ads promising fashion gigs. They were flown to San Diego, only to discover the work involved explicit content.
Prosecutors say Pratt and his team falsely claimed that videos would only be sold via DVD to a private buyer list in Australia—and would not appear online. Victims also testified that the filming sessions were longer and more extreme than initially described.
Despite these promises, the videos were uploaded to major porn platforms like Pornhub, directing traffic to GirlsDoPorn and generating over $17 million in revenue.
A San Diego court later ordered the site shut down and awarded $12.8 million in damages to 22 victims. Pratt now faces 19 federal charges, including sex trafficking, child sexual abuse material production, and money laundering.
Two of Pratt’s associates—webmaster Matthew Isaac Wolfe and actor Ruben Andre Garcia—have already pleaded guilty and are serving prison sentences.
Quick Facts
- FBI has seized 0.61 BTC and is targeting 8.13 BTC total.
- Pratt was extradited to the U.S. from Spain in 2024.
- GirlsDoPorn generated $17M using coerced adult content.
- Pratt faces 19 federal charges including
