Jeffrey Hurant, the founder and CEO of the online gay escort service Rentboy.com, was indicted yesterday on charges of promoting prostitution and money laundering.

 

He was arrested last summer, along with six other employees. According to a spokesman, Hurant is the only person named in this indictment, although the other six could still face charges if a deal isn't worked out with them.

 

Authorities are now seeking forfeiture of the $1.5 million seized from the business' office in New York, as well as the company's bank and brokerage accounts. They also want to permanently seize the RentBoy domain name.

 

"It's a crazy prosecution and let's hope the Eastern District does something about Eric Garner's death and lets go of the Rentboy case," said Bill Dobbs, an activist who organized the courthouse protest. Garner is a black man who was murdered by police while being held down in a chokehold.

 

In order to pad the case further, prosecutors have added claims that RentBoy may have allowed underaged workers to advertise on the site, and that it had allowed postings by a sex slave ring in Florida.

 

"The government's charges against Mr. Hurant are unwarranted," said Hurant's lawyer Michael Tremonte. "He ran his business openly for nearly 20 years, and it makes no sense to single him out for criminal prosecution. Mr. Hurant plans to contest the charges and looks forward to full vindication at trial."

 

Because this is the most important thing the government could be working on today.

 

Rentboy.com CEO Jeffrey Hurant indicted by federal grand jury [Newsday]

 

Rentboy CEO indicted on prostitution charges [SDGLN]