UPDATE: A San Diego federal judge has just ordered Michael James Pratt, the imprisoned owner of the notorious website GirlsDoPorn, to pay a staggering $75.6 million in restitution to over 100 women he coerced into appearing in pornographic videos. This urgent ruling comes as Pratt serves a 27-year prison sentence for his role in a long-running sex trafficking scheme.
The restitution order, signed by U.S. District Judge Janis Sammartino, mandates compensation for the psychological and financial harm inflicted on these victims. “The restitution order is a powerful acknowledgment of the lifelong harm inflicted on these women,” stated San Diego-area U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon. Although no amount of money can erase their suffering, this ruling holds Pratt financially accountable for some of the damage he caused.
Pratt, currently serving his sentence at a medium-security facility in Victorville, California, is scheduled for release in 2045. Following his guilty plea last September, he admitted to trafficking 15 victims between 2012 and 2019, though authorities believe the true number of victims may exceed 505 women. Many of these women were misled into believing their videos would remain private, only to find them widely distributed online.
The court’s restitution order indicates that $16.9 million of the total amount correlates to the gross income generated by the GirlsDoPorn operation, while $58.6 million accounts for the specific losses suffered by the victims. Each of the 106 women is owed a detailed amount, with one victim owed over $6.6 million and another just $440.
Pratt’s financial assets available to satisfy this judgment are limited. Authorities seized only a small fraction of what he owes, including $2,400 in cash and approximately 4.35 Bitcoins valued at around $298,000 as of now. These assets have already been forfeited to the government.
This ruling marks a significant moment for the victims, many of whom have pursued compensation through civil lawsuits against pornographic platforms that hosted GirlsDoPorn content. More than 120 women have filed lawsuits against PornHub in federal court, alleging that the site illegally published sex-trafficking videos. In a related development, PornHub’s parent company recently settled one lawsuit for an undisclosed amount while another lawsuit remains active.
The fallout from Pratt’s actions and the GirlsDoPorn operation continues to reverberate through the industry. While Pratt has waived many of his appeal rights, he retains the ability to contest his sentence, which was five years longer than prosecutors had recommended.
As the legal battles unfold, the victims continue to seek justice and recognition for the trauma they endured. This restitution order serves as a critical step in acknowledging the harm inflicted by Pratt and his co-conspirators, highlighting the urgent need for systemic change within the adult film industry to protect vulnerable individuals from exploitation.
The consequences of this case are far-reaching and serve as a reminder of the importance of holding perpetrators accountable. The victims’ fight for justice is ongoing, and the public will be watching closely as more developments emerge.
