A Taste Of Long Overdue Justice

Tony Ortega Backpage Apologist

The more we read about Tony Ortega, the more urgent we feel about authorities stepping in to do something. We felt this way when we first learned about the crackpot theories he was peddling to trashy alt publications.

And while we don’t wish to underplay the seriousness of Tony Ortega’s famously toxic relationship with telling the truth – as we’ve been seeing over the years – it’s the company Ortega keeps that has us wondering if it isn’t time for law enforcement to do something about it.

We’ve seen how Tony Ortega has openly, gleefully advocated for hate. He continues to do so almost daily on his hate blog and across the few media platforms still willing to host his intolerant bigotry.

We’ve seen how he lead an ill-conceived propaganda campaign orchestrated to white-wash the overt human sex trafficking his bosses at the Backpage were intent on making a mint off of.

And we’ve seen how Tony Ortega refuses to take even the least amount of responsibility for the part he played in helping Backpage (the company that paid his salary) victimize scores of young women and underage girls. It’s almost as if Tony Ortega believes that because the crimes being committed all around him are of little to no consequence to him personally, they should be of no consequence to anyone.

This could not be further from the truth.

Consider this most recent example of just how consequential the selfish choices Tony Ortega has made impact innocent people. This past week yet another Backpage pimp was sentenced for his role in the sex for profit scheme Ortega promoted so cavalierly. This time, it was a sentence to 40 years in federal prison for forcing two minors into sex trafficking.

We will have more on this case in an upcoming article, but it is worth noting that the presiding judge in this case, U.S. District Judge David Hittner, is making clear that being in business with Backpage definitely has consequences.

The Backpage pimp, who was operating a stone’s throw from the former head offices of the very criminals who paid Tony Ortega to push their horrific flesh-peddling agenda, was ordered to pay restitution to the victims he exploited.

Further it was ordered that he serve the rest of his life on supervised release following his prison term. During his release, he must comply with requirements that restrict his access to children and the Internet.

He must also register as a sex offender.

Paid restitution for those who have been wronged. Restricted access to the Internet. And registering as a sex offender.

Frankly, this is exactly the sort of punishment we believe would be fitting for Tony Ortega. If the Backpage pimps at the bottom are starting to feel the consequences of their unethical actions, it’s only just that the criminals higher up the chain who helped make it all possible get a taste of long overdue justice too.