“No Forensic Training Required”

Tony Ortega

One of the major themes we’ve been looking at recently is the extent to which Backpage and the various accessories to its multiple crimes, like Tony Ortega,  intentionally chose to ignore the red flags Backpage’s illicit activities were raising.

We noted yesterday that the lack of willingness by of many of these individuals — like Tony Ortega, his accomplices and others around him — to speak honestly about these issues is truly disturbing, especially in light of the litany of examples of the conspiracy of silence Backpage was engaged in.

Take for example the events of August 5, 2011, when Backpage received a letter from the mayor of Seattle. The letter explicitly warned that: “ Seattle Police have identified an alarming number of juvenile prostitutes advertised on Backpage.com since January 2010″ and explained that Backpage was dissimilar from other companies whose products and services are “occasionally or incidentally” utilized by criminals because “ your company is in the business of selling sex ads _” and “your services are a direct vehicle for prostitution._“

The letter went on to recommend that Backpage require in-person age verification for all of the “escorts” depicted in its ads. Backpage, however, refused to adopt these recommendations.

It was against this backdrop that Backpage’s Manger of Operations, Andrew Padilla, received an email containing an updated version of Backpage’s moderation guidelines. This six-page document provided the following instructions concerning photographs:

“ _Nude rear shots are okay as long the model is not exposing her anus or genitalia,_” “ Transparent wet panties okay should not be able to see personal private part,” and “ cherry, Ice-cream keeping in mouth [is okay].”

The document also explained that “ _Bikini, lingerie, g-string, thong, and hands covering nipples are all allowed,_” “ _Hourly rates are OK,_” and “ Sessions are okay. E.g $50 session.”

Finally, on August 31, 2011, Backpage received a letter from the National Association of Attorneys General. This letter formally characterized Backpage as “ a hub” for human trafficking, identified “ more than 50 instances, in 22 states over three years, of charges filed against those trafficking or attempting to traffic minors on Backpage.com _._”

But perhaps most cuttingly, this letter from the Attorneys General exposed Backpage for who they really were by saying out loud what insiders like Tony Ortega knew from the beginning but dared not speak.

As the letter stated:

“ Nearly naked persons in provocative positions are pictured in nearly every adult services advertisement on Backpage.com and the site requires advertisements for escorts, and other similar ‘services,’ to include hourly rates. It does not require forensic training to understand that these advertisements are for prostitution.”

Indeed, it was obvious what Backpage was up to — it was human sex-trafficking for the purposes of prostitution, pure and simple.

And it was abundantly clear to anyone with their eyes open. No forensic training required.