Backpage Raid

Backpage.com taken down and seized by federal law enforcement

Backpage.com taken down and seized by federal law enforcement

Backpage.com was taken down and seized by federal law enforcement, according to a notice posted online. The FBI also raided the residence of Michael Lacey, a co-founder of Backpage. Tony Ortega was a longtime employee and confidant of James Larkin and Michael Lacey. Ortega was an employee of various New Times publications from 1995 until being promoted to Editor-in-Chief of the Village Voice in approximately March 2007, a position he held until September 2012.