Department of Homeland Security took down the website CityXGuide.com and its owner, Wilhan Martono, 46, was arrested on 28 federal charges including conspiracy, money laundering, and promotion and facilitation of prostitution. The website was used to advertise for prostitution and child sex trafficking, and correspondence between Martono and an advertiser shows Martono stating that the website was "taking over from where Backpage left off."
The Bay Area-man had several similar websites registered, including 1Backpage.com, in more than 14 U.S. cities and on five continents, netting him more than $21 million since 2018. The websites were seized and shut down by the Department of Homeland Security. Martono is being held without bail until he is extradited to Dallas. If convicted he could be sentenced to up to 25 years in prison.
Source: AP
