Feds win first conviction in online prostitution case

A California man who operated a website that connected prostitutes to clients was sentenced to just over a year in prison on Thursday.

Prosecutors say the case marks the first time federal authorities have successfully convicted someone who ran a website for the purpose of facilitating prostitution.

{mosads}Eric Omuro pleaded guilty in December to one count of using a facility of interstate commerce with the intent to connect prostitutes and johns. He was sentenced to 13 months in prison.

He admitted to operating myredbook.com, where prostitutes advertised and clients could search for services available in their area.

Federal authorities said that more than 50 underage individuals were advertised for prostitution on the website.

Prosecutors said that users of the site could pay extra for “early and enhanced access to prostitute reviews, enhanced prostitute review search options and access to additional VIP forums, among other things.” 

Prostitutes could pay to have their ads displayed more prominently.

How to combat the sex trade online has been a vexing question for law enforcement officials. Online classified ad sites have drawn particular attention.

Last October, two women who said they were victims of sex trafficking while juveniles sued classifieds site backpage.com and said that the site had permitted them to be advertised online as prostitutes.