> The first [trial], in 2021, was declared a mistrial after prosecutors and their witnesses couldn't stop talking about sex trafficking despite none of the defendants facing sex trafficking charges
Thats always been my take on the backpage case, but I didnt feel comfortable talking about it because people are too emotionally invested in curbing sex trafficking
We’d be better off just treating it as labor trafficking, and not bothering with the non-trafficked people just like the rest of the job market.
Seems like there should be an optional trial end, in addition to conviction or acquittal, for "prosecution shouldn't have brought this case", where the accused would get some kind of compensation. I don't know the details of this case, but I remember hearing about it many years ago. I can't imagine the expense and stress of such a trial, dragging on for so long, and then at the end it's just "Okay, guess you're not guilty."
Sometimes it seems like prosecutors brought a reasonable case given the evidence and tried it fairly. In this case, I believe acquittal is the right call. Other times it seems like a case that shouldn't have been brought and you should be compensated for that and/or the prosecutor should be punished.
There are 84 independent charges, the majority were overturned by a judge, and at least one mistrial has been declared due to misconduct by the prosecution.
This looks like prosecutorial abuse to me.
Wrongful convictions in the US are way too common. With that many chargers and cascading retrials like this, I'd expect at least one false conviction regardless of who is on trial.
If the guy's guilty, fine. They should have charged him with things that were supported by solid evidence instead of stuffing charges so they can keep trying him for the same things over and over until they get a guilty verdict.
This sort of case is the reason double jeopardy is supposed to be illegal in the US.
I feel sorry for any jury who has to keep track of 86 counts. The Ross Ulbricht and SBF trials look simple by comparison.
Such a sheer waste of time, money and efforts which could have been directed elsewhere.
Like a lot of Elizabeth Nolan Brown's Backpage coverage, this feels misleading. To the extent Lacey succeeded in court, he did so on technical grounds; the decision is extraordinarily damning about Backpage itself, effectively casting it as a knowing and important link in the supply chain of human trafficking. Which, of course, is what it was. You don't so much get that analysis from Reason; you have to read the (quite long) verdict instead, which is linked from the story.
If you want to read the actual decision:
https://frontpageconfidential.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04...
America is bizarre. Technically prostitution is illegal in my state, Googling “new York city escort” shows thousands of results.
What an absolute waste of public resources. Somehow, cases should be weighed for public benefit rather than political gain. Idk how we can do this, but maybe open online referendum on the public desire to prosecute, with a mandate to heavily consider but not necessarily follow the public opinion?
Well he should be acquitted on all counts to do with the founding of the site. If he laundered money, that isn't good.
Typical FBI. Make up dozens and dozens of bogus charges and commit to constant harassment until enough of the people targeted kill themselves. Then when a real judge finally gets involved slink away. Just like with Aaron Swartz and Qwest CEO Joseph Nacchio.
Dear people flagging this, please stop perceiving my statements through your domestic political lenses. I am not talking politics here. Just because your team is currently pro-FBI or against-FBI doesn't mean I am talking about how the FBI interacts with your team. I am not.
Good. Prostitution should be legal and regulated to begin with. People are getting HIV at an alarming rate because the whole system is unregulated.
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"And on June 17, Lacey is scheduled to be sentenced on the one count—international concealment of money laundering—on which the jury found him guilty. It comes with a possible sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison. Lacey plans to appeal his conviction on this count, and there seems like a good chance it will be successful, since the money he allegedly "concealed" was reported to the federal government with all the proper paperwork. But he could still face prison time as that appeals process plays out."
How was he found guilty of concealed money when he reported it to begin with? Then could still serve prison time for it.