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Michael James Pratt, founder of the now-defunct California-based pornographic website GirlsDoPorn, was sentenced on Monday to 27 years in federal prison for orchestrating a sex trafficking scheme that exploited hundreds of women. U.S. District Judge Janis Sammartino handed down the sentence in San Diego, exceeding the prosecution’s recommendation due to the “sheer scope and magnitude” of the offenses.
Pratt, a New Zealand native, pleaded guilty in June to one count of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion and one count of conspiracy to commit the same crime. Prosecutors described him as the ringleader of a criminal enterprise that lured women—many in their late teens—under false pretenses of modeling opportunities, only to coerce them into adult video shoots.
Victims testified that they were misled, plied with alcohol and marijuana, and pressured into signing unread contracts. Some were confined in hotel rooms and threatened with legal action or canceled flights if they refused to participate. The videos were later distributed online, often without consent, resulting in long-term psychological harm and public exposure.
Pratt fled the U.S. in 2019 and was placed on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list before being arrested in Madrid in 2022 and extradited to the U.S. in 2024.
Co-defendants in the case also received substantial sentences: Matthew Isaac Wolfe, who managed operations, was sentenced to 14 years; Ruben Andre Garcia, a performer and recruiter, received 20 years; and cameraman Theodore Gyi was sentenced to four years.
The case has drawn national attention for its scale and the lasting impact on victims, many of whom continue to face harassment and trauma years after the videos were released. Judge Sammartino also imposed strict post-release conditions on Pratt, including a ban on accessing adult content and contacting victims.
