The Justice Department announced Thursday that Backpage’s co-founder and CEO, Carl Ferrer, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to facilitate prostitution using a facility in interstate or foreign commerce and to engage in money laundering. Additionally, attorneys general in California and Texas announced today that he has entered guilty pleas to charges of human trafficking in Texas as well as conspiracy and three counts of money laundering in California. "Ferrer "has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to facilitate prostitution using a facility in interstate or foreign commerce and to engage in money laundering," according to the DOJ statement.Ferrer's plea deal also covers Backpage-related charges in California and Texas, according to court documents.California Attorney General Xavier Bacerra said Ferrer pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy and three counts of money laundering. Trump signs bill to shut down websites that facilitate prostitution Ferrer agreed, in combined plea deals with both Texas and California authorities, where he faced outstanding charges, that he will shut down Backpage "throughout the world," will aid authorities in ongoing prosecutions of his co-conspirators, and will make all Backpage data available to authorities. [READ MORE: Phoenix PD bust man with prostitution ad on Backpage.com]

“For far too long, Backpage.com existed as the dominant marketplace for illicit commercial sex, a place where sex traffickers frequently advertised children and adults alike,” said Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
Backpage CEO Carl Ferrer pleads guilty to conspiracy and money laundering and agrees to assist in the prosecution of other Backpage employees, including co-founders Michael Lacey and James Larkin, who were charged with several counts of human trafficking on April 6 after the site was seized by the FBI.