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"Within the Barred Bunker: A New Prison Column by Michael Lacey, ‘A Memorable Day’" frontpageconfidential.com/wi…

Phoenix New Times, Backpage.com founder surrenders to US Marshals azfamily.com/2024/09/12/phoe…

A statement from journalist Michael Lacey, made just before the start of the #Backpage sentencing hearing, which ended today with Lacey being sentenced to 60 months in prison and a $3M fine for being the co-owner of a classified listings site: FOR OVER 50 YEARS JIM LARKIN WAS MY FRIEND AND BUSINESS PARTNER. HIS SUICIDE IS THE TRAGEDY OF THIS PROSECUTION. LARKIN CONSULTED WITH THE NATION’S FINEST FIRST AMENDMENT ATTORNEYS THROUGHOUT THE HISTORY OF BACKPAGE AND I BELIEVE HE ALWAYS FOLLOWED THE ADVICE OF THE LAWYERS. THAT’S JUST WHO JIM WAS. LAW ENFORCEMENT TESTIFIED IN COURT THAT THEY COULD NOT ARREST ANYONE BASED UPON THE ADS IN BACKPAGE. NONETHELESS, WITHIN THE 30 MILLION ADS ANNUALLY ,THERE ARE PEOPLE WITH STORIES THAT ARE DIFFICULT TO HEAR WITHOUT HEARTACHE. IT IS ALSO TRUE THAT I MADE NO DECISIONS REGARDING BACKPAGE. IT WAS A BUSINESS AND I DID NOT WORK IN BUSINESS. I RAN THE JOURNALISTS AND EDITORS. I WROTE A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF COLUMNS AND ARTICLES. OUR WRITERS WON MORE THAN 3800 AWARDS INCLUDING A PULITZER. MUCH HAS BEEN MADE THAT I OPENED A TRUST IN EUROPE FOR MY CHILDREN. THESE FUNDS WERE TRANSFERRED AT THE SUGGESTION OF ATTORNEYS WHEN FBI AGENTS INTIMIDATED AMERICAN BANKERS FROM DOING BUSINESS WITH ME. I WAS FOUND GUILTY ON ONE COUNT OF CONCEALMENT. THIS IS SIMPLY A MISTAKE. NOTHING WAS CONCEALED. MY LAWYERS FILED A NOTICE ( AN FBAR ) ANNUALLY WITH THE SAME FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT IS NOW PROSECUTING ME. THE GOVERNMENT KNOWS EXACTLY HOW MUCH MONEY IS IN THE ACCOUNT AND WHERE THE ACCOUNT IS. I HAVE KNOWN FELLOW DEFENDANTS SCOTT SPEAR AND JED BRUNST FOR DECADES AND KNOW THEM TO BE BOTH HONEST AND HONORABLE . THE ACCUSATIONS AGAINST THEM ARE ASTONISHING AND FLAT WRONG. — MICHAEL LACEY, FORMER EXECUTIVE EDITOR, VILLAGE VOICE MEDIA, AUGUST 27, 2024

Judge denied bail pending appeal for #Backpage defendants m. Will have to self-surrender in 2 weeks.

BREAKING: Lacey sentenced to 60 months in prison in #Backpage case. More later.

Sentencing hearing for journalist Michael Lacey and 2 others in #Backpage case continues today at 9:30am in Phoenix's federal court before Judge Humetewa. Prosecution is expected to spend an hour arguing why Lacey and his co-defendants should each receive 20 years in prison. 1/