California Attorney General Kamala Harris said Ferrer was arrested on felony charges of pimping a minor, pimping, and conspiracy to commit pimping. Authorities said the state's three-year investigation found many of the ads include victims of sex trafficking including children under the age of 18. State agents posted escort ads online and met with those who posted to confirm that the communications were to arrange for commercial sex. Backpage has been the subject of recent Senate hearings into its classified ads, which often promote escort services. Last month, the Supreme Court refused to block a Senate subpoena seeking information on how Backpage screens ads for possible sex trafficking.

Source: Fox News October 07, 2016 02:03 UTC