Six months in federal prison
Jeffrey Hurant, the former Chief Executive of the now closed escort site Rentboy, was sentenced to six months in prison in Brooklyn federal court.
The prosecutors initially wanted him to get 15 to 21 months in jail, however, District Judge Margo K. Brodie ultimately sentenced six months was appropriate.
The judge denied the defense’s attempt to modify sentencing on Tuesday; a move that suggests she may have been strongly been considering sentencing Mr. Hurant to the full 21 months.
In August 2015, the Rentboy offices were raided and shut down by Homeland Security. A handful of employees were arrested along with Hurant that day, but their charges were dropped or they took deals.
Hurant pleaded guilty to promoting prostitution and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
The sentence also included a $7,500 fine.
Judge Brodie framed Rentboy as “the very thing that is illegal” although, surprisingly, she also recognized that “there is no question it did a lot of good.”
“What I have before me,” she said, “is two decades of committing a crime, and of Mr. Hurant knowing he’s committing a crime. That can’t go unpunished.”
Hurant’s prison term will begin later this month.
More: Life in a federal prison camp revealed
As he left the courtroom, Hurant gave this statement to the media and a crowd of supporters:
“I believe that consensual sex work between adults should be decriminalized and destigmatized. But that hasn’t happened yet. My business was ultimately illegal, but it shouldn’t have been. We must fearlessly fight for the rights to allow consensual adults to choose what they do with their bodies.”
Back in 2015, Mr. Hurant was indicted on one charge of violating the federal Travel Act and two charges of violating a federal money laundering statute. The Travel Act, which became law in 1961, makes specific state crimes a violation of federal law when committed across state lines.
Use of a phone, email, snail mail, or other forms of interstate commerce also fall under this act.
h/t: Queerty
