If you’re reading this you probably know that the MyRedbook.com website has been seized by the FBI and the website has been shut down. If you’re reading this you may be someone that posted, advertised or even wrote review on MyRedbook.com. You may be concerned that law enforcement may be rifling through your myredbook.com account and trying to track you down.
Every case is different and you shouldn’t construe this article as legal advice for your particular situation. If you want an analysis of your own potential criminal or civil liability you need to contact an attorney with experience in dealing with online prostitution cases to discuss the matter confidentially.
IF YOU HAVE ALREADY BEEN CONTACTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT REGARDING ANYTHING HAVING TO DO WITH MYREDBOOK.COM, YOU SHOULD CONTACT A QUALIFIED CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY IMMEDIATELY. Yes, this is an article generated by a lawyer. So you can contact me if you want.
What follows is a quick overview of what happened and what it may mean for users.
What happened to MyRedbook.com?
As reported on SF.Gate.com, MyRedbook.com has been seized and shut down by the FBI after the alleged owners of the site were indicted on charges accusing them of using the internet to facilitate prostitution and money laundering.
Why did the FBI do this?
Because they, along with the IRS and the United States Attorney’s Office, believe that MyRedbook.com exists solely to promote prostitution and to help facilitate it’s members commit acts of prostitution in violation of both state and federal law.
Is MyRedbook.com Coming Back Online?
Not anytime soon, if ever. The domain name and all of its assets, including the servers, are subject to forfeiture proceedings connected with the criminal case. This case presents a lot of interesting legal issues, but it’s going to a long and difficult road to get the site back up and running as it existed before.
What about all my account and email information and things I posted on MyRedbook.com? Does this mean the FBI has access to it?
Yes. The FBI has access to it.
Should I be worried?
It all depends on what you were doing. If you only had one account and were just posting reviews of other people’s services, it’s tough to see what kind of charges you could be facing. Even if you were someone who was posting ads for your own services, that’s not necessarily a crime in of itself. Again, it depends on what’s in the ad, whether you ever went to go actually meet a client – and if so, what happened at the meeting?
Where things get a bit thornier are the people who assist others in placing ads for adult services on sites like MyRedbook.com in exchange for a fee. Sometimes this sort of marketing assistance can be viewed by law enforcement as pimping, which is very serious.
BOTTOM LINE: If you or a loved one are concerned that you may have an issue with myredbook.com or any other online adult site, contact The Law Offices of Jerod Gunsberg at 310-210-0744 or via this confidential contact form.