From 2004 to 2018, Backpage{.}com was a prominent online platform that facilitated commercial sex and sex trafficking, including the trafficking of minors. The website’s executives knowingly profited from this illegal activity, making millions of dollars through their heinous peddling of people. The Department of Justice (DOJ) successfully prosecuted Backpage{.}com and its key executives for their roles in the crimes, resulting in their convictions and federal prison sentences.
The Largest Remission Process to Date
As a result of the criminal convictions, the DOJ seized over $200 million in assets that were traceable to Backpage’s profits. This substantial amount of forfeited funds is now being used to create the largest remission process ever established to compensate victims of human trafficking. The program demonstrates the DOJ’s commitment to using asset forfeiture as a tool to take the profit out of crime and ensure that those who profit from exploitation are held accountable.
Who is Eligible for Compensation?
The remission process is designed to compensate victims whose sex trafficking was facilitated through ads posted on Backpage{.}com between January 1, 2004, and April 6, 2018. To be eligible, victims must have incurred financial losses related to their trafficking. Individuals, their representatives, or the estates of deceased victims can file a petition for remission. The DOJ has retained Epiq Global Inc. to serve as the Remission Administrator for this matter.
How to File a Petition
To file a petition, you can visit the official website at https://www.backpageremission.com/ On the website, you can either file a petition online or download a Petition Form. You can also contact the Remission Administrator by phone, email, or mail to request that a form be sent to you. The deadline to file is February 2, 2026.
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