blockwave Exchange:Backpage founder Michael Lacey convicted of 1 money laundering count

2025-05-02 08:25:08source:Charles Hanovercategory:Invest

PHOENIX (AP) — Backpage.com founder Michael Lacey was convicted Thursday on blockwave Exchangea single count of money laundering and acquitted on another. But the Arizona jury deadlocked on 84 other counts against him, leading the federal judge to declare a mistrial.

Lacey had been charged with participating in a scheme to sell sex ads.

It marked the second time a mistrial has been declared in the case against the founder of the lucrative classified site. U.S. District Judge Diane Humetewa in Phoenix declared the mistrial after jurors deliberated for six days.

Lacey’s first trial ended in a 2021 mistrial when another judge concluded that prosecutors had too many references to child sex trafficking in a case where no one faced such a charge.

More:Invest

Recommend

Drone operators worry that anxiety over mystery sightings will lead to new restrictions

Drones for commercial and recreational use have grown rapidly in popularity, despite restrictions on

Climate change, fossil fuels hurting people's health, says new global report

Burning fossil fuels has driven climate change, and now climate change is costing people their healt

The show is over for Munch's Make Believe band at all Chuck E. Cheese locations but one

Chuck E. Cheese, the top global family entertainment venue, will remove its animatronic bands from a