DOJ declares victory over Backpage as judge sends founder Lacey to prison

Enlarge / Backpage founder Michael Lacey testifying at a US Senate hearing in January 2017. (credit: US Senate hearing)

Backpage founder Michael Lacey was sentenced yesterday to five years in prison and fined $3 million after being convicted on one count of money laundering. Lacey, 76, was also sentenced to three years of supervised release, the Department of Justice said in a press release.

Two other Backpage principals—Scott Spear and John "Jed" Brunst—were sentenced to...