Largest-Scale Government Restitution Scheme Initiated for Victims of Backpage Trafficking by the Department of Justice
U.S. Department of Justice Launches Historic Victim Compensation Initiative for Backpage Sex Trafficking Victims
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has announced a significant step towards justice for victims of sex trafficking who were exploited via Backpage advertisements between 2004 and 2018. The department has set up a remission process to distribute over $200 million in forfeited assets, seized from Backpage following criminal convictions of its operators.
Eligibility and Deadlines
Persons whose sex trafficking was facilitated through advertisements on Backpage.com during the period from January 1, 2004, to April 6, 2018, and who incurred related financial losses are eligible to file a claim. The final date to submit petitions to participate in the remission process is February 2, 2026.
Compensation Fund and Remission Administrator
More than $200 million will be distributed to eligible victims. The DOJ has appointed Epiq Global Inc. as the Remission Administrator for this compensation process. Victims can access the petition form and additional information at www.backpageremission.com. Contact details for Epiq Global Inc. include a toll-free phone number (1-888-859-9206), an international phone number (1-971-316-5053), email, and mail.
Background and Investigation
Backpage was a major online classified site used for commercial sex and trafficking for 14 years until its seizure in April 2018. Law enforcement efforts involving the FBI, IRS, and Postal Inspection Service led to the convictions of executives and affiliated businesses for conspiracy to facilitate unlawful commercial sex, money laundering, and other federal offenses.
The FBI Assistant Director Jose A. Perez stated that the organization is committed to ensuring that those who profit from human trafficking face consequences and will continue to work alongside partners to thwart this industry. Federal agents followed financial trails, tracked down illicit transactions, and coordinated the seizure of assets.
Historic Remission Process
This is the largest victim remission process ever undertaken in a human trafficking case. The DOJ's Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS) has returned over $12 billion in forfeited funds to crime victims since 2000. These funds are now being deployed to support eligible victims as part of the department's broader mission to return criminal proceeds to those harmed.
For precise filing procedures, forms, and further information, victims and advocates should visit the U.S. Department of Justice official site or consult recent DOJ press releases announcing the remission process. This will ensure access to official claim submission portals and direct contact points for assistance.
The DOJ emphasized that no payment is required to participate in the compensation process. The petitions can be filed through a dedicated website and hotline. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) secured the forfeiture of over $200 million in assets linked to Backpage's illicit profits in December 2024.
Backpage.com operated as a hub for commercial sex advertising between 2004 and 2018, becoming a primary conduit for sex trafficking operations, including the trafficking of minors. The DOJ's historic initiative marks a significant step towards justice for the victims of these heinous crimes.
- The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has announced that they will be distributing over $200 million in forfeited assets from Backpage as part of their compensation plan for victims of sex trafficking, with a focus on general news and crime-and-justice.
- The health-and-wellness aspect of this initiative is that the compensation fund is intended to aid victims who suffered financial losses due to sex trafficking through Backpage advertisements, as part of a wider mission to support victims' healing and recovery.
- In addition to the remission process for sex trafficking victims, the DOJ has also been involved in various therapies-and-treatments and investigations relating to money laundering and other federal offenses associated with Backpage, demonstrating their commitment to combating such criminal activities in the field of science.
