Stephen Cohen Apprehended by Mexican Federal Police

TIJUANA — Stephen Cohen, who dodged a $65 million court judgment by fleeing the U.S., has been arrested by Mexican federal police in Tijuana on an immigration violation and was handed over Thursday to U.S. agents.

Cohen had been on the run since before 2001, when a judge ordered him to pay Gary Kremen for usurping the URL Sex.com. Cohen in 1995 forged a letter to gain control of the Internet address.

The Los Angeles Times in Friday's editions said Cohen was living in a Tijuana mansion for years.

Cohen presented a forged letter to Network Solutions from Kremen's company that said Kremen had been fired and that Cohen should get control of Sex.com. Network Solutions handed over the site.

Cohen, in the meantime, made tens of millions of dollars by selling ads on Sex.com. But later, after his attorneys contended the site was his, a federal judge on the case ordered Cohen arrested for contempt of court but he never resurfaced.

During the years of litigation, he moved his millions overseas and left the country, occasionally calling Kremen to taunt him. Kremen got Sex.com back in late 2000 and the next year was awarded $65 million.

Despite a dismissal of an appeal he filed to a $65 million ruling against him this year, Cohen said in May that he felt he would ultimately clear his name in the long-running Sex.com case.

“I believe this is all going to go back to square one,” Cohen told XBiz, “and if it does, I will prevail.”

Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court denied his appeal.

Cohen on Thursday was turned over to agents of the U.S. Border Patrol, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Marshals Service.

He is being held without bail at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in downtown San Diego.

Copyright © 2026 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

EU Court: France Can Require Foreign Sites to Implement AV

The European Union’s Court of Justice ruled on Tuesday that France may require pornographic websites based in other EU states to implement age verification in accordance with French law, as long as France follows EU electronic commerce rules.

LoyalFans Announces 'Group Walkthrough' Online Event Series

LoyalFans has announced its new “Group Walkthrough” online event series for creators, taking place every Tuesday and Thursday.

Bree Sky Officially Launches 'ThirstChat' Fan Platform

Creator and entrepreneur Bree Sky has debuted her new fan platform, ThirstChat.

Lawsuit Alleging Meta Pirated VMG Content Will Move Forward

A U.S. district court on Thursday rejected Facebook parent company Meta’s motion to dismiss a suit by Vixen Media Group owner Strike 3 Holdings, which accuses Meta of pirating VMG content to train its artificial intelligence models.

Playboy Partners With Creator Platform Tango

Playboy has partnered with creator platform Tango, introducing Playmates to the livestreaming service.

Anti-Porn Senator Introduces Federal Age Verification Bill

U.S. Senator Jim Banks of Indiana, who last month urged the Department of Justice to ramp up obscenity prosecutions, on Wednesday introduced a bill that would make age verification by adult websites federal law.

AEBN Publishes Popular Searches by Country for April, May

AEBN has released the list of popular searches from its straight and gay theaters, by country, for April and May.

Ondato Joins Pineapple Support as Sponsor

Age and identity verification company Ondato has joined the ranks of over 70 adult businesses and organizations committing funds and resources to Pineapple Support.

2026 XBIZ Amsterdam Website Now Live, Registration Opens

XBIZ is pleased to announce that the website for its annual European conference, XBIZ Amsterdam, is now live.

MyMember.site Integrates FSC's 'PrivateAV' Age Verification Solution

MyMember.site has integrated Free Speech Coalition's PrivateAV age verification tool into its website-building platform.

Show More