Cohen Denied Bail, San Jose Bound

SAN DIEGO, Calif. — According to court reports from the San Diego Union-Tribune today, Stephen Cohen pleaded poverty in a court hearing meant to address whether he should face the $65 million judgment against him for the theft of the famed Sex.com URL from entrepreneur Gary Kremen.

“I don't have a lot of financial wherewithal,” Cohen told Federal Judge Leo S. Papas, shortly before requesting bail.

But the judge was not convinced, noting that Cohen made off with roughly $100 million during his temporary holding of Sex.com.

“I think you'll find some disagreement on that from some quarters,” the judge reportedly said, refusing Cohen’s bail request.

Papas has ordered Cohen be sent to San Jose, site of the original Sex.com trial in 1998. Once there, Cohen will face Judge James Ware, the original judge from the case.

Cohen was apprehended last week in Mexico, where he allegedly fled shortly after Kremen won his $65 million judgment against him. With statutory interest, Cohen now owes closer to $83 million.

Cohen was initially discovered in Mexico shortly after his daughter, Jhuliana Cohen, was arrested attempting to smuggle marijuana over the U.S./Mexico border. Her arrest prompted immigration officials to notify Mexican police of Stephen Cohen’s outstanding warrant in the Sex.com case.

Mexican police later discovered Cohen living outside the border town of Tijuana when he applied for a residency permit.

Copyright © 2025 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

AEBN Publishes Report on Fetish Trends

AEBN has published a report on fetish categories from its straight and gay theaters.

Online Child Protection Hearing to Include Federal AV Bill

A House subcommittee will hold a hearing next week on a slate of bills aimed at protecting minors online, including the SCREEN Act, which would make site-based age verification of users seeking to access adult content federal law.

Industry Photographer, 'Payout' Founder Mike B Passes Away

Longtime industry photographer and publisher Michael Bartholomey, known widely as Mike B, passed away Saturday.

FSC Announces 2025 Board of Directors Election Nominees

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has announced the nominees for its 2025 Board of Directors election.

AdultHTML Launches Black Friday Web Design, Development Promo

AdultHTML has launched its annual Black Friday/Cyber Monday promo for web design and development, running through Dec. 5.

Canada Exempts Online Adult Content From 'CanCon' Quotas

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has updated its broadcasting regulatory policies, exempting streaming adult content from “made in Canada” requirements that apply to other online material.

Creator Law Firm 'OnlyFirm' Launches

Entertainment attorney Alex Lonstein has officially launched OnlyFirm.com for creators.

German Court Puts Pornhub, YouPorn 'Network Ban' on Hold

The Administrative Court of Düsseldorf has temporarily blocked the State Media Authority of North Rhine-Westphalia (LfM) from forcing telecom providers to cut off access to Aylo-owned adult sites Pornhub and YouPorn.

FSC: NC Law Invalidating Model Contracts Takes Effect December 1

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has issued a notice that North Carolina's Prevent Exploitation of Women and Minors Act goes into effect on December 1.

NYC Adult Businesses Seek SCOTUS Appeal in Zoning Case

Attorneys representing a group of New York City adult businesses are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to hear an appeal of a lower court’s decision allowing enforcement of a 2001 zoning law aimed at forcing adult retail stores out of most parts of New York City.

Show More