SAN DIEGO — The Federal Bureau of Investigation announced today that it has raised to $50,000 the reward offered for information leading to the arrest of fugitive former GirlsDoPorn (GDP) owner Michael Pratt.
As XBIZ reported, the FBI originally released a “Wanted” poster in September 2020, offering a reward of up to $10,000 for tips about Pratt’s whereabouts.
Today's announcement comes only hours after a "true crime" cable TV program hosted by John Walsh devoted its latest episode to the GDP fugitive.
Pratt has been a fugitive from U.S. federal authorities since late 2019 and was last presumed to be in his native New Zealand two years ago. Pratt left the U.S. before the October 2019 trial for a civil lawsuit filed by 22 former models suing GDP for fraud.
The civil trial, which was decided against Pratt and GDP with a multimillion-dollar award to the plaintiffs, was overshadowed during the testimony phase by the unsealing of a parallel criminal case and FBI investigation against Pratt and his associates and employees, for conspiracy and sex trafficking.
The federal indictment, issued January 2019, named Pratt, male talent and scout Ruben Andre "Dre" Garcia, Matthew Wolfe, Theodore "Teddy" Gyi, Valorie Moser and Amberlyn Clark as co-conspirators in the GDP operation.
Garcia was sentenced to 20 years in June after pleading guilty in December 2020 to the charges of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion; and sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion.
'Lies and False Promises'
“The defendant lied and tricked these women, made millions along the way, and left his co-conspirators to face justice while he fled,” said Special Agent in Charge Suzanne Turner via the FBI’s announcement. “Michael James Pratt is a danger to society, regardless of where he is, and is likely still victimizing people while on the run with his continued lies and false promises.”
The FBI noted that Pratt “has ties to multiple countries and has the financial means to be anywhere around the world.”
The Bureau is asking anyone with information regarding Pratt’s whereabouts to call 1-800-CALL-FBI, go to tips.fbi.gov or contact their local FBI field office or the nearest American embassy or consulate.
For XBIZ's ongoing coverage of the GDP case, click here.
