US arrests CEO, employees of largest online male escort service

U.S. authorities on Tuesday announced the arrests of the chief executive officer and six employees of Rentboy.com for promoting prostitution through what prosecutors described as the largest online male escort service.

Federal investigators raided the ring’s headquarters Tuesday morning in a building on 14th Street and Fifth Avenue, CBS2’s Meg Baker reported.

They were identified as Jeffrey Hurant, 50, alleged CEO of the website, together with employees Michael Belman, 47, Clint Calero, 48, Edward Estanol, 23, Shane Lukas, 41, Marco Decker, 28 and Diana Mattos, 43.

Rentboy.com had listed disclaimers saying its objective was companionship, and set guidelines banning offers of sex in exchange for money.

Along with Hurant, authorities arrested six employees of Rentboy.com or its parent company, Easy Rent Systems Inc, for conspiring to violate the U.S. Travel Act, which is applicable to crimes committed through interstate transit.

The defendants, all New York residents, were arrested early Tuesday and were expected to appear in court later in the day.

Boxes were seen being removed from the offices of the site by agents from the Department of Homeland Security agents as well as members of the New York Police Department.

Website rentboy.com hosts thousands of paid advertisements from men, primarily offering prostitution internationally and in cities across the United States, prosecutors said.

More than $1.4 million from six bank accounts was seized in connection with the probe. The site also calls itself “the original and world’s largest male escort site”, and claims 500,000 daily unique visitors. Prosecutors say Rentboy.com grossed over $10 million between 2010 and 2015. The site charges subscribers a minimum monthly fee of $59.95 and up to several hundred dollars to advertise.