Former Rentboy CEO Pleads To Prostitution Charge

BROOKLYN, N.Y.—As part of a federal plea bargain, former Rentboy.com CEO Jeffrey Hurant pledged guilty Friday to promoting “the exchange of sexual conduct in return for a fee.” According to various media outlets, the 51-year-old Hurant entered the plea in federal court in Brooklyn and agreed not to appeal a sentence of two years or less in prison and/or a penalty of $10 million or less. Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 2. 2017. Back in August, Hurant’s attorneys filed paperwork noting the plea deal had been agreed to, but listed no specifics. Hurant and Easy Rent Systems Inc. dba Rentboy.com were each indicted on three counts of promotion of prostitution and money laundering. Rentboy.com is a site that connected male escorts and masseurs with male clients looking for companionship. In August 2015, Hurant and six employees were arrested following a raid of the company’s offices by federal authorities. Charges were dropped earlier this year against the employees. Hurant faced up to 20 years in prison on the original charges, but under the plea deal faces a maximum sentence of 21 months. Hurant had operated the site for more than 20 years before the raid and takedown of the site, which was led by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.