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U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Feds, NYC authorities raid offices of male escort service

Melanie Eversley
USA TODAY

Federal and New York City authorities on Tuesday raided the offices of a male escort service known as Rentboy.com, billed as the world's largest male escort service, according to the Department of Justice.

Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Kelly T. Currie speaks during a press conference on Aug. 11, 2015, in Newark, N.J.

Representatives with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the New York City Police Department showed up at the offices in lower Manhattan as part of an investigation into money laundering and prostitution, according to the U.S. attorney's office for the Eastern District of New York.

Authorities arrested CEO Jeffrey Hurant and six other employees in the raid.

A criminal complaint unsealed in federal court in Brooklyn on Tuesday charged Hurant with conspiring to violate the Travel Act by promoting prostitution.

While site disclaimers say Rentboy.com offers only companionship services, the site is aimed primarily at promoting illegal prostitution, according to a statement by the U.S. attorney's office in Brooklyn. The site charges subscribers $59.95 monthly but several hundred dollars more if they want to advertise sexual services, according to the statement.

"As alleged, Rentboy.com attempted to present a veneer of legality, when in fact this Internet brothel make millions of dollars from the promotion of illegal prostitution," said Kelly Currie, acting U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York.

The site's homepage advertises it as "The world's destination to meet the perfect male escort or masseur" and says it has been in existence since 1995. The company's Twitter page advertises Rentboy.com as "The Original & World's Largest Male Escort Site."

Representatives for the Department of Homeland Security could not be reached Tuesday evening and the NYPD said it did not immediately have any details to offer. Representatives from both agencies were seen removing boxes from the offices, according to NBC.

The website boasts of a database of more than 10,500 men in 2,100 cities around the world.

No one at the website responded to an email query for a response.

Along with Hurant, 50, the U.S. attorney's office also listed as defendants: Michael Sean Belman, 47; Clint Calero, 48; Edward Lorenz Estanol, 23; Shane Lukas, 41; Diana Milagros Mattos, 43; and Marco Soto Decker, 28. All live in New York City.

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