Kevin Bollaert, 28, was sentenced to 18 years in prison for operating the revengeporn website UGotPosted.com.
Bollaert, of San Diego, was also convicted in February on multiple counts of identity theft and extortion. His revenge porn website allowed people to submit nude photos of their ex-partners, mostly women, accompanied by the victim's name, age, and a link to their Facebook profile.
The photos were sent without the victims' consent, and those who requested their photos and information be removed from the revenge porn website had to pay up to $350. Bollaert apparently made several thousand dollars from the revenge porn website. Many of his victims received harassing messages online as a result of their photos and personal information being posted on the website.
During his sentencing, Bollaert “broke down in tears” after hearing testimony from his family and some of his victims, according to NBC San Diego.
Many of the women who testified during the trial gave statements and explained to Judge David Gill how being featured on the website had a profound impact on their lives.
A woman told the judge that she was evicted from the house she lived in with her parents and is now homeless.
“This has been a daily battle to get my life back,” another woman told the judge.
Bollaert will be able to serve his sentence in county jail instead of another prison because he is not a violent offender, according to UT San Diego. The Los Angeles Times reported that he was also ordered to pay $15,000 in restitution to the website's victims, as well as a $10,000 fine to the state.
In a statement, Attorney General Kamala Harris said that "there will be serious consequences for those who exploit people online to make money.".
“Sitting behind a computer, committing an essentially cowardly and criminal act, will not save someone from the law or prison,” he said. “We will continue to be vigilant, investigate and prosecute those who commit these despicable acts.”.
