San Diego man arrested, accused of operating ‘revenge porn’ website

SAN DIEGO -- A 27-year-old San Diego man was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of operating a “revenge porn” website and demanding up to $350 to remove sexually explicit photos of women that were often posted by angry former boyfriends or ex-husbands.

Kevin Christopher Bollaert was arrested by California Department of Justice agents and is being held at San Diego County jail on $50,000 bail. He faces 31 felony counts of conspiracy, identity theft and extortion.

“Online predators that profit from the extortion of private photos will be investigated and prosecuted for this reprehensible and illegal internet activity,” said Atty. Gen. Kamala D. Harris.

Bollaert allegedly created a website in December 2012 that allows the anonymous posting of nude and sexually explicit photos. The website required that the poster include the subject’s name, location, age and Facebook profile.

Prosecutors said more than 10,000 images were posted, from California and other states.

Revenge porn is the name given to the actions of angry people who strike back at former lovers by posting nude pictures of them, either taken during the relationship or hacked from personal computers.

According to court documents, Bollaert created a second website that he used to contact people whose images were in the photos. He then offered to remove the photos for $299.99 to $350, authorities said.

Bollaert told investigators he made around $900 a month from advertising on the site, documents indicate.

His PayPal account indicates that he received tens of thousands of dollars from people seeking to have pictures of themselves taken down, according to prosecutors.

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tony.perry@latimes.com