DOJ Launches Largest $200M Compensation Fund for Backpage Trafficking Victims

The U.S. Department of Justice has launched the largest-ever victim compensation program to distribute over $200 million in forfeited assets to survivors trafficked through the now-defunct website Backpage.com, which operated from 2004 to 2018. Backpage was a major online platform for commercial sex advertising and was used to facilitate sex trafficking, including of minors, with its executives convicted of conspiracy, money laundering, and related crimes. Victims or their legal representatives can apply for compensation through an official portal managed by Epiq Global, with a filing deadline of February 2, 2026, and must demonstrate financial losses related to their trafficking. This initiative represents a significant effort to return criminal proceeds to those harmed and underscores the DOJ's commitment to combat sex trafficking by using forfeiture as a tool for victim restitution. The program is open to individuals trafficked through Backpage advertisements during its operation, and no fees are required to file petitions. The DOJ has not specified the number of expected applicants or the timeline for distributing compensation, but the effort marks a historic milestone in human trafficking victim remediation.