# John “Jed” Brunst

No alias recorded

Charged, Convicted, Sentenced

Public record reviewed to August 21, 2026

Index entry last updated August 21, 2026

Co-owner.

A conviction or guilty plea is recorded in this entry.

- Publicly named in the Backpage prosecution; role: Owner/executive.

Everything on this page comes from cited public sources.

This entry records 3 actions across 1 takedown, each traced to a cited source. At least one linked takedown was added in the extended pass and was not independently source verified. Where the record is silent, this page says so rather than filling the gap.

Legal summary

**Associated takedowns:** [Backpage.com seizure](https://takedownindex.org/takedowns/backpage-com-seizure)

**Recorded role:** Co-owner

**Group segment:** Core operator

**Charging authority:** United States Attorney's Office for the District of Arizona

**Charging jurisdiction:** Not recorded

**Case number:** CR-18-00422-PHX (BSB)

**Latest recorded action:** Sentenced, August 2024

**Nationality:** United States

**Country of residence:** United States

**Recorded sentence:** 120 months imprisonment; three years supervised release.

- [Associated takedowns](https://takedownindex.org/people/john-jed-brunst)
- [Legal history](https://takedownindex.org/people/john-jed-brunst/legal-history)
- [Charges](https://takedownindex.org/people/john-jed-brunst/charges)
- [Sources](https://takedownindex.org/people/john-jed-brunst/sources)

## Sources

Every claim on this person's pages traces to one of the entries below.

Official announcements come first, then the reporting that supports individual details.

3 sources cited across 3 recorded actions

1. [1]
[Justice Department leads seizure of Backpage.com, indicts founders](https://takedownindex.org/sources/us-doj-fbi-justice-department-leads-seizure-of-backpage-com-indicts-founders)

US DOJ / FBI, April 6, 2018 Prosecutor release Source grade P1

Establishes the Backpage.com seizure and the indictment of its founders and executives.

[Open source](https://www.justice.gov/usao-az/pr/justice-department-leads-effort-seize-backpagecom-internet-s-leading-forum-prostitution)
2. [2]
[Backpage Principals Convicted of $500M Prostitution Promotion Scheme](https://takedownindex.org/sources/united-states-department-of-justice-office-of-public-affairs-backpage-principals)

United States Department of Justice, Office of Public Affairs, November 17, 2023 Prosecutor release Source grade P1

Trial convictions of Lacey, Spear and Brunst

[Open source](https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/backpage-principals-convicted-500m-prostitution-promotion-scheme)
3. [3]
[Three Owners of Notorious Prostitution Website Backpage Sentenced](https://takedownindex.org/sources/united-states-department-of-justice-office-of-public-affairs-three-owners-of-not)

United States Department of Justice, Office of Public Affairs, August 28, 2024 Prosecutor release Source grade P1

Sentences for Lacey, Spear and Brunst; Ferrer and Hyer pleas; Larkin death; agencies

[Open source](https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/three-owners-notorious-prostitution-website-backpagecom-sentenced)

Coverage note. Nothing on this page rests on an uncited claim. Where a source is silent on an outcome, this entry leaves the outcome unstated rather than inferring one. At least one linked takedown was added in the extended pass and was not independently source verified.