Suspect Arrested in 2021 Arson of Pornhub Owner’s $19 Million Mansion
Montreal, QC – Montreal police have arrested a 39-year-old man in connection with the 2021 arson of a luxury mansion belonging to Feras Antoon, a former owner of MindGeek, the parent company of Pornhub.
claudy Lafond faces charges of arson, possession of incendiary material, and breaking and entering, police announced today.
The incident occurred on April 25,2021,after officers responded to reports of a break-in at the under-construction property on Jean-Bourdon Avenue in the Ahuntsic-Cartierville borough. Upon arrival, they discovered a fire rapidly engulfing the home, which later spread to a neighboring building. Neighbours were temporarily evacuated as a precaution, but no injuries were reported.
The mansion, listed for sale at over $19 million, was owned by Antoon. He resigned from MindGeek approximately a year after the fire, though remained a shareholder in the company.
The arson took place shortly after Antoon testified before the House of Commons ethics committee regarding allegations against Pornhub and MindGeek. The committee was investigating claims the website hosted non-consensual explicit content, child pornography, and videos depicting sexual assault.
According to police,Lafond was already in custody awaiting trial on separate attempted murder charges. He is scheduled to appear in Montreal court on Wednesday.
Authorities state the inquiry remains ongoing and further arrests are possible. Lafond has also been charged with arson related to a separate incident on April 18th, involving a fire at Restaurant Chez chantal in Saint-Calixte, Quebec, approximately 51 kilometers northwest of Montreal.
Keywords: Montreal,Arson,Pornhub,MindGeek,Feras Antoon,Claudy Lafond,Crime,Fire,Investigation,Quebec,Ethics Committee.
