Montreal authorities have apprehended a 39-year-old individual believed to be connected to the deliberate blaze that ravaged the incomplete mansion of a co-owner of Pornhub in April 2021. Claudy Lafond faces charges of arson, possession of flammable materials, and trespassing.
The incident unfolded on April 25, 2021, when Montreal police responded to a call regarding a break-in at a residence on Jean-Bourdon Avenue in Ahuntsic-Cartierville. Upon arrival, law enforcement discovered a fire engulfing the premises, spreading to an adjacent structure. As a precaution, nearby residents were evacuated, although no injuries were reported.
The targeted property, valued at over $19 million, belonged to Feras Antoon, a co-owner of MindGeek, the parent company of Pornhub. Following the arson attack, Antoon stepped down from his executive position at MindGeek but retained ownership stake.
Noteworthy is that just prior to the fire, Antoon had testified before the House of Commons ethics committee regarding allegations against Pornhub and MindGeek for hosting non-consensual explicit content, child pornography, and sexual assault videos.
The arrest of Lafond, who was already in police custody for a separate attempted murder case, marks a significant development in the ongoing investigation. Additional arrests are anticipated as authorities continue to delve into the arson incident.
Moreover, Lafond faces arson charges related to another fire set on April 18 at Restaurant Chez Chantal in Saint-Calixte, Quebec, approximately 51 kilometers northwest of Montreal.
