Key Takeaways:

• Isaac Steidl, founder of coco.fr, has been indicted on multiple charges related to the Pelicot rape case.
• If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison and significant financial penalties.
• His website allegedly facilitated numerous sexual assaults, including on Pelicot's drugged ex-wife.
• Steidl claims innocence and intends to cooperate with authorities to clear his name.
• The website was integral to organizing sexual crimes across Europe, implicated in thousands of cases.

The founder of the infamous website coco.fr, Isaac Steidl, has been indicted on serious charges in France stemming from the case involving Dominique Pelicot. This case drew national attention after Pelicot was found guilty of drugging his wife, Gisèle, and orchestrating a series of rapes involving dozens of men. If convicted, Steidl could face up to 10 years in prison and a fine reaching 7.5 million euros, approximately $7.7 million.

Steidl, 44, was released from jail on Thursday after being placed under “judicial supervision.” He was required to post a bail of 100,000 euros and cannot leave France. His site, established in 2003, became infamous especially during Pelicot's trial, where he and 50 other men were found guilty of sexually assaulting Gisèle, who was heavily sedated at the time.

Among the charges against Steidl are facilitating illegal transactions through his platform, complicity in drug trafficking, and aggravated pimping, among others. His lawyer, Julien Zanatta, asserted, “Mr. Steidl firmly denies the accusations made against him and is committed to cooperating to prove his innocence.”

Testimonies during the trial revealed that the website acted as a meeting place for predators, who paid a 5-euro monthly subscription to access private chat rooms with names that hinted at their illicit intentions. The website was not moderated and did not keep message records, which further facilitated unlawful activities.

Paris Prosecutor Laure Beccuau indicated that coco.fr was linked to over 23,000 cases across France from 2021 to 2024, implicating 480 alleged victims. These allegations encompass a wide range of offenses, including childhood sexual abuse, pimping, and drug trafficking. Following an extensive 18-month investigation, the site was shut down in June 2024. Assets linked to the operation were frozen in various countries, and a search was conducted at Steidl's residence in Bulgaria on behalf of French authorities.

Steidl renounced his French citizenship in April 2023, with his controversial profile growing increasingly complex amidst the ongoing legal proceedings. The case remains a significant issue within France and showcases the challenges of combating online sexual crimes.