Montreal authorities have apprehended a 39-year-old individual linked to the deliberate fire that ravaged the under-construction mansion of a co-owner of Pornhub in April 2021. Claudy Lafond faces charges of arson, possession of incendiary devices, and breaking and entering.
The incident took place on April 25, 2021, when Montreal police responded to a property on Jean-Bourdon Avenue in the Ahuntsic-Cartierville neighborhood following reports of two individuals breaking into the residence. Upon arrival, law enforcement discovered a fire engulfing the property, spreading rapidly to adjacent structures. Although neighbors were evacuated as a precaution, no injuries were reported.
The targeted mansion, owned by Feras Antoon, was listed for over $19 million and belonged to MindGeek, the Montreal-headquartered company associated with the adult website Pornhub. Antoon resigned from MindGeek about a year after the arson, remaining as a shareholder.
Prior to the arson attack, Antoon 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.
Following an extensive investigation, Lafond was arrested in connection with the arson, while awaiting trial for an attempted murder case. Further arrests are possible as the investigation into the arson incident remains ongoing.
Lafond is also facing arson charges for a separate fire set on April 18 at Restaurant Chez Chantal in Saint-Calixte, Que., approximately 51 kilometers northwest of Montreal.