On Thursday, French prosecutors charged Isaac Steidl, the founder of the adult website Coco.fr, used in numerous sexual offences, including a high-profile case involving a man who orchestrated the rape of his sedated wife by dozens of strangers.
Steidl, an Italian national, was charged with managing an online platform that facilitated illegal transactions by an organised gang. He is also accused of complicity in drug trafficking, possession and distribution of child pornography, corruption of minors, aggravated money laundering, and other offences.
The anonymous platform, shut down by French authorities in June 2024, has been linked to thousands of crimes, including paedophilia, rape, and murder.
The site played a central role in the case of Dominique Pelicot, who used it from 2011 to 2020 to recruit attackers via a chatroom named “A son insu” (“Without Their Knowledge”). Pelicot was sentenced to 20 years in December, while his former wife, Gisele Pelicot, became a feminist icon after waiving her anonymity during the trial.
Steidl has been placed under judicial supervision, banned from leaving France, and ordered to pay €100,000 bail. He denies all charges.
French prosecutors report over 23,000 offences linked to Coco.fr. Two site moderators and three of Steidl’s relatives have also been arrested. Additionally, €5 million linked to the site’s activities has been seized from accounts in multiple countries.
The case has drawn global attention to male violence and exploitation, with Gisele Pelicot’s public stand amplifying its impact.