Montreal authorities have apprehended a 39-year-old individual suspected of involvement in the destructive blaze that ravaged the unfinished residence of a co-owner of the popular website Pornhub in April 2021. Claudy Lafond faces charges of arson, possession of incendiary materials, and breaking and entering.
The incident unfolded on April 25, 2021, when Montreal police responded to a call concerning a property on Jean-Bourdon Avenue in the Ahuntsic-Cartierville district. The report indicated two individuals breaking into a home under construction. Upon arrival, law enforcement discovered a fire engulfing the residence, spreading rapidly to an adjacent structure. As a precautionary measure, neighbors were evacuated, although no injuries were reported.
The targeted property, owned by Feras Antoon, valued at over $19 million, was part of MindGeek, the Montreal-headquartered company associated with the adult entertainment website Pornhub. Following the arson, Antoon resigned from his role at MindGeek, opting to continue as a shareholder.
Subsequent to the arson, Lafond, already in police custody for a separate attempted murder case, was implicated in the investigation. He is scheduled to appear in court in Montreal. Authorities have indicated that the inquiry into the arson incident remains active, with the possibility of additional arrests in the future.
Additionally, Lafond faces arson charges for another fire set earlier on April 18 at Restaurant Chez Chantal in Saint-Calixte, Que., approximately 51 kilometers northwest of Montreal.