Isaac Steidl, the founder of the notorious coco.fr website, has been indicted in France following its link to a shocking rape trial involving his website’s facilitation of abuse, with prosecution revealing extensive involvement in organized crime.**
Founder of Infamous Website Indicted in France Rape Case Linked to Widespread Abuse**
Founder of Infamous Website Indicted in France Rape Case Linked to Widespread Abuse**
Isaac Steidl faces serious charges including drug trafficking and aggravated pimping related to the operation of his site coco.fr, implicated in over 23,000 abuse cases.**
In a compelling development linked to one of France's most shocking rape cases, Isaac Steidl, the founder of the now-defunct website coco.fr, was indicted on multiple charges on Thursday. These charges relate directly to his operation of the website, which was misused by Dominique Pelicot to solicit men for the sexual assault of his heavily sedated wife, Gisèle Pelicot. If convicted, Steidl could face a decade in prison alongside a hefty fine reaching up to €7.5 million (approximately $7.7 million).
Steidl, 44, was released from custody but remains under strict judicial supervision, including a bail requirement of €100,000 and a prohibition on leaving France. The emergence of coco.fr in 2003 has since been marred by numerous criminal allegations and law enforcement scrutiny, especially during the trial that recently saw Mr. Pelicot and 50 accomplices convicted for their roles in raping Gisèle while she was drugged.
Among the charges Steidl faces, one is directly linked to facilitating an illicit transaction through his website as part of an organized crime operation. Additional accusations include his involvement in drug trafficking, handling and distributing child pornography, as well as serious charges such as aggravated pimping and money laundering.
Steidl's lawyer, Julien Zanatta, stated that his client “firmly denies the accusations” and is committed to demonstrating his innocence throughout the legal process. Testimonies during the recent trial revealed how coco.fr became a hub for such predatory behavior, where members paid a fee to engage in secretive discussions under provocative group names, and many of them coordinated visits to the Pelicot residence.
Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau disclosed that the site has been tied to over 23,000 documented abuse incidents within France from 2021 to 2024, affecting approximately 480 victims. This extensive criminality ranges from child sexual abuse and pimping to drug-related offenses and even homicide, according to local authorities.
Following an 18-month extensive investigation across Europe, law enforcement shut down coco.fr in June, leading to seizure operations that froze bank accounts in several countries and ultimately confiscated €5 million. In tandem, Steidl's property in Bulgaria was searched under a court order from French authorities.
Growing up in Var, southern France, Steidl’s legal battles have seen him renounce his French citizenship amid escalating scrutiny over his actions and their implications on society at large.
Steidl, 44, was released from custody but remains under strict judicial supervision, including a bail requirement of €100,000 and a prohibition on leaving France. The emergence of coco.fr in 2003 has since been marred by numerous criminal allegations and law enforcement scrutiny, especially during the trial that recently saw Mr. Pelicot and 50 accomplices convicted for their roles in raping Gisèle while she was drugged.
Among the charges Steidl faces, one is directly linked to facilitating an illicit transaction through his website as part of an organized crime operation. Additional accusations include his involvement in drug trafficking, handling and distributing child pornography, as well as serious charges such as aggravated pimping and money laundering.
Steidl's lawyer, Julien Zanatta, stated that his client “firmly denies the accusations” and is committed to demonstrating his innocence throughout the legal process. Testimonies during the recent trial revealed how coco.fr became a hub for such predatory behavior, where members paid a fee to engage in secretive discussions under provocative group names, and many of them coordinated visits to the Pelicot residence.
Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau disclosed that the site has been tied to over 23,000 documented abuse incidents within France from 2021 to 2024, affecting approximately 480 victims. This extensive criminality ranges from child sexual abuse and pimping to drug-related offenses and even homicide, according to local authorities.
Following an 18-month extensive investigation across Europe, law enforcement shut down coco.fr in June, leading to seizure operations that froze bank accounts in several countries and ultimately confiscated €5 million. In tandem, Steidl's property in Bulgaria was searched under a court order from French authorities.
Growing up in Var, southern France, Steidl’s legal battles have seen him renounce his French citizenship amid escalating scrutiny over his actions and their implications on society at large.
