Are you listed on a commercial “mugshot” site? If so – there is a way to get off in Florida.

The parent company of Mugshots.com, a website that pulls arrest photos from local police departments, publishes them on the internet and then attempts to charge a fee to have the images removed, was sued in a Broward County court, after extorting the man for money in order to remove the image.

This is just one of a long line of cases in which the company has been sued. More bad news for the owners; they’ve been charged with extortion in California and two are already in custody.

In the past few years, a new business has emerged; online companies who post embarrassing information, such as arrests, and then charges victims a fee to remove them.

In 2018, the Florida legislature enacted a new law that says:

   34         (2) A person whose arrest booking photograph is published
   35  or otherwise disseminated, or his or her legal representative,
   36  may make a request, in writing, for the removal of an arrest
   37  booking photograph to the registered agent of the person or
   38  entity who published or otherwise disseminated the photograph.
   39  The written request for removal of the arrest booking photograph
   40  must be sent by registered mail and include sufficient proof of
   41  identification of the person whose arrest booking photograph was
   42  published or otherwise disseminated and specific information
   43  identifying the arrest booking photograph that the written
   44  request is seeking to remove. Within 10 days of receipt of the
   45  written request for removal of the arrest booking photograph,
   46  the person or entity who published or otherwise disseminated the
   47  photograph shall remove the arrest booking photograph without
   48  charge.

This law goes into effect.on July 1, 2018.

That means, beginning this July – you can write to the website owner and demand that your information be removed from their site.

We are still determining whether the law will impact sites such as http://www.bustedoffenders.com/, https://www.homefacts.com/offenders.html, whose business model is not to charge for removal, but to charge for a background check service or notifications.

 


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253 thoughts on “Are you listed on a commercial “mugshot” site? If so – there is a way to get off in Florida.

  • February 19, 2020

    I found out that the rapsheetz owner had a paypal button, he does accept payment from third party removal sites. We need to prove it somehow. The bad Karma that the rapsheetz owner puts into the universe is going to hurt him really bad, his end is eminent.

    Reply
    • February 19, 2020

      You should hear the comments via email they have been writing to me all day calling me an idiot etc. Do they have a phone number that works?

      Reply
      • February 19, 2020

        Question is Bailbondcity.com the same owner as Rapsheetz.org? Travis Grant
        Kyle David Grant

        Reply
        • June 23, 2020

          Yes, they also operate mugshotcity.com and have all of the same mugshots on there. Any one else know any others?

          Reply
      • February 20, 2020

        Don’t listen to them they’re going to be arrested for extortion!

        Reply
        • February 20, 2020

          I hope they close down all these racketeering mugshot websites.

          Reply
        • March 4, 2020

          Hopefully soon. This is hurting a lot of people

          Reply
      • February 21, 2020

        Hi Eric

        Send your information to Amy Sams with the Florida Attorney General’s office. She is the lead fraud investigator looking into the Rapsheetz guys. Her information is as follows.

        Amy Sams
        [email protected]
        Consumer Protection Division
        Office of the Attorney General
        1300 Riverplace Blvd., Suite 405
        Jacksonville, Florida 32207
        Telephone: 904-348-2720
        Facsimile: 904-858-6918

        Reply
        • April 14, 2020

          Thank you!!

          Reply
  • January 24, 2020

    1-If the website no longer charges to take down sealed records, can they be legally enforced to do so? Specifically rapsheetz.

    2-has anyone successfully has their rapsheetz récord removed with a seal order submission?

    Reply
    • January 31, 2020

      Has anyone thought of staging a non-violent, peaceful protest in front of this guy’s house. I mean, his information is all over the internet.

      Reply
      • January 31, 2020

        Yeah, we do need to start organizing about these websites. Peaceful protests, contact your local legislator, contact the u.s. attorney general, get after google to stop enabling extortion. Enough is enough already.

        Reply
        • February 22, 2020

          Exactly ! Because they have my old mugshot up from 2012 with a falsified charge i didn’t even commit let alone isn’t on my record at all ever. If these people gonna steal people’s mugshots they should at least put their real charge on there

          Reply
      • February 1, 2020

        It is a grand idea if you can find enough people who do not mind being blasted all over the news. I try and keep a low profile and stay off of everyone’s profile.
        I have one lady who lives on my street who every time she drives by, she stares at my house as she passes, as if eventually she will catch me right there in the front yard kidnapping and having my way with someone.
        I know if you do one of these, it will garner some media attention and that could be good, but there are too many reasons I do not want to be blasted all over the news. Bad enough I have a glamor shot profile on the registry. They didn’t even bother to get my good side.

        Reply
        • March 3, 2020

          If it means justice gets served, then I’ll get blasted! This website just cost me an apartment. A criminal background check shows nothing for me but I was told by the realtor that when I was Googled this site came up. This was humiliating, especially since my case was dropped and my records were sealed.

          Reply
          • March 3, 2020

            if you have the resources to file a lawsuit, I would suggest doing so. Florida passed a law a few years ago that provided statutory penalties for not removing mugshots in a situation such as yours.
            See: http://laws.flrules.org/2017/130
            If you want, contact [email protected] for a referral.

            Reply
            • March 3, 2020

              Yesterday I contacted [email protected] she they have their website with. Mine is also over 20 years and what they are going is preventing people from getting jobs and shelter. It is illegal

              Reply
            • March 7, 2020

              Thank you for your response, I will contact the resource provided. .

              Reply
              • March 24, 2020

                Mrs S. I just got an email from

                JOHN GEORGE, Task Force Commander
                Northern California Computer Crimes Task Force

                Does anyone have anything showing they want money to remove their mugshot. Would like several people to send it to him

                Reply
                • March 24, 2020

                  Hope this could be something big and not just “Looked into” but enforcement taken. If so, could send a message to the other scum bags making money off our misfortunes.

                  Reply
          • March 3, 2020

            You have a fairly unique situation then. No one should have the right to destroy someone’s life for something that may or may not have happened in your past. That is why so many people end up homeless.
            I would maybe try and rent a house instead? If you can find an individual who just runs a standard credit check like my Dad use to do, then you might stand a better chance.
            Also, next time when you are denied, maybe appeal it with the manager of the apartments with “Proof” your case was dropped.
            Everyone has the right to a 2nd chance. Good luck and do not give up.
            “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
            Galatians 6:9

            Reply
            • March 7, 2020

              That is what we are trying to do, it’s just a rental. The owner contacted me and asked me about the record he saw. I was shocked, this happened over a year ago and I had no idea this site was out there, I thought I put it all behind me. I asked Rapsheetz to take it down, they said not without proof of a sealed record. Currently because I just moved to Fl. that information is in storage. All my things are in storage in another state. I feel like I shouldn’t have to do that though. Why do they have the authority to hold my info. hostage and actually demand something to take it down? That’s my personal and private information not theirs.

              Reply
      • June 19, 2020

        No, but now that you mention it, I feel that 4 slashed tires and a baseball bat to the windshield would make me feel better. This guy’s gonna mess with the wrong criminal one day.

        Reply
  • October 27, 2019

    I was wondering what would happen if all the people who did request the URL removed under Florida Law and were unsuccessful next reported the crime of their identity theft (their name and identification) being stolen by rapsheets.org and the like to IC3 at https://www.ic3.gov/complaint/default.aspx/ ? My motivation for posting is that I requested a URL to be removed under the rapsheets.org policy and though the page was removed a link to it remains on most search engines. In my opinion, since the policy was followed yet the link remains, that is fraud. Identity theft occurs when someone appropriates another’s personal information without their knowledge to commit theft or fraud. Therefore I believe this would be identity theft.

    Reply
    • October 27, 2019

      Yes, it does sound like identity theft as well as extortion contact an attorney! Best Wishes

      Reply
    • October 28, 2019

      Hi there, so you just used the opt out form on the website and it was removed or did you send a certified letter? And how long did it take them to remove it and how many times did you have to request it? I know how you can get google to remove outdated search results (only works after webmaster removes the content). It’s a pretty easy process.

      Reply
    • January 12, 2020

      So now what these companies appear to be doing is removing the mugshot then extorting you to remove the arrest record. Is this a loophole? Or are the owners of TriCountyBusts.com just breaking the law by extorting people to remove their arrest record? In other words, you can ask them to remove your mugshot for free, but if you want the embarrassing record removed from their site they charge $250. I’m having my attorney explore this ASAP.

      Reply
      • January 13, 2020

        If you are on the registry, not sure why you care about the mugshot place. I have never looked to see if I am on there and do not care.
        People are 100 times more likely to look at the registry than these crack sites. And you spend your money trying to get off of one only to be on another one.
        I am just saying, you are wasting your time on these places unless you are off the registry then maybe it would be worth the time, money and hassle.
        A fight that was worth fighting and seemed to work, for example, was the one launched against clearmycase.

        Reply
        • February 24, 2020

          I agree! But how do you go about winning the biggie. This has been going on in my life for 27 years. I accepted a plea bargain in which ajudication of guilt was withheld. I had moved several times and every place I went I checked about registration. Things were all knew back then and nobody was sure about much of anything. Years later I was arrested for not registering. I was able to work things out without spending any time in jail. This is a crime supposedly that can be punishable for up to 5 years in prison. I have been registering ever since. But however they have added several things along the way. When does it end? This to me has become a lifetime of probation or parole. In my opinion ,and from what I have read in others as well ,a bad violation of the expo facto laws. If I would have known about all this at the time I could have made different decisions and not accepted the plea bargain. But this was all added on many years later. Seems to me to be very unfair and a violation of my constitutional rights. I only took the plea bargain because I felt it was in my best interest as I could not afford to fight this in court all the way through. Just the other day I had a situation at a job that was very uncalled for. Yes stemming from me being on the registry. Nobody really knows the situation but are quick to post judgment on me without knowing any facts. A situation that I could pretty much write a book about. I just want to know when and how does it end. As in reading other post it not only affects the one who has to register, but,also family and friends. It is a very unfair and and many cases illegal. This because the US Supreme Court does not consider this to be a punishment but more like an everyday situation like getting a driver’s license or a fishing or hunting license. Those I can choose to do. Registration I have no choice. These laws have hurt or destroyed many families and made it hard for many people just to survive. There has got to be a much better way to resolve these issues. It would seem that many of these laws good only make things worse by backing someone in to a corner they cannot get out of. After reading many of the posts what do people do you can’t find a place to live or a means to survive. These cases are individual and lumping them and to one big group does not seem to work. After 27 years I could go on and on. There has got to be a better way.

          Reply
          • February 24, 2020

            Are you sure you are not my alter ego? Take my name off of your story and add mine. My incident was from 1991 and same thing, lawyer ran me out of money and was not putting my parents in debt for something I was accused of. Didn’t get ANY plea deal.
            My options were go to trial for $25,000 which I did not have at 20 something years old or plead guilty and throw myself on the mercy of the courts. Was never told by lawyer ” Hey why don’t you fire me and get a public defender”. Judge never said “Are you sure you want to plead guilty or do you want me to assign you a public defender?”
            I filed an appeal on my own from the Hell hole and got back a one page nasty letter from the judge with a huge red DENIED saying to bad too sad.
            After getting released and put on probation I filed to get off and was granted termination by a new judge. However by then the registry had come out and they grandfathered me onto it making it retroactive. Like you said, with no hesitation, if I knew there would one day be a registry and our sentence would never, ever be over as far as the public is concerned, I would have fought to the ends of the Earth NO MATTER what it took.
            But the damn judges are afraid to say it is anything but a civil matter. Even though we can get more time for not registering than I got for an actual act of naughtiness with someone under 18. One state over and it would have been legally consensual.

            Reply
      • January 16, 2020

        Did you end up paying even though it’s extortion? Any info would be helpful!

        Reply
      • February 23, 2020

        Webcide.com
        Does anyone know if this company is reliable to remove me from bailbondcity.com. or are they just partners with these website owners?

        Webcide.com
        Correct Pete , because our Google engineers removed it from that single google server only, just to show you how the de indexing process works. If you want to stop seeing in on Google worldwide , the process takes about 60 days because there are more than 500 servers to de index in that way . The costs are of $ 990 . 50% deposit payment by PayPal and the remaining half after the removals. While paying the deposit on PayPal you are automatically covered by a full refund guarantee.

        Sincerely,

        The Reputation Team

        Reply
        • February 23, 2020

          Its a scam, Paypal does not accept money or refund you for mugshot removal services.

          Reply
        • February 24, 2020

          IF you are on the registry for life, why would you pay a company $1000 or any amount to take down your mug shot? It is 1000 times more likely someone will see you on the registry. I have never not once gone on a mugshot site and the chances of your one photo out of millions they have will be the one shown by a neighbor is very low if not unrealistic.
          Save your money and use it for causes to get us removed from the registry. I would do the same but have not worked since 2014 due to poor health. Probably die before getting off the registry.
          AND you can pay to have it removed then a year later they can add it again or some similar site will have it ( there are numerous ones ). Are you going to pay 15 sites $1000 each to MAYBE be removed then added again in a year when you have forgotten about it? YOUR money but seems to be more productive to use the money to fight something you can actually win either with a lawyer on your own case or with the F.A.C as a whole.

          Reply
          • February 24, 2020

            I’m off the registry have been for 3 years and my mugshot from 2015 is still on there site. I keep asking them nicely to remove it but nothing.That’s why I asked about these mugshot removal companies not sure who else can help me out?

            Reply
            • February 24, 2020

              Oh ok, makes more sense now. Seems like a class action against them would be the best route.

              I am on the registry still so have that to worry about.
              My incident is from 1991

              Reply
      • February 29, 2020

        Do you have anymore information or have you had any success?

        Reply
      • March 11, 2020

        same here. Maybe we have a class action. Do you know the legal name of the company, owners, and address?

        Reply
        • March 11, 2020

          Hi. I am been fighting this for 3 weeks. Let me know if you make progress

          Reply
          • March 12, 2020

            I called Attorney General’s Office for consumer affairs they referred me to
            Call Federal Trade Commission File complaint
            877-382-4357.
            Then report the crime/ complaint with Internet Crimes Complaint Center partnered with FBI. http://www.IC3.gov.
            If enough people complain we could see progress.

            Reply
        • March 11, 2020

          Kyle David Grant Jacksonville fl rapsheetz.com

          Reply
    • January 22, 2020

      Rapsheetz.com –Online Mugshot Industry Rings in 2020 with Brand New Scam Site!
      Posted on January 7, 2020 by billmcnewsworthy
      For Immediate Release:

      From the same folks who brought y’all bailbondcity.com (as featured in the New York Times!) along with, the overwhelmingly popular site rapsheets.com. Brothers Kyle and Travis Grant are once again taking the commericial mugshot industry by storm with their latest website, rapsheetz.com

      Kyle David Grant & Travis Paul Grant’s professional mugshot expertise is unmatched in the State of Florida. They once even employed the help of David Scott Gingras who has built his reputation as an attorney by representing similar controversial websites.

      Here are just a few public records, that every victim of the mugshot extortion industry has a RIGHT TO KNOW:

      Kyle David Grant posing for a mugshot photo op after his ex-wife tried to kick him out of the car during a ride home from jail. There is a class action suit on them, SIGN UP NOW!

      Reply
      • January 22, 2020

        Where do we sign up?

        Reply
      • January 22, 2020

        I emailed infobailbondsearch.com and asked who is the owner of bailbondcity.com website he said neither we are a corporation. They have a attorney you can meet up with for coffee do discuss your issues and also there address on the website is there location headquarters. Anybody here know if this is all true. Just curious!

        Reply
        • January 23, 2020

          LOL meet up for coffee with who? John Gotti? I think you would never be heard from again. Another shady place just like clearmycase that takes advantage of offenders and make money off them.
          I have never looked at any of those sites to see if I am on there. The registry is what I care about. I have never ever had anyone say they saw me on a mug shot site, it is always the registry.
          We should be focus on our efforts on that, then go after those other scums bags once we win the biggie.

          Reply
    • January 24, 2020

      Done.

      Reply
    • March 4, 2020

      Hi Byorn,
      Were you able to have the link removed from search engines?

      Reply
  • June 6, 2019

    I can confirm that it’s possible to have your mugshot removed from Rapsheets.org. I recently was able to do so. I wish I could say more, but all I can say is that it involves a little bit of discretion and a lot of money.

    Reply
    • June 14, 2019

      Who do you pay? The owners of rapsheets.org or a 3rd party company? Is it more or less than $500?

      Reply
    • June 14, 2019

      Please contact me directly. I’ll compensate you for your time and info/ [email protected]
      It’s imperative I get this down. I’m desperate

      Reply
      • June 14, 2019

        Why pay them? You get one taken down and there could be hundreds more out there. Also the same site could wait a month and then relist your photo after you have paid them.
        I tell people in my neighborhood that I have lived here longer than any of them and they chose to move here knowing I was here so if they do not like it, they can move as I am not going anywhere.

        Reply
        • October 12, 2019

          Yep, it’s like playing wackamole lol! Personally I love it, I don’t like people bugging me all day. My neighbors love me and it keeps stupid people in fear and away from me.

          Reply
      • January 21, 2020

        Hi I live in Philadelphia. It is invasion on my children and I.
        They google there name and it comes right up.
        Please help me get this off mug shot.com.
        My case is 13 years ago no troubles sonce.
        Needless to say it keeps me from getting work. And my children suffer. Even friends teachers is not fair.

        My

        Reply
        • January 21, 2020

          I’m having the same problem with bailbondcity.com it’s been 13 yrs and my mugshot is still on there website. Luckily rapsheets.org changed there name so when it updated everything it vanished. Hopefully they do the same to bailbondcity change there name. These mugshot websites are all about money total scam artist frauds and losers…..

          Reply
    • July 10, 2019

      Yea right they will not remove anything off there website! They are a news outlet only. Mugshots stay there forever!

      Reply
      • August 30, 2019

        You are a liar. I live in Florida and used this law to get my mugshot taken down and I never paid a cent.

        Reply
        • September 16, 2019

          Hi, how are you how did you get your mugshot off rapsheets.org?
          Thank you for your time!

          Reply
        • November 4, 2019

          I can not find contact info for florida arests.com

          Reply
        • January 4, 2020

          Adam, did you have to wait until your record was expunged in order to do so? Rapsheets is one I am able to get my mugshot off of.

          Reply
        • January 23, 2020

          If you paid them, you need to keep looking every month. Many people have paid them only to have it reappear months later, thinking you would not look again after a few months of being removed. You cannot trust these scum bags.
          I wish the best for them. The best funerals in quick sand with concrete boots and a plastic bag over their heads.
          Just because you can take advantage of someone, doesn’t mean you should. Am I perfect? No but I am not making money off of someone else’s misfortunes.

          Reply
    • October 2, 2019

      Any luck with rapsheets.org or jailbase.com?
      Both refusing to remove image and are owned by same.

      Reply
      • October 2, 2019

        This Guy that runs rapsheets.org and Bailbondcity.com is a real scumbag. A fat piece of shit that only cares about humiliating people with mugshots from his website. He is a convicted felon himself you see his mugshots on his websites i don’t think so! News outlet my ass – scams people for money to have them removed total douchebag!

        Reply
    • January 29, 2020

      Don’t listen to this phony con artist, they’re all in it for the money.

      Reply
      • February 18, 2020

        I would recommend sending a certified mail request that you request removal of your mugshot as per Florida 901.43 which was signed in 2018.
        The law states the following.
        The person whose arrest booking photograph was published or otherwise disseminated in the publication or electronic medium may bring a civil action to enjoin the continued publication or dissemination of the photograph if the photograph is not removed within 10 calendar days after receipt of the written request for removal. The court may impose a civil penalty of $1,000 per day for noncompliance with an injunction and shall award reasonable attorney fees and court costs related to the issuance and enforcement of the injunction. Moneys recovered for civil penalties under this section shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund.
        (4) Refusal to remove an arrest booking photograph after written request has been made constitutes an unfair or deceptive trade practice in accordance with part II of chapter 501.

        Now this law only applies for websites that accept payment for removal and rapsheetz.com seems to apparently imply that they “do not accept money for removing mugshots”.
        There are folks who are working on finding how firms that manage internet reputation are able to remove mugshots from websites and prove that there is a link between posting of mugshots, their removal and acceptance of payment through a firm that manages reputation, the scum who own rapsheetz.com here are liable for $1000 a day for each mugshot they have not removed after the 10 day period when certified mail is dropped at the contact address on the website.
        Take an attorney’s help to send in the paperwork to the registered address and lets watch their liability add up.
        As more folks send the registered mail in, it up’s the ante for getting caught accepting kickbacks/money to remove mugshots by the “Internet reputation clean up firms”.

        Reply
    • February 29, 2020

      How did you get it removed, I am 56 years old and I have lost my jog due to this showing up a month ago

      Reply
  • May 8, 2019

    Has anyone been successful in getting their mugshot and records removed online? Mine was expunged in 2018 and I still have not gotten a hold of anyone. Please help me 🙁

    Reply
    • June 26, 2019

      I did get a mugshot removed from busted newspaper just by emailing them. I told them I would have my attorney contact them.

      Reply
    • August 15, 2019

      I got on the website, and found out they got my picture in it. I go on contact us, and them a harsh message to remove my picture. They sent me back an email with a very weird emotion, told I need so send a police report and and court order to them. I am going to the court and police station to explain my online bullies and persecutions mugshot did to me. The two owners of the website got arrested in May 18, 2018, because they stole picture from police to make money to remove them. Google the mugshots.com owner.

      Reply
  • March 4, 2019

    Don’t understand the big fuss over rapsheets.org. Just send the man his bitcoin. That’s what I did, and my mugshot hasnt been up since January

    Reply
    • March 21, 2019

      Shawn, how did you get the proper contact information? I haven’t heard back from my inquiries and I can’t get through via the listed phone number. Please help!

      Reply
    • March 30, 2019

      How do you contact him to do that? I only see RemoveSlander.com as an option which is BS. I believe if you can get to them directly it is liek a $20 cost instead of over $300

      Reply
    • June 14, 2019

      Where do I send bitcoin?

      Reply
    • January 29, 2020

      Don’t believe this scammer or anyone on here saying they were successful by giving them money!

      Reply

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