Gravity Payments founder and former CEO Dan Price has been charged with the alleged rape of a former girlfriend in Riverside County, Calif., according to The New York Times.
The charges arise from a 2021 incident where Price is accused of raping a woman while she was unconscious at a Palm Springs, Calif., hotel, as reported with references to court records.
Through his lawyer, Price released a statement to GeekWire, committing to contest the charge. “As I said when these false allegations were reported over two years ago, I have never physically or sexually abused anyone,” Price stated. “I’m going to fight this charge and prove my innocence in court.”
Price’s attorney, Vicki Podberesky, also provided a statement:
“Nothing has changed in the two years since these allegations were first reported in the media: there is no credible evidence to support this accusation, and Mr. Price categorically denies that he sexually assaulted anyone. While we applaud the district attorney’s decision to dismiss the charge of rape by intoxication, as further facts come to light it will be clear that Mr. Price is innocent of the remaining charge. We intend to vigorously defend against this charge, and we are confident that in the end Mr. Price will be cleared of all wrongdoing.” — Vicki Podberesky
Price resigned as CEO of Seattle-based Gravity Payments in 2022. Earlier that year, a New York Times report highlighted the 2021 incident and detailed “a pattern of abuse in his personal life and hostile behavior at his company.”
Price became globally renowned in 2015 for implementing a plan to increase the minimum wage at Gravity Payments to $70,000.
He founded the credit card processing company in 2004 and returned to Gravity in a new role earlier this year, “advising and assisting the CEO on strategy,” as he mentioned in a social media post.
In 2022, Price was charged with misdemeanor assault and reckless driving in Seattle, but the case was dismissed last year, per The New York Times.
