Under owner Joe Conforte, Mustang Ranch Brothel, the precursor to Mustang Ranch, became Nevada's first licensed brothel in 1971, eventually leading to the legalization of brothels prostitution in 10 of 17 counties in the state. Mustang Ranch opened to the public in 1976 and was America's largest brothel with 166 acres (67 ha),and the most profitable. The Mustang Ranch was forfeited to the federal government in 1999 following Conforte's convictions for tax fraud, racketeering and other crimes. It