Anton Joseph Lazzaro, Child Sex Trafficking, Minnesota 2020

A Minneapolis man has been arrested and charged with federal sex trafficking crimes for allegedly recruiting six minor victims to engage in commercial sex acts. According to court documents, Anton Joseph Lazzaro, 30, conspired with others to recruit and solicit the minors to engage in the commercial sex acts from May 2020 through December 2020.

The indictment charges Lazzaro with one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors, five counts of sex trafficking of minors, one count of attempted sex trafficking of a minor, and three counts of obstruction. Lazzaro, who was taken into custody earlier today by FBI agents, made his initial appearance in United States District Court before Magistrate Judge Becky Thorson.

The FBI, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the Minneapolis Police Department, the West Hennepin Public Safety Department, and the Wright County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation that led to Lazzaro’s arrest.

Lazzaro will remain in custody pending a formal detention hearing on August 16, 2021.

Based on the evidence obtained in this investigation, authorities believe there may be additional victims of the alleged conduct. Anyone with information about this matter is encouraged to call the FBI Minneapolis Division at 763-569-8000.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Laura M. Provinzino, Angela M. Munoz, and Emily A. Polachek are prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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