Police: Minneapolis sex trafficking sting during Final Four ensnares 58, rescues 28
A sting in the Twin Cities during the Final Four in Minneapolis resulted in the arrest of 58 people while rescuing 28 victims of sex trafficking, law enforcement officials announced Wednesday.
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety announced that 47 people were arrested on probable cause of felony solicitation of a minor or solicitation of prostitution under 16 years of age, and 11 people were booked on probable cause for sex trafficking and promotion of prostitution.
The sting took place from April 4-8.
Police: 28 victims saved from sex trafficking
Police claim to have rescued 28 victims of sex trafficking in the sting conducted cooperatively by 33 criminal justice agencies as part of the Human Trafficking Investigators Task Force.
“Sex trafficking, like people playing basketball, goes on all year long,” Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman said in a statement. “But when major events come to our town, the criminals follow, and law enforcement and prosecutors have a chance to make a big impact.”
Officials said they lured suspects using chats with undercover agents posing as minors or sex buyers on social media platforms to an arranged meeting place where they were arrested.
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