The Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) says three female potential trafficking victims were rescued during a recent undercover operation in the Twin Cities that also netted 10 arrests.
The operation took place at the end of July in St. Paul with investigators from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA)-led Minnesota Human Trafficking Investigators Task Force and the St. Paul Police Department.
During the operation, suspects talked by text and phone with undercover agents and investigators who posed as minors or as sex buyers, a press release from the DPS said. Investigators arrested the suspects as they arrived at an arranged meeting place for an encounter. Similar sting operations have recently taken place in Bloomington and Edina.
The 10 arrested on probable cause charges of attempting to solicit a minor under age 18 and booked into Ramsey County Jail were Solomon Gebrezgabher, 44, Pedro Garcia, 45, MD AL Amin Piyal, 30, and Julio Cesar Martin Garcia, 38, all from St. Paul, as well as Tura Hassen, 34, Burnsville, Oscar Lema-Mejia, 24, Anoka, Allen Omare Machora Ikobe, 24, Brooklyn Park, Ryan James Epps, 27, Cannon Falls, Oscar Villalba Villalba, 31, Little Canada, and Logofatu Florin, 30, Chicago. (Mugshots were not immediately made available by DPS.)
None of the arrested parties appeared to be charged at the time of this report, but charges are expected in the coming days, DPS said. Demographic details about the victims rescued were not provided in the press release.
“Helping three people exit the throes of a potential sex trafficking situation to begin the healing process and regain control of their lives is why we are passionate and committed to this work,” BCA Superintendent Drew Evans said. “We will remain in lockstep with our law enforcement partners to rid our state of this reprehensible sex crime and support victim/survivors.”
“These 10 arrests are a true testament to the hard work of St. Paul police investigators, the Ramsey County Violent Crime Task Force and the BCA Human Trafficking Task Force,” added St. Paul Police Major Crimes Deputy Chief Jeff Stiff. “Let it be a message that we will hold you accountable for the crimes you commit in St. Paul.”
Additional agencies lent resources to the enforcement effort, DPS said, including the Tribes United Against Sex Trafficking (TRUST). The BCA’s victim relations coordinator also provided services during victim/survivor recoveries.
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger of being trafficked, call 911. To report a suspected trafficking situation, call the BCA at 877-996-6222 or email opn.gvcf@fgngr.za.hf.
Minnesota youth who are trafficked or engage in prostitution are viewed as victims and survivors, not criminals under the Safe Harbor Act. If you or someone you know is being trafficked, you may be eligible for supportive services, safe housing and more. Call the Day One Hotline at 866-223-1111 or visit dayoneservices.org for more information.
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Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.
Crime Watch MN
Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.
