A Minneapolis middle school teacher has been charged with a felony count of promoting prostitution after being arrested by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) late last week.
Todd James Wallace, 47, of Shoreview was arrested by undercover agents with the BCA and Minnesota Human Trafficking Investigators Task Force for trafficking three adult victims in Minneapolis using commercial sex ads posted online, the BCA said in a social media statement.
The charging document filed in Hennepin County District Court says agents learned that Wallace works at Andersen United Middle School in south Minneapolis, which is part of Minneapolis Public Schools.
Charges state that in late April special agents with the BCA and the task force began an undercover operation involving commercial sex ads posted on an internet website between February 2026 to April 2026.
Investigators called a phone number in one of the ads and an undercover agent spoke with a person identified as “Willow” (Victim 1) and discussed pricing. A meet-up time was scheduled, and the agent was directed to a private residence on the 200 block of East 19th Street.
A short time later, the agent canceled the appointment, and he received a message that he owed a $50 “cancellation fee to reschedule.” The agent was provided with a cash app account to pay the cancellation fee, but the agent did not respond. Approximately an hour later, the agent received a text message which threatened that the agent had until 12 p.m. to pay the cancellation fee. The person threatened, “I will find you. That’s not a question. Only question is if im (sic) going to involve your work or family to (sic)!” The agent requested a Venmo account to pay, and the person replied with a Venmo account of “@Todd-wallace-88.”
Agents searched for more ads that had the same number as Victim 1 and located another sex ad for “Cheyenne” (Victim 2). During a chat with “Cheyenne,” agents received the same fee and payment information that they received while chatting with Victim 1. Agents were provided with the same Minneapolis residence for the appointment. When the agent did not show up on time, he received voicemails from the same number, which demanded that the agent answer the phone. The agent then received a text from a second number that had been associated with the incident involving Victim 1, which demanded a $50 cancellation fee. The message also threatened to “find [him]” and “involve work and family.”
On a subsequent date in April, agents contacted the same phone number for “Willow” and arranged another appointment. They received the same information regarding the fee structure and payment, and they were provided with the same address in Minneapolis. The agent scheduled an appointment for 10 a.m. However, task force agents then executed a search warrant at the address on the 200 block of East 19th Street. At the residence, agents contacted Victim 1 and took possession of her cellphone. Agents spoke with Victim 1 about the commercial sex ads, and Victim 1 explained that she is not the one communicating with clients, and she does not post the ads. Victim 1 identified the person who made the ads and handles communication as Wallace. Victim 1 explained that Wallace pays her 50% of the client fees. Victim 1 also explained how Wallace provides clients with a menu of sex acts, which Victim 1 must perform.
Victim 1 said that Wallace wanted her to recruit more females to the business. Victim 1 knew of at least one other female that Wallace used, who was identified as Victim 2. Victim 1 knew that Victim 2 went by the name “Cheyenne” in the sex ads. Victim 1 also knew that Victim 2 worked out of the same residence in Minneapolis.
Additionally, agents received a sex trafficking tip regarding a Craigslist ad. The ad was looking for “spa 2 modeling gig.” The person identified himself as “James,” and the ad stated it was looking for models who could get $50 per hour for photographs or $50-$200 per hour for massage therapists. The ad provided an address in the city of Hopkins. Investigators learned that Hopkins Police Department had multiple contacts with the address, and the address is associated with Wallace.
Agents went to Andersen school to apprehend Wallace, but school officials did not immediately assist agents with locating Wallace. School officials also notified Wallace of the presence of human trafficking investigators prior to escorting agents to the gymnasium to detain Wallace, the complaint states.
While taking Wallace into custody, an agent observed that Wallace’s cellphone was unlocked and messages were visible from a known adult female, referred to as Victim 3. The conversation said:
Wallace: “Im (sic) serious Human trafficking police are at my school. Call me.”
Victim 3: “I didn’t tho (sic). Are u (sic) lying?”
Wallace made his first court appearance on Friday and was granted a public defender. Wallace has since posted $25,000 bail and has been released from custody. His next court appearance is scheduled for May 28.
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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.
