MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A previously well-connected GOP donor was convicted Friday of attractive teenage ladies with presents, money and cash in change for intercourse.
A federal jury discovered Anton “Tony” Lazzaro, 32, responsible of seven counts involving “industrial intercourse acts” with 5 ladies ages 15 and 16 in 2020, when he was 30 years outdated. The fees carry necessary minimal sentences of 10 years with a most of life in jail.
The jury will return to courtroom Monday to find out what property the federal government can seize based mostly on every conviction, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported.
Lazzaro, who contends the fees in opposition to him had been politically motivated, plans to attraction, a spokeswoman for his attorneys stated in a press release to The Related Press.
“The weird software of this federal intercourse trafficking statute to his actions is frighteningly broad, conflating what’s nothing greater than arguably an act of prostitution with federal intercourse trafficking,” Stacy Bettison stated. “He believes he has robust grounds for attraction, and he’ll vigorously search reversal of his conviction. Mr. Lazzaro trusts he might be vindicated.”
His indictment led to the downfall of Jennifer Carnahan as chair of the Republican Social gathering of Minnesota.
His co-defendant, 21-year-old Gisela Castro Medina, who previously led the Faculty Republicans chapter on the College of St. Thomas, pleaded responsible to 2 counts final 12 months. She testified in opposition to Lazzaro.
Prosecutors argued in the course of the trial that Lazzaro enlisted Medina, who he initially paid for intercourse, to recruit different youngsters — ideally minors — who had been white, small, susceptible or “damaged.”
“He needed intercourse, and never simply any intercourse,” Assistant U.S. Legal professional Melinda Williams stated throughout closing arguments Friday. “He needed intercourse with minor ladies beneath the age of 18. And he had a plan to get it.”
Lazarro’s legal professional, Daniel Gerdts, argued that authorities’s “salacious” prosecution was based mostly on “utterly unfounded” allegations.
“The prosecution clearly disapproves of Mr. Lazzaro’s playboy way of life,” Gerdts stated. “And albeit, as the daddy of three daughters, so do I. The opprobrium is nicely deserved, however that’s not why we’re right here.”
Carnahan, the widow of U.S. Rep. Jim Hagedorn, resigned every week after the fees in opposition to Lazzaro had been unsealed. She denied realizing about Lazzaro’s crimes however his arrest prompted outrage amongst celebration activists.
Footage on Lazzaro’s social media accounts confirmed him with distinguished Republicans, together with former President Donald Trump and former Vice President Mike Pence. He gave greater than $270,000 to Republican campaigns and political committees over time.