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Wow1 Yet Another Prominent Republican Donor Convicted In Sex Trafficking Trial
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Candace Owens
Jul 5, 2023, 12:38:19 PM7/5/23
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Prominent Republican Donor Convicted In Sex Trafficking Trial
Anton “Tony” Lazzaro, who gave more than $270,000 to GOP campaigns, was
found guilty of enticing teenage girls with gifts and money in exchange
for sex. What do you expect?
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A formerly well-connected GOP donor was convicted
Friday of enticing teenage girls with gifts, cash and money in exchange
for sex.
A federal jury found Anton “Tony” Lazzaro, 32, guilty of seven counts
involving “commercial sex acts” with five girls ages 15 and 16 in 2020,
when he was 30 years old. The charges carry mandatory minimum sentences of
10 years with a maximum of life in prison.
The jury will return to court Monday to determine what property the
government can seize based on each conviction, the Minneapolis Star
Tribune reported.
Lazzaro, who contends the charges against him were politically motivated,
plans to appeal, a spokeswoman for his attorneys said in a statement to
The Associated Press.
“The unusual application of this federal sex trafficking statute to his
activities is frighteningly broad, conflating what is nothing more than
arguably an act of prostitution with federal sex trafficking,” Stacy
Bettison said. “He believes he has strong grounds for appeal, and he will
vigorously seek reversal of his conviction. Mr. Lazzaro trusts he will be
vindicated.” Advertisement
His indictment led to the downfall of Jennifer Carnahan as chair of the
Republican Party of Minnesota.
His co-defendant, 21-year-old Gisela Castro Medina, who formerly led the
College Republicans chapter at the University of St. Thomas, pleaded
guilty to two counts last year. She testified against Lazzaro.
Prosecutors argued during the trial that Lazzaro enlisted Medina, who he
initially paid for sex, to recruit other teenagers — preferably minors —
who were white, small, vulnerable or “broken.”
“He wanted sex, and not just any sex,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Melinda
Williams said during closing arguments Friday. “He wanted sex with minor
girls under the age of 18. And he had a plan to get it.”
Lazarro’s attorney, Daniel Gerdts, argued that government’s “salacious”
prosecution was based on “completely unfounded” allegations. Advertisement
“The prosecution clearly disapproves of Mr. Lazzaro’s playboy lifestyle,”
Gerdts said. “And frankly, as the father of three daughters, so do I. The
opprobrium is well deserved, but that is not why we’re here.”
Carnahan, the widow of U.S. Rep. Jim Hagedorn, resigned a week after the
charges against Lazzaro were unsealed. She denied knowing about Lazzaro’s
crimes but his arrest prompted outrage among party activists.
Pictures on Lazzaro’s social media accounts showed him with prominent
Republicans, including former President Donald Trump and former Vice
President Mike Pence. He gave more than $270,000 to Republican campaigns
and political committees over the years.
Anton “Tony” Lazzaro, who gave more than $270,000 to GOP campaigns, was
found guilty of enticing teenage girls with gifts and money in exchange
for sex. What do you expect?
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A formerly well-connected GOP donor was convicted
Friday of enticing teenage girls with gifts, cash and money in exchange
for sex.
A federal jury found Anton “Tony” Lazzaro, 32, guilty of seven counts
involving “commercial sex acts” with five girls ages 15 and 16 in 2020,
when he was 30 years old. The charges carry mandatory minimum sentences of
10 years with a maximum of life in prison.
The jury will return to court Monday to determine what property the
government can seize based on each conviction, the Minneapolis Star
Tribune reported.
Lazzaro, who contends the charges against him were politically motivated,
plans to appeal, a spokeswoman for his attorneys said in a statement to
The Associated Press.
“The unusual application of this federal sex trafficking statute to his
activities is frighteningly broad, conflating what is nothing more than
arguably an act of prostitution with federal sex trafficking,” Stacy
Bettison said. “He believes he has strong grounds for appeal, and he will
vigorously seek reversal of his conviction. Mr. Lazzaro trusts he will be
vindicated.” Advertisement
His indictment led to the downfall of Jennifer Carnahan as chair of the
Republican Party of Minnesota.
His co-defendant, 21-year-old Gisela Castro Medina, who formerly led the
College Republicans chapter at the University of St. Thomas, pleaded
guilty to two counts last year. She testified against Lazzaro.
Prosecutors argued during the trial that Lazzaro enlisted Medina, who he
initially paid for sex, to recruit other teenagers — preferably minors —
who were white, small, vulnerable or “broken.”
“He wanted sex, and not just any sex,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Melinda
Williams said during closing arguments Friday. “He wanted sex with minor
girls under the age of 18. And he had a plan to get it.”
Lazarro’s attorney, Daniel Gerdts, argued that government’s “salacious”
prosecution was based on “completely unfounded” allegations. Advertisement
“The prosecution clearly disapproves of Mr. Lazzaro’s playboy lifestyle,”
Gerdts said. “And frankly, as the father of three daughters, so do I. The
opprobrium is well deserved, but that is not why we’re here.”
Carnahan, the widow of U.S. Rep. Jim Hagedorn, resigned a week after the
charges against Lazzaro were unsealed. She denied knowing about Lazzaro’s
crimes but his arrest prompted outrage among party activists.
Pictures on Lazzaro’s social media accounts showed him with prominent
Republicans, including former President Donald Trump and former Vice
President Mike Pence. He gave more than $270,000 to Republican campaigns
and political committees over the years.
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