Former Republican Donor Found Guilty of Teen Sex Trafficking

By Associated Press

A well-connected former Republican donor was found guilty Friday of enticing teenage girls with gifts and money in exchange for sex.

A federal jury found Anton

Lazzaro, 32, guilty of seven counts related to

, when Lazzaro was 30.

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The charges carry a minimum sentence of 10 years with a maximum of life in prison.

The jury will return to court on Monday to determine what property the government can seize based on each conviction, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported.

Photo of Anton Lazzaro taken at the Sherburne County Jail in Minnesota.AP

Lazzaro, who says the accusations against him were politically motivated, plans to appeal, a spokesman for his lawyers said in a statement to the Associated Press.

"The unusual application of federal sex trafficking statutes to their activities is frighteningly broad, mistaking what is nothing more than a questionable act of prostitution for federal sex trafficking," said Stacy Bettison.

"He believes he has solid ground on which to appeal and is vigorously seeking to have his conviction reversed. Mr. Lazzaro is confident he will be vindicated."

The indictment against Lazzaro led to the downfall of Jennifer Carnahan as chair of the Minnesota Republican Party.

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Gisela Castro Medina, 21, who was also a defendant in the case and led the Republican Party representation at St. Thomas College, pleaded guilty last year and testified against Lazzaro.

Prosecutors argued during the trial that Lázaro enrolled Medina, whom he initially paid for sex, to recruit other teenage girls – preferably minors – who were white, small, vulnerable or "without money."

Trump's lawyer says they will fight to keep the case from going to trial in New York

April 2, 202302:13

"He wanted sex, and not just any sex," prosecutor Melinda Williams said during closing arguments Friday.

"He wanted sex with girls under 18. And he had a plan to get it."

Daniel Gerdts, Lazzaro's lawyer, argued that the government's "salacious" persecution was based on "completely baseless" allegations.

"The prosecution clearly disapproves of Mr. Lazzaro's 'playboy' life," Gerdts said.

"And frankly, as a father of three girls, so am I. The opprobrium is well deserved, but that's not why we're here."

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Carnahan, the widow of former Minnesota Republican Rep. Jim Hagedorn, resigned a week after the charges against Lazzaro were unsealed.

Carnahan denied knowledge of Lazzaro's crimes but the arrest sparked outrage among party activists.

Photos on Lazzaro's social media accounts show him with prominent Republicans, including former President Donald Trump and former Vice President Mike Pence.

Lazzaro donated more than $270,000 to campaigns and political committees over the years.