Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis hotel sued over alleged role in sex trafficking scheme involving Anton Lazzaro
The Hotel Ivy and its management company are being sued, accused of playing an “integral role” in a sex trafficking scheme that ended in the conviction of Anton Lazzaro.
The man federal prosecutors dubbed “Minnesota’s Jeffrey Epstein” was convicted of sex trafficking of minors in 2023. He’s currently serving a 21-year prison sentence.
RELATED: Former political donor, strategist sentenced to 21 years on sex trafficking charges
Lazzaro resided in a condo at The Hotel Ivy in downtown Minneapolis. During his two-week trial, the minor victims testified that the 33-year-old brought them to his condo and gave them cash, alcohol vapes and other items in exchange for sex.
The civil lawsuit filed in federal court late Monday afternoon accuses hotel staff of failing to intervene to stop the illegal activity, despite being trained to identify signs of sex trafficking.
The lawsuit names Heartland Ivy Partners LLC as the owner of The Hotel Ivy and Wischermann Partners as the management company at the time of the alleged conduct.
“Although the scheme Mr. Lazzaro carried out is horrendous, Plaintiff’s claims against Defendants are meritless, and they look forward to their day in Court,” said Matt McBride, an attorney representing the ownership and management groups.
Jeff Anderson, a St. Paul-based attorney who specializes in sexual abuse cases, represents the minor victim who is suing the hotel and management company.
“The red flags of danger by this powerful predator were flying,” Anderson said in a statement Monday. “Hotel Ivy ignored the flags and the signs. It chose to protect the predator.”
The lawsuit relies heavily on the testimony from Lazzaro’s criminal trial, including from a woman who worked as the front office manager at The Hotel Ivy in the summer of 2020.
The manager testified that the hotel’s front desk handled visitors for the condominium residents. According to the trial testimony, the only way to access those units was to ride a private elevator summoned by the hotel staff.
According to the lawsuit, the office manager testified that she saw girls come to visit Lazzaro during her evening shift.
During her testimony, the manager said the girls who came to see Lazzaro looked around 16 or 17 years old. She also acknowledged it would be a “red flag” to see young girls coming to or leaving the hotel residences late at night.
The lawsuit argues there were multiple occasions where staff could have intervened. Hotel staff observed one minor victim, who testified she was so intoxicated she struggled to walk through the lobby after leaving Lazzaro’s condo.
Another victim testified at the trial that she told staff at the front desk that Lazzaro was offering girls cash and other items in exchange for sex. She also asked for help getting her sister to leave Lazzaro’s condo and was told by staff they couldn’t do anything.
Anderson is expected to speak about the lawsuit Tuesday afternoon at a press conference.
For 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS complete coverage on the Tony Lazzaro case, CLICK HERE.
Minneapolis, MN
Ell-Saline Splits with Minneapolis to Open the Tri-County Classic
Picture Courtesy of Jenna Hull
The Ell-Saline Cardinals were at home for the first time this season as they welcomed the Minneapolis Lions to Brookville to open up the Tri-County Classic. The Minneapolis lady Lions took the girls game 51-20 and Ell-Saline won the boys game 51-22.
GIRLS: MINNEAPOLIS 51, ELL-SALINE 20
It was a rough night for the Ell-Saline lady Cards as they struggled to get things going against a tough and physical lady Lions team. Ell-Saline would hang with Minneapolis for the first 4 minutes of the game and had a 5-2 to start the game. The lady Lions started to heat up as they would end the quarter on a 16-3 run and led 18-8 after the first.
The woes continued in the 2nd quarter for the lady Cards as they were held scoreless for the quarter and Minneapolis took a 35-8 lead into the locker room.
Ell-Saline tightened things up in the 2nd half after turning the ball over 21 times in the first half but the damage had already been done. The lady Lions would only outscore the lady Cards 16-12 in the final two quarter but would still coast to a 51-20 win.
Paisley Jensen led the way for the lady Cardinals in the loss as she ended the night with 7 points.
Baylee Randall-Hurt and Riley Robinson both finished with a game high 12 points for the lady Lions as they would dominate inside the paint.
Ell-Saline drops to 1-1 on the season and will continue the Tri-County Classic this Friday as they travel to Belleville to take on the the Republic County Lady Buffs. Minneapolis moves to 2-1 on the season and will take on Bennington Friday night in the Tri-County Classic.
CITY PLUMBING HEATING AND COOLING PLAYER OF THE GAME: Paisley Jensen (7 Points)
BOX SCORE
MINNEAPOLIS (2-1) –18 – 17 – 13 – 3 / 51
ELL-SALINE (1-1) – 8 – 0 – 9 – 3 / 20
Individual Scoring
Ell-Saline – Paisley Jensen 7, Bret Hecker 5, Aubrey Smith 3, Levaya Aulner/Marcella Garber 2, Genna Stetler 1.
Herington – Baylee Randall-Hurt/Riley Robinson 12, Addison Abell 8, McKenna Worlock/Sierra Cossart 4, Haylee Nichols/Addison Doering 3, Miley McClure/Atlee Smith 2, Sarai Auscherman 1.
BOYS: #3 ELL-SALINE 51, MINNEAPOLIS 22
In the night cap it was a completely different story for the Ell-Saline Cardinals as they raced out to a quick lead and never look back as they held the Minneapolis below 7 points in each of the 4 quarters.
The Cardinals actually got off to a slow start before turning it on in the first quarter, they still led after the 1st quarter 20-7.
Senior Reese Krone came alive in the 2nd quarter for the Cards as he would score 11 of his 15 in the period and Ell-Saline took a 36-11 lead into halftime.
Ell-Saline put things on cruise control in the 2nd half as none of the starters played at all in the 4th quarter and for most of the quarter it was JV players and the Cardinals still outscored the Lions 15-11 in the second half. Ell-Saline used a running clock in the 4th quarter to cruise to a 51-22 win.
Ell-Saline was led in scoring on the evening by Reese Krone who finished the night with a game high 15 points. Kas Kramer added 13 points for the Cardinals which included going 5 for 5 from the free throw line. Trey Williams dropped 12 including 2-3 pointers.
Owen Just who is standout scorer for Minneapolis was held to just a team high 8 points on the night as the Ell-Saline Cardinals defense would shut him down for the most part.
Ell-Saline moves to 2-0 on the season and will continue the Tri-County Classic this Friday as they travel to Belleville to take on the the #7 ranked team in 2A the Republic County Buffaloes. Minneapolis moves to 0-3 on the season and will take on Bennington Friday night in the Tri-County Classic.
CITY PLUMBING HEATING AND COOLING PLAYER OF THE GAME: Reese Krone (15 Points)
BOX SCORE
MINNEAPOLIS (0-3) –7 – 4 – 6 – 5 / 22
ELL-SALINE (2-0) – 20 – 16 – 12 – 3 / 51
Individual Scoring
Ell-Saline – Reese Krone 15, Kas Kramer 13, Trey Williams 12, Landon May/Collin Dent 4, Jaxsen Seed 3.
Herington – Owen Just 8, Max Helget 4, Aidan Hessman/Grant Rice/Oliver White/Kingston Deronnet 2, Tanner Norris/Ryan Lott 1.
Minneapolis, MN
ICE Defends Augsburg Campus Arrest, Says Student Is Registered Sex Offender; School Wanted Warrant
ST. PAUL, MN — Federal immigration officers and Augsburg University officials offered sharply conflicting accounts this week after a weekend incident on campus ended with a student being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The incident happened Saturday in an Augsburg parking lot.
University leaders said the student had been followed in their vehicle back to campus by ICE agents before the detention occurred. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara told FOX 9 that federal agents were involved in the incident and that there was a confrontation between agents and members of the campus community.
Augsburg University President Paul Pribbenow told MPR News that ICE agents were “on campus property illegally” because they did not produce a warrant when faculty asked to see one.
“We’re in a situation where, despite the fact that it was illegal without a warrant, there was really no recourse for us,” Pribbenow said.
Federal officials strongly disputed Augsburg’s characterization. In a statement Monday, the Department of Homeland Security said ICE agents arrested Jesus Saucedo-Portillo, describing him as a “criminal illegal alien,” a registered sex offender, and someone previously arrested for driving while intoxicated.
ICE said he was taken into custody while getting into his vehicle.
According to DHS, a university administrator and campus security attempted to block the arrest and prevent ICE’s vehicle from leaving campus. The agency said its officers told school employees they had a warrant for Saucedo-Portillo and warned that obstructing their vehicle would amount to obstructing justice.
DHS said its officers “followed their training to use the minimum amount of force necessary to clear the area” before leaving campus with the detained individual.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions between federal immigration officers and local institutions under the Trump administration’s renewed deportation efforts.
Minneapolis, MN
ICE operations continue in Minneapolis with 17 arrests last week
(ABC 6 News) – Federal agents have increased their presence in Minnesota, focusing on the Twin Cities.
Augsburg University confirmed that a student was detained by immigration officers on campus over the weekend. This development comes as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reported making 17 arrests in Minneapolis last week.
ICE said they are specifically targeting undocumented immigrants who have previously been convicted of a crime in the United States.
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