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 (FOX 9) – A shooting in south Minneapolis left a woman dead Saturday night.
Fatal shooting on Pillsbury Avenue South
What we know:
According to Minneapolis police, officers responded to a report of gunfire near Pillsbury Avenue South and West 25th Street around 5:30 p.m.
A woman was found at the scene with life-threatening gunshot wounds. She was taken to the hospital where she later died.
Police believe that an argument inside an apartment led to gunfire.
The suspected shooter fled the scene before police responded.
What we don’t know:
Police did not say what led up to the shooting or if they made any arrests.
The woman has not yet been identified.
What you can do:
Anyone with information on the shooting can call 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or click here to submit a tip.
The Source: A press release from the Minneapolis Police Department.
Doors Open Minneapolis is growing to become one of the more anticipated events of the and this weekend is your chance to get in on the action.
From 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, participants can choose venues they’d like to explore and get a closer look at areas typically closed off to the public.
Details on the event can be found online.
San Antonio Spurs (62-20, second in the Western Conference) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (49-33, sixth in the Western Conference) Minneapolis; Sunday,…
San Antonio Spurs (62-20, second in the Western Conference) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (49-33, sixth in the Western Conference)
Minneapolis; Sunday, 7:30 p.m. EDT
LINE: Spurs -4.5; over/under is 215.5
WESTERN CONFERENCE SECOND ROUND: Spurs lead series 2-1
BOTTOM LINE: The San Antonio Spurs visit the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference second round with a 2-1 lead in the series. The Spurs won the last meeting 115-108 on Saturday, led by 39 points from Victor Wembanyama. Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves with 32.
The Timberwolves are 31-21 against Western Conference opponents. Minnesota is sixth in the Western Conference with 33.0 defensive rebounds per game led by Rudy Gobert averaging 7.5.
The Spurs are 36-16 against Western Conference opponents. San Antonio is fourth in the Western Conference with 16.3 fast break points per game led by Julian Champagnie averaging 3.0.
The Timberwolves’ 13.8 made 3-pointers per game this season are just 0.8 more made shots on average than the 13.0 per game the Spurs allow. The Spurs average 13.6 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.5 more made shots on average than the 12.1 per game the Timberwolves allow.
TOP PERFORMERS: Julius Randle is averaging 21.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and five assists for the Timberwolves. Naz Reid is averaging 1.6 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Wembanyama is averaging 25 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 3.1 blocks for the Spurs. De’Aaron Fox is averaging 18.6 points and 6.2 assists over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Timberwolves: 6-4, averaging 111.1 points, 47.3 rebounds, 24.9 assists, 6.1 steals and 4.7 blocks per game while shooting 45.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.1 points per game.
Spurs: 7-3, averaging 116.9 points, 46.5 rebounds, 25.9 assists, 7.7 steals and 7.7 blocks per game while shooting 48.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 105.5 points.
INJURIES: Timberwolves: Donte DiVincenzo: out for season (leg).
Spurs: David Jones Garcia: out for season (ankle).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Copyright
© 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
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