GOP strategist described as ‘Minnesota’s Jeffrey Epstein’ is convicted of teen sex trafficking

A well-connected Republican strategist who would flaunt his wealth online has been convicted of child sex trafficking in Minneapolis.

Prosecutors have described Anton Lazzaro as the ‘Jeffrey Epstein of Minneapolis’ as he was accused of taking advantage of ‘broken’ young girls, offering them Everclear liquor and paying tens of thousands of dollars after having sex with them.

Defense lawyers alleged that the 32-year-old, who once captioned a photo of Epstein ‘RIP my brother’, was trying to ‘fix’ high school students and even enlisted one as a recruiter.

One girl broke down when she told the court she showered three times a day after her encounter with Lazzaro, adding: “My innocence was stolen from me.”

All of the victims were described as mostly white and thin, with many claiming to have suffered from drug and alcohol addictions.

Lazzaro is reported to have donated more than $270,000 to campaigns and political committees. He is pictured with Donald Trump, left, and former Vice President Mike Pence, right.

Lazzaro admitted to having had sexual relations with his victims in 2020 -when he was 30 years old- but denied having recruited them, the Minnesota All-Star Tribune reports.

He was found guilty of seven charges involving five girls between the ages of 15 and 16, which means Friday. He now faces between 10 years and life in prison.

His current girlfriend, Kira Costal, 21, testified in his defense.

In the past, he has branded himself a “next-generation Republican” who has “more modern views” and sought to make the party more hospitable to LGBTQ communities and women.

Federal Election Commission records show he donated to the Republican Party for nearly a decade. It is reported that he has donated more than $270,000 to campaigns and political committees.

And in 2020, he served as campaign manager for Republican candidate Lacy Johnson’s unsuccessful candidacy.

Johnson denied any knowledge of Lazzaro’s exploits, stating, “I don’t know that side of Tony.” He is young, he has money and… that tends to attract women.

Lazzaro was on the shortlist of the Minnesota Republican Party’s “alternate” list of presidential electors who could fill in for missing delegates in 2020.

That same year he shared a video on Twitter of Joe Biden interacting with a girl, adding: “Parents should keep their children away from Creepy Joe.”

On social media, he frequently bragged about his flashy lifestyle by posting photos of himself on planes, with bottles of champagne, and in sports cars.

Some of the victims described being introduced to Lazzaro on social media through Medina or a male acquaintance of his.

A 15-year-old girl said she was picked up from a sleepover with two friends to meet Lazzaro.

On social media, he frequently bragged about his flashy lifestyle by posting photos of himself with planes, sports cars, and bottles of champagne.

One 15-year-old said she was picked up from a sleepover with two friends, while another was paid to have group sex with Lazzaro and her older sister.

He was also charged with recruiting 21-year-old Gisela Castro Medina, who ultimately testified against him.

Lazzaro paid Medina more than $54,000, the Minneapolis Star Tribune informed.

Prosecutors said the money was payment for obtaining underage girls for his pleasure, as well as his silence.

Lazzaro told the court that he gave Medina the sums out of generosity. He plans to appeal the decision, a spokesman said. Associated Press.

Some of the victims said they met Lazzaro on social media through Medina or an acquaintance of his.

Medina pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing in August.

The heart of the court would take the girls to his condo and give them Everclear, the strongest liquor available.

Lazzaro is currently in a relationship with 21-year-old Kira Costal, who testified in his defense.

The case centered on allegations from 2020 when he was in his 30s.

During the trial, prosecutors were shown a picture of Jeffrey Epstein that Lazzaro sent to a friend with the caption “RIP my brother.” He appears in a photo with his girlfriend on Facebook.

Prosecutors allege that he then had a playbook or “proceedings of trespassing” that involved giving the girls money and gifts while listening to their problems. The lawyers said she saw the process as ‘an art’.

The FBI was alerted to the case after the mother of a victim noticed troubling behavior changes in her daughter along with suspiciously large cash deposits in their shared bank account.

According to the Star Tribune, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension was already investigating reports from another victim’s family.

Agents raided his 19th-floor Hotel Ivy condominium in downtown Minneapolis in December 2020. He was arrested in August 2021. Lazzaro has shared videos of the raid on his website.

During the trial, prosecutors were shown a picture of Jeffrey Epstein that Lazzaro sent to a friend with the caption “RIP my brother.”

“He wanted sex, and not just any sex,” she added.

“He wanted sex with girls under the age of 18. And he had a plan to get it.”

Prosecutor Melinda Williams told jurors that Lazzaro was a man who “seemed like he had it all.”

“He wanted sex, and not just any sex,” she added.

“He wanted sex with girls under the age of 18. And he had a plan to get it.”

His representatives vehemently denied that he trafficked the girls, repeatedly insisting that he was unfairly targeted.

Spokesperson Stacy Bettison said she “continues to believe that he was selectively prosecuted for his political activities” in a statement on Friday.

Lazzaro shared video of the dramatic moment FBI agents raided his 19th-floor Hotel Ivy condo in downtown Minneapolis in 2020.

Lazzaro often appeared as a contributor on Fox News. In the past, he has branded himself a “next-generation Republican” who has “more modern views.”

He was also accused of recruiting Gisela Castro Medina, 21, pictured here, who ultimately testified against him.

Medina pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing in August.

The couple is pictured together on Lazzaro’s website.

Meanwhile, his lawyer Daniel Gerdts told the jury: ‘The prosecution clearly disapproves of Mr Lazzaro’s playboy lifestyle.

And frankly, as the father of three daughters, so am I. The opprobrium is well deserved, but that’s not why we’re here.

Lazzaro nodded in the courtroom as Gerdts presented his case, the star tribune reports.

At other times, he would shift in his chair, shake his head in disgust, and mutter to himself and his lawyers.

The sentencing date has not been confirmed.