Anton Lazzaro found guilty on all charges of sex trafficking underage girls
MINNEAPOLIS -- Anton Lazzaro, a former GOP donor, has been found guilty of sex trafficking underage girls.
Lazzaro was charged with multiple counts involving "commercial sex acts" with five minors ages 15 and 16 in 2020, when he was 30 years old.
Closing arguments wrapped on Friday, and the jury was handed the case shortly before noon. The jury deliberated for a little over three hours before finding Lazzaro guilty of six counts, including conspiracy to commit sex trafficking and sex trafficking of minors.
Breaking: jury finds Tony Lazzaro guilty on all counts. Guilty of conspiracy and 5 counts of sex trafficking a minor #wcco
— Jennifer Mayerle (@jennifermayerle) March 31, 2023
Federal prosecutors said Lazzaro, 32, paid teenagers for sex with money and gifts. He admitted to having sex with them, but denied recruiting them.
Lazzaro put his hand to his face and shook his head when he heard the verdict read.
They continue to drive the crux of the case -- it was sex for cash. This for that.
— Jennifer Mayerle (@jennifermayerle) March 31, 2023
Prosecution ended closing with thanking they jury. Said it was a hard case to listen to. Said it is not hard to decide. And asked the jury to hold Lazzaro accountable
RELATED: GOP donor Anton Lazzaro faces trial on charges of sex trafficking minors
Lazzaro's indictment touched off a political firestorm in the Republican Party of Minnesota. He had donated roughly $190,000 to Minnesota Republicans.
FBI agents raided Lazzaro's downtown Minneapolis condo in December 2020. Inside his $875,000 place at the luxury Ivy high rise, investigators seized nearly $400,000 in cash, along with foreign currency and bars believed to be gold. They found a GPS tracker, thumb drives, laptops, tablets, and more than a dozen cell phones. Agents also confiscated his Ferrari.
By all accounts, Lazzaro was living large until the raid, which was linked to allegations of sex trafficking minors. His social media shows pictures with a president and high-ranking politicians. Flashy cars, cash and private planes are splashed across his accounts.
The trial began last week.
In a statement released on the behalf of Lazzaro, he expressed his disappointment in the court's decision.
"Mr. Lazzaro continues to believe he was selectively prosecuted for his political activities. 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," the statement 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."