Illicit Massage Parlors See New Form Of Crackdown
In the last few years, the difficulty of dispelling massage parlor prostitution through traditional police methods has prompted some cities to experiment with a new enforcement approach.
In the last few years, the difficulty of dispelling massage parlor prostitution through traditional police methods has prompted some cities to experiment with a new enforcement approach.
Two men are accused of having sex with a runaway 17-year-old girl for money, in connection with a St. Paul prostitution sting earlier this year.
More than a dozen people are facing behind bars after a two-day prostitution sting by police at a Duluth area motel late this week. Fourteen men face charges for soliciting prostitution, one of whom faces additional charges for sex trafficking and selling methamphetamine. A woman was also taken into custody for offering prostitution services.
A North Branch massage parlor was the target of a prostitution raid on Tuesday.
The proprietors of Ramsey, Minnesota massage parlor are accused of profiting from the prostitution of their employees.
A Ramsey County judge handed down stern words and stiff sentences for an Eden Prairie couple convicted of prostituting a 15-year-old girl in St. Paul.
Two Hastings men are accused of prostituting an underage girl as a form of payment in a drug deal, according to charges filed in Dakota County Court. William Dale Willis, 25, and Daniel Rashaun Gopie, 27, were each charged with two felony counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct in connection with the Sept. 21 incident.
A 25-year-old St. Paul man pleaded guilty Friday to one count of sex trafficking a minor. Dontre McHenry is accused of recruiting and trafficking teenage girls throughout Minnesota, according to U.S. Attorney Andrew Lugar. McHenry is suspected of coercing at least three girls under the age of 18 between January 2013 and March 2014.
Bloomington Police arrested 16 people in a recent prostitution sting, including the former CEO of a Twin Cities hospital. David Cress, 64, was among the 15 men and one woman arrested on Tuesday. North Memorial Medical Center cut ties with Cress after police arrested him in a prostitution sting in Richfield four years ago.
The former chief of police in Robbinsdale pleaded guilty to soliciting a prostitute earlier this year. Steven Smith, 45, was arrested in Coon Rapids during a prostitution sting in February.
A 36-year-old California man is facing federal criminal charges following his arrest in Las Vegas on charges alleging he transported a teenage girl from Minnesota to Los Angeles to engage in prostitution. Records show that Laron Darrell Carter was scheduled to for a detention hearing before a magistrate judge on Tuesday. His public defender, Elisa Vasquez, declined comment.
Investigators are releasing new information on the prostitution sting that led to the arrest of the Robbinsdale police chief. Former police chief Steven Smith was one of 11 people taken into custody on Feb. 20 by Coon Rapids police. According to police records, he was answering an ad on Backpage.com that was placed by an undercover Coon Rapids officer.
The Robbinsdale police chief stepped down Saturday after being issued a citation for hiring and engaging in prostitution by the Coon Rapids Police Department on Feb. 20.
A suburban St. Louis man has been sentenced to nearly five years in prison for transporting five female victims for prostitution purposes between Missouri and five other states. Federal prosecutors say 45-year-old Barry Wimberly of Hazelwood, Mo., pleaded guilty in December to one felony count of transportation for purposes of prostitution.
A 30-year-old St. Paul man received the longest sentence ever imposed on anyone found guilty of sex-trafficking in Minnesota history. Otis Deno Washington was found guilty of first- and second-degree solicitation to practice prostitution (one involving a minor), two counts of promotion of prostitution, and one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking.
A Chicago man was sentenced Friday to more than 26 years in prison for the sex trafficking of a teenage girl – which may be the longest sentence ever given in Minnesota for such a crime. According to the Ramsey County Attorney's office, Arteco Marvell Rhodes, 38, was found guilty on Nov. 1 on one count of engaging in sex trafficking in the first degree and possession of child pornography. Rhodes met the defendant, a 15-year-old girl, in Chicago in March, and asked her if she "wanted to make money and be part of the family." Within weeks, Rhodes drove the teen and a 19-year-old woman from Chicago to the Twin Cities in a conversion van.
Four family members have now been convicted for participating in a sex trafficking ring that last about two years, extended to multiple Minnesota communities and victimized many vulnerable women. On Wednesday, the Ramsey County Attorney's Office announced that 30-year-old Otis Deno Washington, of St. Paul, was found guilty in Ramsey County District Court on multiple sex trafficking counts. According to a press release, they are: two counts of promotion of prostitution; two counts of solicitation, one involving a minor; and one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking.
A Ramsey County jury found a 27-year-old Brooklyn Park man guilty on Friday in connection with a human sex trafficking operation that involved numerous victims -- including women who were mentally slow or vulnerable -- across multiple Minnesota communities.
A Ramsey County jury found a Chicago man guilty in the sex trafficking of a 15-year-old girl in St. Paul in April 2013. Arteco Marvell Rhodes, 38, was found guilty of possession of child pornography and he will be sentenced at 9 a.m. on Dec. 13.
A 37-year-old Eden Prairie woman is in Carver County jail pending charges of felony promotion of prostitution after officers raided a Chanhassen massage parlor last Wednesday. According to Carver County Sheriff Jim Olson, deputies served a search warrant at a message business on the 7900 block of Stone Creek Drive in Chanhassen on the afternoon of Oct. 29. Deputies had originally targeted to the business after allegations that employees were offering sexual services for a "$40-$50 tip."
A former suburban Minneapolis high school cheerleading captain has been sentenced to three years in prison for prostituting a younger squad member. Eighteen-year-old Montia Parker was sentenced Friday. She will spend at least two years behind bars before she's eligible for release.
Prosecutors say a high school cheerleader is admitting she talked a fellow student into prostituting herself, then kept the money. Eighteen-year-old Montia Parker pleaded guilty Friday to three prostitution-related counts.
Getting caught engaging in prostitution or soliciting sex for pay will come with a higher cost to Minnesota offenders. A new state law permits authorities to forfeit the cash that was used in or intended for the sex solicitation.
A Brooklyn Park man is charged with one count of prostitution involving a 16-year-old who was pulled in to prostitution by a fellow Hopkins High School cheerleader. According to the Hennepin County Attorney's office, 27-year-old Oladipupo Ademola Legunsen is accused of soliciting sex from a high school sophomore on March 6, which he saw posted in an ad on Backpages.com. The victim was allegedly solicited by 18-year-old Montia Marie Parker of Maple Grove, who knew the victim from the cheerleading team at Hopkins High, where she was a senior.
It's a story being written in the halls of schools across the Twin Cities -- girls as young as 12 are being recruited as sex workers. The FBI ranks Minnesota 13th in the nation for highest incidence of sex trafficking.
To celebrate 75 years in the business, WCCO is excited to re-air and hour long special that details some of the biggest stories we've covered over the last seven decades.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court is changing course and will allow officials to place ballot drop boxes around their communities in this fall's elections in the presidential swing state.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is investigating after Richfield police exchanged gunfire with a man going through a mental health crisis early Friday morning.
President Biden will participate in a campaign event in Madison, Wisconsin, on Friday afternoon before taping an interview with ABC.
Video at the scene captured the mess that happened, as young people chaotically shot off fireworks towards others, towards the streets and towards cars.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is investigating after Richfield police exchanged gunfire with a man going through a mental health crisis early Friday morning.
Video at the scene captured the mess that happened, as young people chaotically shot off fireworks towards others, towards the streets and towards cars.
The Minnesota State Patrol says a motorcyclist crashed into a guard rail while traveling southbound on Interstate 35W at Hennepin Avenue on Monday.
After a half-decade hiatus, the music, crowds and excitement are back in Mill Ruins Park for the grand return of Red, White and Boom.
The weather is a wildcard for many official July 4 celebrations but the impromptu gatherings, especially among teenagers, have police and neighborhoods on high alert.
Gavin Plumb was convicted Thursday of planning to kidnap, rape and murder Holly Willoughby, a popular British television personality.
Authorities in Moorhead are asking for help in finding a missing 19-year-old man. He's described as "having minimal life experience and a very small social network."
When Belgian immigrants settled in Ghent, they brought along rolle bolle — a sport that's sort of a cross between curling and lawn bowling — but you don't play with a ball, you play with a bolle.
A man suffered serious injuries Wednesday evening after being run over by a tractor in southern Minnesota.
After seeing a red sweep in 2016, all eyes are on Wisconsin ahead of the general election. Esme Murphy dives into why western Wisconsin votes are so critical for both President Biden and President Trump.
Police in Wisconsin say a driver in Eau Claire reported someone chasing them down before aggressively throwing cheese at their vehicle.
After seeing a red sweep in 2016, all eyes are on Wisconsin ahead of the general election. Esme Murphy dives into why western Wisconsin votes are so critical for both President Biden and President Trump.
An hour east of the Twin Cities in Baldwin, Wisconsin, some are starting their Fourth of July early and with a bang.
The six family members who died in a Wisconsin house fire were a former pastor, two of his daughters and three of his granddaughters, authorities and church officials said.
Abortion advocates stand an excellent chance of prevailing in both cases given the high court's liberal tilt and remarks a liberal justice made on the campaign trail about how she supports abortion rights.
Pull up to a good parking spot in front of CentraCare Health in the town of Long Prairie and you'll notice what looks like a large bird house.
Mae Knopik, 4, has an ultra-rare genetic mutation that affects only about 430 people in the entire world.
Driving through Appleton, one of the first things you may notice is there is no Main Street or First Avenue. That's because every road here is named after a fallen soldier.
David Hruska and his sister Jenny Barnes said their job now is to stay positive while looking forward to hopefully bringing Back their Rapidan Dam Store.
Over at the Mill City Museum, there's an opportunity to learn more about the rich LBGTQ+ history in the Twin Cities. It's called the "Going Out, Coming In" tour, and it's the second year the museum is hosting the event.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court is changing course and will allow officials to place ballot drop boxes around their communities in this fall's elections in the presidential swing state.
President Biden will participate in a campaign event in Madison, Wisconsin, on Friday afternoon before taping an interview with ABC.
After a meeting at the White House Wednesday, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said President Biden is "fit for office" even as some fellow Democrats called for him to withdraw from the race amid concerns about his poor debate performance.
A 1998 settlement restricted the largest tobacco manufacturers' marketing of tobacco products and required annual payments to Minnesota.
After seeing a red sweep in 2016, all eyes are on Wisconsin ahead of the general election. Esme Murphy dives into why western Wisconsin votes are so critical for both President Biden and President Trump.
Thursday marks the Fourth of July holiday, and if you need to run out for some last-minute supplies, WCCO has you covered.
Transportation experts predict record-breaking numbers for the Fourth of July holiday.
Starting Monday, Minnesotans will pay more for some large package deliveries thanks to a recent law change designed to raise more money to support road repairs.
Minnesota's fourth marijuana dispensary is now open just about an hour from the Twin Cities.
The application portal opened at 11 a.m., and at 11:19, the Minnesota Department of Revenue announced it had "received enough submissions to fill the applicant pool."
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is investigating after Richfield police exchanged gunfire with a man going through a mental health crisis early Friday morning.
Gavin Plumb was convicted Thursday of planning to kidnap, rape and murder Holly Willoughby, a popular British television personality.
The weather is a wildcard for many official July 4 celebrations but the impromptu gatherings, especially among teenagers, have police and neighborhoods on high alert.
Police in Wisconsin say a driver in Eau Claire reported someone chasing them down before aggressively throwing cheese at their vehicle.
Police said the shooting may have stemmed from a personal dispute. One of the victims was an 8-year-old boy who died.
Hopefully, the rain clears long enough to spend some time in the water this holiday weekend — but spend too much time in there and your fingers and toes start to resemble prunes.
A team at Brigham Young University looked at particulate matter for two years and found higher concentrations of metals like copper and barium left following fireworks displays.
Hatch has received two reports of people being shocked after plastic on the product's AC power adapter came off.
Four Minneapolis beaches are closed ahead of the holiday weekend due to high levels of dangerous bacteria.
Pull up to a good parking spot in front of CentraCare Health in the town of Long Prairie and you'll notice what looks like a large bird house.
After a half-decade hiatus, the music, crowds and excitement are back in Mill Ruins Park for the grand return of Red, White and Boom.
It's the dawn of a new era at the Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest. Patrick Bertoletti is the new men's champion, and Miki Sudo set a new record and retained the women's division title.
Valleyfair in Shakopee is canceling its Fourth of July fireworks show due to flooding impacts.
Multi-platinum country singer and songwriter Jon Pardi with special guest and rising country star Mackenzie Porter will be at the Minnesota State Fair for this summer's Grandstand Concert Series.
"CBS News 24/7," a daily flagship show featuring live reporting from CBS News and Stations' local-to-global newsrooms, brings viewers a dynamic and immersive news experience.
DeWanna Bonner scored 24 points, Alyssa Thomas had 14 assists, 13 points and 10 rebounds, while DiJonai Carrington made big plays down the stretch to help the Connecticut Sun hold off the Minnesota Lynx 78-73.
Ryan Gauld had assists on goals by Brian White, Mathias Laborda and Sebastian Berhalter to propel the Vancouver Whitecaps to a 3-1 victory over Minnesota United.
Jose Miranda went 5 for 5 with three doubles, four runs scored and three RBIs as the Minnesota Twins beat the Detroit Tigers 12-3 in a game called in the seventh inning due to rain.
It's the dawn of a new era at the Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest. Patrick Bertoletti is the new men's champion, and Miki Sudo set a new record and retained the women's division title.
Carson Kelly hit a grand slam and Wenceel Pérez followed with a home run to back Keider Montero's first major league win as the Detroit Tigers beat the Minnesota Twins 9-2.
After seeing a red sweep in 2016, all eyes are on Wisconsin ahead of the general election. Esme Murphy dives into why western Wisconsin votes are so critical for both President Biden and President Trump.
After seeing a red sweep in 2016, all eyes are on Wisconsin ahead of the general election. In Talking Points, Esme Murphy dives into why western Wisconsin votes are so critical for both President Biden and President Trump.
After seeing a red sweep in 2016, all eyes are on Wisconsin ahead of the general election. In Talking Points, Esme Murphy dives into why western Wisconsin votes are so critical for both President Biden and President Trump.
After seeing a red sweep in 2016, all eyes are on Wisconsin ahead of the general election. In Talking Points, Esme Murphy dives into why western Wisconsin votes are so critical for both President Biden and President Trump.
Early voting is already underway for Minnesota's primary and one of the biggest contests is in the 5th Congressional District where Rep. Ilhan Omar is in a rematch with former Minneapolis City Councilman Don Samuels.
When Belgian immigrants settled in Ghent, they brought along rolle bolle — a sport that's sort of a cross between curling and lawn bowling — but you don't play with a ball, you play with a bolle.
The town of Remer is surrounded by hundreds of acres of woods and marshes. A perfect place for squirrels, deer, bears and maybe even Bigfoot.
Native Americans, Swedish immigrants and even cattle thieves have all taken shelter in a little spot along the St. Croix River.
Claws, scales, teeth and tails: There's a place in Medford where alligators and snakes have taken over.
It's a rite of spring in the town of Atwater. When the weather gets warm, the racers get racing. But at this track, the vehicle of choice is a go-kart and most of the competition is too young for a driver's license.
Hopefully, the rain clears long enough to spend some time in the water this holiday weekend — but spend too much time in there and your fingers and toes start to resemble prunes.
Rainy weather could shut down fireworks shows on July 4 and that might spark people to ignite their own backyard performances. So what fireworks are legal in Minnesota? Good Question.
Stormwater drags nutrients like phosphorus into drains, which lead to lakes and streams hurting water quality. They can also create algae blooms. So how can you reduce runoff at home? There's a handful of options, some of which can be cost-free.
Nearly 42% of Americans are now nearsighted — up from 25% 50 years ago. And half the world could be squinting by mid-century. So what causes myopia? Good Question.
By the weekend, several Minnesota rivers are expected to reach dangerously high levels. Some might even break records. Predicting if and when that could happen is complicated.
Thousands lined the streets of Hennepin Avenue on Sunday for the Twin Cities Pride Parade.
Many Minnesotans will be cleaning up Thursday from a storm system that brought sizable hail, heavy winds and possible tornado touchdowns.
Minnesotans were delighted by an otherworldly light show Friday night that was on a level the state hadn't seen in nearly two decades.
Many Minnesotans were treated to a stunning double rainbow on Thursday.
Nicolae Miu, a 54-year-old man from Prior, Lake, Minnesota was found guilty of six criminal charges, including first-degree reckless homicide. Miu's trial lasted eight days in a Hudson, Wisconsin courtroom.
Friday will be more dry than it was on Thursday, though the chance of a pop-up shower can't be ruled out.
In Minnesota, weather can be all over the place. Here at WCCO, we want to give you what you need to prepare for what's happening next.
Spotty showers on Friday morning will taper off, but there's still the threat of an isolated storm in the afternoon.
While there's a chance for pop-up showers on Friday, it'll stay mostly dry, though afternoon rain chances return on Saturday.
WCCO meteorologist Mike Augustyniak says the weekend looks drier but there will still be chances for showers in the p.m. hours each day.
Minneapolis police say “numerous” people were arrested overnight. One Dinkytown resident watched it all unfold from an apartment window.
Some Fourth of July celebrations may be continuing throughout the weekend.
You can see Earth, Wind and Fire this month, and “Chicago” is coming to the Twin Cities too!
We’re well into patio season, so today Jan Hagerman with Habitat for Humanity restore is showing the WCCO Mid-Morning team some unique patio planters.
Friday will be more dry than it was on Thursday, though the chance of a pop-up shower can't be ruled out.