HASTINGS, Minn. - Dakota County authorities say 6 men have been charged with solicitation in the wake of an undercover sex trafficking sting.
The bust was detailed Tuesday morning by Dakota County Attorney Jim Backstrom and law enforcement officials who set up the sting, which was dubbed Operation Guardian Angel. Hastings Police Chief Bryan Schafer says the investigation began almost a year ago. Hastings Police Department worked with the Minneapolis Police Department's Crimes Against Children Unit, the St. Paul Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations and the Dakota County Attorney's Office in an initiative to target the demand for the commercial sexual exploitation of juveniles.
Those charged in the sting are:
- Christopher Thomas Lauyans, age 33, Maplewood
- Dallas Leonard Lloyd age 26, Zimmerman
- Phengie Lue Lee, age 24, Minneapolis
- Kerry Joe Mausolf, age 48, Cottage Grove
- Jason Michael Slattum, age 36, Stone City, Iowa
- Joshua Berry Wood, age 39, Rosemount
Prosecutors say all six men are charged with solicitation involving trying to contract with teens between the ages of 13 and 17 for sex. Undercover investigators placed an ad for sexual services in Backpages, and received at least 75 solicitations. When that ad was modified to specify sex with someone underage, nearly two dozen men contacted investigators posing as young prostitutes. That led to the arrest and charging of the six suspects.
"These crimes can have negative emotional and psychological impacts on the minor victims involved," said County Attorney Backstrom. "It is important to connect individuals who are trafficked to the numerous resources that are available, as well as hold these offenders accountable."
