Sex trafficking suspect arrested in Anoka County

A Bloomington man has been arrested in a multistate operation targeting sex trafficking.

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) said Friday that 47-year-old Richard Payton was arrested as part of Operation United Front, which targets sex trafficking.

Payton was booked at Anoka County Jail and released pending further investigation. Two others were questioned and released.

Investigators recovered and provided services for eight trafficking victims, according to the BCA.

BCA investigators were assisted by Fridley, Minneapolis, St. Paul, Blaine, Buffalo, Woodbury, Leech Lake Tribal and Fond Du Lac police, as well as the Hennepin, Anoka, Chisago and Washington County sheriff’s offices, the East Metro Sex Trafficking Task Force, the Anoka Hennepin Drug Task Force, Tribes United Against Sex Trafficking (TRUST) and Homeland Security Investigations.

Anyone with information regarding a suspected trafficking situation is asked to call the BCA at 877-996-6222 or email tips to bca.tips@state.mn.us.