Federal jury trial scheduled for Republican donor, strategist accused of human trafficking
Court documents show a jury trial will be held next spring for the Republican donor and strategist accused of human trafficking.
According to documents filed in late November, a pretrial hearing for Anton “Tony” Lazzaro will be held the morning of March 16 and the trial will begin the morning of March 20.
Federal prosecutors charged Lazzaro in August 2021, accusing him of recruiting underage victims to have sex with other people. The arrest led to the return of thousands of dollars in campaign cash and the resignation of then-GOP party chair Jennifer Carnahan.
RELATED: Growing list of Minnesota GOP officials call for state party chair’s resignation
Lazzaro was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors, five counts of sex trafficking of minors, one count of attempted sex trafficking of a minor, and three counts of obstruction.
RELATED: Lawsuit Tony Lazzaro offered hush money to minor he allegedly groomed
RELATED: Tony Lazzaro’s year in jail: Hundreds of phone calls, 13 attorneys and a Tesla
Meanwhile, Gisela Castro Medina—the former chair of the University of St. Thomas College Republicans who was federally charged in connection with a child sex trafficking scheme involving Lazzaro—has a change of plea hearing scheduled in Minneapolis for the afternoon of Dec. 19, 2022, according to court records also filed last week.
RELATED: 19-year-old arrested for conspiracy to commit child sex trafficking in Florida
Medina allegedly conspired with Lazzaro and others between May and December 2020 to solicit six underage victims to engage in commercial sex acts, according to acting Minnesota U.S. Attorney Anders Folk.
She is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors, five counts of sex trafficking of minors and one count of obstruction.