7 charged in connection to Itasca County human trafficking operation

7 charged in connection to Itasca County human trafficking operation Photo: KSTP.

Josh Skluzacek
Updated: February 19, 2021 05:28 PM
Created: February 19, 2021 05:13 PM

Seven people were charged Friday in connection to a human trafficking operation in Itasca County.

The Itasca County Attorney's Office said the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension's Human Trafficking Investigators Task Force led a three-day operation in partnership with the Itasca County Sheriff's Office and the TRUST Task Force from Wednesday through Friday.

Authorities said the suspects talked with undercover agents and investigators on several sex advertisement websites. Investigators then arrested the suspects as they arrived at arranged meeting places.

Those charged were identified as:

Chad Arther Dockendorf, 45, of Grand Rapids — charged with solicitation of a person believed to be a minor and fourth-degree DWI.
Matthew Ty Hall, 32, of Mt. Pleasant, Texas — charged with solicitation of a person believed to be a minor.
Derek Wayne Jokinen, 44, of Sawyer — charged with solicitation of a person believed to be a minor.
Rusty James Marek, 56, of Grand Rapids — charged with solicitation of a person believed to be a minor.
Michael Kelly West, 53, of Rolla, Mo. — charged with carrying a pistol without a permit and solicitation to engage in prostitution.
Bruce Duane Jones, 54, of Goodridge — with communication of sexually explicit materials to a minor.
Saihou Adrisa Sissoho, 20, of Chisolm — charged with solicitation of a person believed to be a minor.