Brooklyn Park men charged in major sex-trafficking ring

Описание: The Ramsey County Attorney's Office announced Wednesday morning that five people have been arrested in a sex-trafficking ring that took place over the span of two years and involved at least 10 victims, some as young as 15 years old.

Investigators say they used the website, Backpage.com to find their customers.

"To the defendants, the victims were a commodity," said Ramsey County Attorney John Choi. "The criminal enterprize concocted by the defendants is a perfect example of modern day, human slavery."

According to the criminal complaint, Otis Washington, 29, and his brother Antonio Washington-Davis, 27, were arrested Monday at their home in Brooklyn Park.

Police also arrested their uncles, Calvin Washington, 49, and Robert Washington, 56, in St. Paul. All have been charged with various sex--trafficking crimes.

Investigators say the men would target women who were "mentally slow and/or vulnerable and recruit them into prostitution." The criminal complaint says the suspect would then threaten or beat the women so they would succumb to their demands.

Charging documents show the Brooklyn Park men used eight email addresses, 30 phone numbers and more than 100 different credit cards to place online ads for sex.

"This is not just an urban issue. This is an issue that goes across the state of Minnesota," said Sgt. John Bandemer of the St. Paul Police Dept. "There are young girls and women who are being victimized at an alarming rate. They're being trafficked, they're being raped, sexually assaulted."

The investigation began in October when a woman sent an email to St. Paul police stating that her 15-year-old granddaughter had been targeted by a group of sex traffickers. Investigators also credit other women involved who were brave enough to come forward.

Delane Cleveland

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