Hotel Ivy Sued for Permitting Rampant Sex Trafficking by Notorious Anton Lazzaro
“At Hotel Ivy, the red flags of Lazzaro as a predator and sex trafficker were flying.” – Jeff Anderson
(Minneapolis, MN) – Tomorrow, at a live press event, we’ll unveil horrifying details of a new lawsuit accusing Hotel Ivy of permitting the sex trafficking of five teenage girls by disgraced GOP donor, Anton Lazzaro. Lazzaro owned a condominium in Hotel Ivy.
In 2020, Hotel Ivy permitted predator Lazzaro to sex-traffic teen girls. The staff were trained to discern sex traffickers and identify victims. But, they made no effort to protect the teen girls; this was revealed by testimony in the criminal trial.
“The red flags of danger by this powerful predator were flying. Hotel Ivy ignored the flags and the signs. It chose to protect the predator.” – Jeff Anderson, attorney
The Perils Were Apparent at Hotel Ivy
The front office manager testified that it would’ve been a “red flag” to see three young girls come to, or leave, the Hotel Ivy residences at 1:00 a.m. She testified the “girls” that came to see Lazzaro, a 29-year-old man, appeared to be “significantly younger” than 19 years old and looked closer to 16 or 17. The manager also testified that “everyone knew” Lazzaro had a “type.”
“Lazzaro trafficked in plain sight at least five teenage girls at his residence – Hotel Ivy.” – Jeff Anderson, attorney
Where is Anton Lazzaro Now?
In 2023, Anton Lazzaro was sentenced to 21 years in prison for sex trafficking minor females. Co-conspirator and recruiter of Lazzaro’s sex trafficking enterprise, Gisela Castro Medina, was sentenced to three years.
“There was a pattern of teenage girls arriving late at night to Hotel Ivy, visiting Lazzaro, and leaving a short time later intoxicated. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that something sinister and criminal was occurring.” – Molly Burke, attorney
Lazzaro’s Playbook: Hunting & Hurting Teenage Girls (according to the lawsuit and trial testimony):
- Gisela Medina targeted teen girls who matched Lazzaro’s physical/sexual preferences.
- Medina informed the girls of her friend “Tony” who could give them cash and/or items of value.
- Lazzaro and/or Medina coerced the girls to go to Lazzaro’s condo. Lazzaro sent Ubers late at night to pick them up.
- Lazzaro instructed the girls to inform Hotel Ivy staff that they were there to see Tony in #1920. Hotel staff would escort the teen girls to a private elevator to access Lazzaro’s condo.
- Lazzaro provided the teens with alcohol and/or drugs and gave them cash and/or items of value to perform sex acts.
- Teenage girls left Lazzaro’s condo, walking through the hotel lobby intoxicated and/or drugged.
- A teenage girl was noticeably intoxicated in the hotel lobby and could barely stand. Lazzaro assured hotel staff that she was “fine.”
- A teenage girl was kicked out of Lazzaro’s condo, but her sister remained inside. Both the girl and her father informed hotel staff that Lazzaro sex-trafficked teen girls and asked them to help get their sister/daughter out of his condo. The staff said they could not do anything.
“This is an industry problem that needs to be spotlighted.” – Molly Burke, attorney
Date: Tuesday, December 3rd
Time: 1:00 p.m. CST
Location: Jeff Anderson & Associates | 366 Jackson Street, Suite 100, St. Paul, Minnesota 55101
Parking: Jackson Street Parking Ramp on the corner of Jackon Street & 5Th street. The ramp is kitty-corner from the Jeff Anderson & Associates office. Parking will be validated.
Notes: The event will also be live-streamed on our YouTube channel.