Former Minnesota state senator Justin Eichorn sentenced in teen prostitution sting
Fmr. MN state senator Justin Eichorn to be sentenced Wednesday
Former Minnesota state senator Justin Eichorn will be sentenced Wednesday for trying to solicit a minor. After being arrested in an undercover sting in March 2025, he was originally charged with attempted coercion and enticement of a minor for trying to solicit someone he believed was a 17-year-old girl. He eventually pleaded guilty to a lesser count of attempted possession of child pornography.
ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) - A federal judge sentenced former Minnesota state Sen. Justin Eichorn Wednesday morning on a charge stemming from a Bloomington sting in which he was accused of trying to solicit someone he believed was a 17-year-old girl.
Eichorn sentenced in federal court
Judge hands down sentence:
Eichorn was federally charged with attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, which carried a minimum sentence of 10 years, but he entered a guilty plea in May to a lesser charge of attempted possession of child pornography.
A judge sentenced Eichorn Wednesday morning to 16 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Sentencing guidelines called for between 15 and 21 months behind bars.
What they're saying:
"What I did was both morally wrong and a serious crime, and I have no one to blame but myself," Eichorn told the judge in court, according to a statement provided by one of his attorneys, Brent Hannafan.
Hannafan said Eichorn will serve his sentence and comply with the conditions of his supervision.
"He greatly appreciates all the love and support he has received from his family and friends," Hannafan added.
The other side:
Prosecutors sought a sentence of 60 months (5 years) followed by a lifetime of supervision. In the prosecution's request for the upward variance, federal prosecutors said, "The Court’s sentence must clearly communicate to the defendant—and to anyone who would victimize children for sexual gratification—that these crimes are serious and will be commensurately punished."
Eichorn’s defense attorney called the prosecution's recommendation "remarkable," noting in a court filing it's two and a half times the length of sentences imposed on other federal defendants arrested in the same sting operation.
Eichorn’s attorney says the 42-year-old former senator is not a "dangerous offender" and asked for a sentence of time served followed by five years of supervised release.
Bloomington police sting
Sen. Eichorn arrested for minor solicitation
Minnesota Senator Justin Eichorn was arrested for allegedly soliciting a minor for sex in Bloomington earlier this month. FOX 9's Mary McGuire has the details so far.
The backstory:
Eichorn was arrested and charged in March 2025 for a sting in Bloomington where officers posed as teen sex workers online. Police said Eichorn responded to an ad and exchanged text messages with someone he believed to be a 17-year-old girl.
In the text messages, police said Eichorn negotiated rates, asked about not using a condom, and arranged a meetup. Police arrested Eichorn when he showed up to meet with the girl. In his pickup truck they found cash and a condom.
The Source: This story uses previous FOX 9 reporting and information from court records.