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Minneapolis hotel faces lawsuit over Anton Lazarro crimes
A new lawsuit accuses Hotel Ivy in downtown Minneapolis of permitting the sex trafficking of teenage girls by former Minnesota GOP operative Anton Lazzaro.
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - A new lawsuit accuses the former owners of Hotel Ivy in downtown Minneapolis of permitting the sex trafficking of teenage girls by former Minnesota GOP operative Anton Lazzaro.
Background
Lazzaro was convicted in federal court and sentenced back in 2023 for the sex trafficking case.
He was accused of giving underage girls money, gifts, and alcohol in exchange for sex. At trial, he was found guilty of seven counts related to sex trafficking.
Prosecutors likened Lazzaro's crimes to the case against Jeffrey Epstein.
RELATED: Lazzaro takes the stand in his own defense
At sentencing, one of Lazzaro's victims said she continued to be haunted by the abuse, "I still see him in my nightmares, in my panic attacks, in men in their thirties… Putting Tony behind bars will save so many girls," she said.
Prosecutors sought 30 years behind bars for Lazzaro. A judge ultimately sentenced him to 21 years in prison.
He is currently serving time in federal prison in Sandstone, Minn.
Lawsuit filed
In a lawsuit filed by a group of Lazzaro's victims, they accuse Hotel Ivy of failing to intervene despite obvious "red flags" of sex trafficking.
After an associate recruited the young girls, the lawsuit alleges Lazzaro would Uber them to his condo at the hotel and have them check in at Hotel Ivy's front desk. The staff would obtain the girls' identities before contacting Lazzaro. Lazzaro would also sometimes purchase hotel rooms for the girl as well.
At trial, the lawsuit claims the night shift manager admitted the circumstances in which the girls would arrive for Lazzaro would have been a "red flag" for sex trafficking if the girls had been typical hotel guests.
The teen girls would sometimes also leave Lazzaro's condo visibly intoxicated, the lawsuit alleges.
"The Hotel Ivy could have and should have prevented the sex trafficking occurring on its premises," the lawsuit concludes.
Hotel under new management
Attorneys say control of the hotel has since changed hands. In a statement, new Hotel Ivy General Manager Mark Maggiotto said: "Hotel Ivy is aware of the lawsuit, however since the defendants in the case are the former hotel owners and management company who have not been affiliated with the hotel for several years, we have no comment on the case."
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Attorney on Hotel Ivy lawsuit
A new lawsuit accuses Hotel Ivy in downtown Minneapolis of permitting the sex trafficking of teenage girls by former Minnesota GOP operative Anton Lazzaro.
What's next?
Attorney Jeff Anderson, who is representing the victims, is expected to speak on Tuesday about the lawsuit.
The lawsuit seeks damages against the Hotel Ivy for failing to prevent sex trafficking on its premises.