Anton Lazzaro

Former GOP donor Anton "Tony" Lazzaro learned his fate in federal court on Wednesday as he was sentenced after being convicted on charges of sex trafficking minors.

Former Minnesota GOP donor and political operative Anton Lazzaro has been sentenced after being convicted of sex trafficking minors. In federal court on Wednesday, Lazzaro, 32, was sentenced to 21 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release.

Former Minnesota GOP donor and political operative Tony Lazzaro will learn his fate Wednesday after being convicted of sex trafficking minors. Earlier this year, Lazzaro was found guilty of recruiting teenage girls and offering cash and gifts in exchange for sex. He now faces decades behind bars.

It took a federal jury only a few hours to decide Anton Lazzaro was guilty of all counts against him, capping off an eight-day trial that followed a two-and-a-half-year investigation and legal case. Lazzaro, 32, was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors and five counts of sex trafficking of minors.

Anton Lazzaro was back on the stand on Wednesday as he faces trial on sex trafficking charges. Wednesday, prosecutors introduced new evidence of text messages that allegedly show Anton Lazzaro discussing Jeffrey Epstein.

The 21-year-old woman charged alongside Anton Lazzaro in his sex trafficking case took the stand on Thursday, explaining how met Lazzaro on a "sugar daddy" website and later began recruiting teen girls for him.

Federal prosecutors laid out the case against Minnesota GOP donor Anton Lazzaro on charges of sex trafficking in Minneapolis during opening statements on Wednesday.

Federal prosecutors laid out the case against Minnesota GOP donor Anton Lazzaro on charges of sex trafficking in Minneapolis during opening statements on Wednesday.

Anton Lazzaro, the GOP donor accused of sex trafficking, is set to go to trial this week.

Controversy rocked the Minnesota GOP this summer when top donor Tony Lazzaro was arrested on child sex trafficking charges. Then came allegations from within the party that harassment and verbal abuse were common. Chairwoman Jennifer Carnahan denied knowledge -- but was forced out in August.

After three rounds of voting, former state senate minority leader David Hann will take over as new party chair for the Minnesota GOP after the resignation of Jennifer Carnahan in the wake of the arrest of Anton Lazzaro.

Gisela Castro Medina, the alleged child sex trafficking co-conspirator of ex-Minnesota GOP donor Tony Lazzaro, pleaded not guilty to several charges Thursday and will avoid pretrial jail.

Minnesota GOP chair Jennifer Carnahan is facing a chorus of calls to resign as the arrest of Anton Lazzaro has led to controversy for the party leader who has a friendship with the GOP strategist.

A 19-year-old Minnesota woman was arrested in Florida on sex trafficking charges that are reportedly connected to the alleged underage sex trafficking operation linked to Minnesota Republican strategist Anton Lazzaro.