Charges Dropped For 16 In Sex Ring Case Involving St. Paul Sergeant

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A St. Paul police sergeant's apparent lies in court have led to charges against 16 defendants being dropped.

Sgt. Heather Weyker, who was put on leave last week, worked on a 2009 sex ring case targeting Somali-Americans from Minnesota.

Heather Weyker (credit: CBS)

Thirty people were charged, but a judge later said Weyker likely fabricated testimony to make a victim in one case appear more sympathetic.

The U.S. Attorney's Office in Tennessee has now dismissed indictments against the remaining 16 defendants.

Some may soon file a lawsuit for wrongful detention.

Weyker has been involved in the Gerald Vick Human Trafficking Task Force for about 20 years.

Previous cases in which she was involved are being reviewed by the Ramsey County Attorney's Office.