Illicit Massage Parlors See New Form Of Crackdown
In the last few years, the difficulty of dispelling massage parlor prostitution through traditional police methods has prompted some cities to experiment with a new enforcement approach.
Watch CBS News
In the last few years, the difficulty of dispelling massage parlor prostitution through traditional police methods has prompted some cities to experiment with a new enforcement approach.
Two men are accused of having sex with a runaway 17-year-old girl for money, in connection with a St. Paul prostitution sting earlier this year.
More than a dozen people are facing behind bars after a two-day prostitution sting by police at a Duluth area motel late this week. Fourteen men face charges for soliciting prostitution, one of whom faces additional charges for sex trafficking and selling methamphetamine. A woman was also taken into custody for offering prostitution services.
A North Branch massage parlor was the target of a prostitution raid on Tuesday.
The proprietors of Ramsey, Minnesota massage parlor are accused of profiting from the prostitution of their employees.
A Ramsey County judge handed down stern words and stiff sentences for an Eden Prairie couple convicted of prostituting a 15-year-old girl in St. Paul.
Two Hastings men are accused of prostituting an underage girl as a form of payment in a drug deal, according to charges filed in Dakota County Court. William Dale Willis, 25, and Daniel Rashaun Gopie, 27, were each charged with two felony counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct in connection with the Sept. 21 incident.
A 25-year-old St. Paul man pleaded guilty Friday to one count of sex trafficking a minor. Dontre McHenry is accused of recruiting and trafficking teenage girls throughout Minnesota, according to U.S. Attorney Andrew Lugar. McHenry is suspected of coercing at least three girls under the age of 18 between January 2013 and March 2014.
Bloomington Police arrested 16 people in a recent prostitution sting, including the former CEO of a Twin Cities hospital. David Cress, 64, was among the 15 men and one woman arrested on Tuesday. North Memorial Medical Center cut ties with Cress after police arrested him in a prostitution sting in Richfield four years ago.
The former chief of police in Robbinsdale pleaded guilty to soliciting a prostitute earlier this year. Steven Smith, 45, was arrested in Coon Rapids during a prostitution sting in February.
A 36-year-old California man is facing federal criminal charges following his arrest in Las Vegas on charges alleging he transported a teenage girl from Minnesota to Los Angeles to engage in prostitution. Records show that Laron Darrell Carter was scheduled to for a detention hearing before a magistrate judge on Tuesday. His public defender, Elisa Vasquez, declined comment.
Investigators are releasing new information on the prostitution sting that led to the arrest of the Robbinsdale police chief. Former police chief Steven Smith was one of 11 people taken into custody on Feb. 20 by Coon Rapids police. According to police records, he was answering an ad on Backpage.com that was placed by an undercover Coon Rapids officer.
The Robbinsdale police chief stepped down Saturday after being issued a citation for hiring and engaging in prostitution by the Coon Rapids Police Department on Feb. 20.
A suburban St. Louis man has been sentenced to nearly five years in prison for transporting five female victims for prostitution purposes between Missouri and five other states. Federal prosecutors say 45-year-old Barry Wimberly of Hazelwood, Mo., pleaded guilty in December to one felony count of transportation for purposes of prostitution.
A 30-year-old St. Paul man received the longest sentence ever imposed on anyone found guilty of sex-trafficking in Minnesota history. Otis Deno Washington was found guilty of first- and second-degree solicitation to practice prostitution (one involving a minor), two counts of promotion of prostitution, and one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking.
A Chicago man was sentenced Friday to more than 26 years in prison for the sex trafficking of a teenage girl – which may be the longest sentence ever given in Minnesota for such a crime. According to the Ramsey County Attorney's office, Arteco Marvell Rhodes, 38, was found guilty on Nov. 1 on one count of engaging in sex trafficking in the first degree and possession of child pornography. Rhodes met the defendant, a 15-year-old girl, in Chicago in March, and asked her if she "wanted to make money and be part of the family." Within weeks, Rhodes drove the teen and a 19-year-old woman from Chicago to the Twin Cities in a conversion van.
Four family members have now been convicted for participating in a sex trafficking ring that last about two years, extended to multiple Minnesota communities and victimized many vulnerable women. On Wednesday, the Ramsey County Attorney's Office announced that 30-year-old Otis Deno Washington, of St. Paul, was found guilty in Ramsey County District Court on multiple sex trafficking counts. According to a press release, they are: two counts of promotion of prostitution; two counts of solicitation, one involving a minor; and one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking.
A Ramsey County jury found a 27-year-old Brooklyn Park man guilty on Friday in connection with a human sex trafficking operation that involved numerous victims -- including women who were mentally slow or vulnerable -- across multiple Minnesota communities.
A Ramsey County jury found a Chicago man guilty in the sex trafficking of a 15-year-old girl in St. Paul in April 2013. Arteco Marvell Rhodes, 38, was found guilty of possession of child pornography and he will be sentenced at 9 a.m. on Dec. 13.
A 37-year-old Eden Prairie woman is in Carver County jail pending charges of felony promotion of prostitution after officers raided a Chanhassen massage parlor last Wednesday. According to Carver County Sheriff Jim Olson, deputies served a search warrant at a message business on the 7900 block of Stone Creek Drive in Chanhassen on the afternoon of Oct. 29. Deputies had originally targeted to the business after allegations that employees were offering sexual services for a "$40-$50 tip."
A former suburban Minneapolis high school cheerleading captain has been sentenced to three years in prison for prostituting a younger squad member. Eighteen-year-old Montia Parker was sentenced Friday. She will spend at least two years behind bars before she's eligible for release.
Prosecutors say a high school cheerleader is admitting she talked a fellow student into prostituting herself, then kept the money. Eighteen-year-old Montia Parker pleaded guilty Friday to three prostitution-related counts.
Getting caught engaging in prostitution or soliciting sex for pay will come with a higher cost to Minnesota offenders. A new state law permits authorities to forfeit the cash that was used in or intended for the sex solicitation.
A Brooklyn Park man is charged with one count of prostitution involving a 16-year-old who was pulled in to prostitution by a fellow Hopkins High School cheerleader. According to the Hennepin County Attorney's office, 27-year-old Oladipupo Ademola Legunsen is accused of soliciting sex from a high school sophomore on March 6, which he saw posted in an ad on Backpages.com. The victim was allegedly solicited by 18-year-old Montia Marie Parker of Maple Grove, who knew the victim from the cheerleading team at Hopkins High, where she was a senior.
It's a story being written in the halls of schools across the Twin Cities -- girls as young as 12 are being recruited as sex workers. The FBI ranks Minnesota 13th in the nation for highest incidence of sex trafficking.
Minnesotans love to get outside no matter the season. Something about being in nature always seems to leave us feeling better. So why does it feel good to get outdoors? Good Question.
Xcel's Sherco solar facility is the largest solar project in the state of Minnesota, and by the time it's done in 2026, it'll be the fifth-largest solar facility in the country.
It's been a tough road to recovery for Jon Seas after losing a friend, Cole Thompson, in a horrific crash in Minneapolis.
The Chicago White Sox dropped to 3-22, wasting a two-run lead and stretching their losing streak to a season-high seven with a 6-3 defeat to Minnesota as Edouard Julien hit two of the Twins' five solo home runs.
The Minnesota Vikings have chosen JJ McCarthy to be their franchise quarterback of the future.
It's been a tough road to recovery for Jon Seas after losing a friend, Cole Thompson, in a horrific crash in Minneapolis.
A group of parents and students from Richfield Middle School say they were shocked to learn the school would cut ties with its theater course after a student survey.
For the third day, students at the University of Minnesota joined other colleges across the country lifting their voices, asking for an end to the bloodshed in Gaza.
A coyote is on the prowl in the east metro. City leaders warn it's already attacked at least one dog.
After the Twins got their win over the White Sox on Thursday afternoon, high school teams took to the field for a rare treat they won't forget.
A transcript from a 911 call is providing more details surrounding the arrest of Minnesota State Sen. Nicole Mitchell, who stands accused of burglary.
A Minnesota man who kidnapped his 2-year-old son last year, triggering an AMBER Alert and a standoff, will be sentenced on Thursday.
It's one of the few covered bridges remaining in the Midwest, and it's seen a lot of traffic over the years.
The Metropolitan Council has made headlines for its mismanagement of the Southwest Light Rail project. In Talking Points, community members and Minnesota legislators on both sides of the aisle are pushing for major reforms.
A community tour Wednesday highlighted a massive investment to one of Minnesota's 15 fish hatcheries – a $20 million makeover, nearly 70 years in the making.
Six middle school students and two adults were injured in a school bus crash near Hudson on Thursday morning.
The 59th annual Flood Run motorcycle ride is this Saturday, and the Minnesota State Patrol is asking bikers and motorists alike to be extra careful while cruising beside the St. Croix River.
A partial building collapse in Superior, Wisconsin prompted evacuations Thursday, including at a nearby daycare.
Republican lawmakers have filed a new lawsuit alleging partial vetoes Gov. Tony Evers made to a bill designed to bolster students' reading performance were unconstitutional.
Nicolae Miu, the man convicted of reckless homicide and other crimes after stabbing five people on Wisconsin's Apple River in 2022, will be sentenced this summer.
The nation's third-largest food bank is using a 24-hour fundraiser to fight food insecurity.
An Eden Prairie family is keeping their son's legacy alive, one year after his sudden death.
Fifteen-year-old Bennett Fisk loves baseball and has been playing youth league his whole life. Unfortunately, last season, he had to sit out because even the largest adult-size baseball helmet didn't fit his head and it was too unsafe to play without a helmet.
For the first time in Minnesota cannabis usage on 420 is legal.
A new restaurant is hoping to serve the community for years to come.
Smoking in Minneapolis is set to get more expensive thanks to a new ordinance passed by the City Council.
A transcript from a 911 call is providing more details surrounding the arrest of Minnesota State Sen. Nicole Mitchell, who stands accused of burglary.
Some love it, while others hate it. But in 15 days the new Minnesota state flag will be raised across the state.
Coal-fired power plants would have to capture smokestack emissions or shut down under a new EPA rule the industry says would make the grid less reliable. It's likely to face court challenges.
The Supreme Court convened to consider whether former President Donald Trump is entitled to broad immunity from criminal charges in the 2020 election case.
Smoking in Minneapolis is set to get more expensive thanks to a new ordinance passed by the City Council.
The owner of a Twin Cities-based car dealership is accused of scamming Minnesotans out of thousands of dollars.
Saturday marks, for some, a holiday.
There's a state recovery fund for families who are out of money for a loss due to a contractor, but there's a gap in the law — a contractor with one specialty is exempt from paying into the fund.
The Minnesota Department of Health says state inspectors have seized and destroyed about $500,000 worth of illegal cannabis products from retailers.
The Minneapolis City Council approved Thursday a $150,000 settlement for a man who witnessed the murder of George Floyd and testified against the former officer who killed him.
A transcript from a 911 call is providing more details surrounding the arrest of Minnesota State Sen. Nicole Mitchell, who stands accused of burglary.
Police in Brooklyn Park say a woman was sexually assaulted Wednesday, and they're still looking for the suspect.
A Minnesota man who kidnapped his 2-year-old son last year, triggering an AMBER Alert and a standoff, will be sentenced on Thursday.
Harvey Weinstein's 2020 conviction on felony sex crime charges has been overturned by the State of New York Court of Appeals.
Minnesotans love to get outside no matter the season. Something about being in nature always seems to leave us feeling better. So why does it feel good to get outdoors? Good Question.
The DEA took about 2.5 million lethal doses of fentanyl off Minnesota streets last year alone. Despite that eye-popping number, it's not enough.
Federal officials say they're double checking whether pasteurization has eradicated the danger from possible bird virus particles in milk.
UnitedHealth said it paid the criminals behind attack that crippled hospitals and pharmacies to protect sensitive patient data.
Cancer cases are on the rise in younger adults, and early onset cancer is up in patients under 50, many of them without typical risk factors.
Italy's Culture Ministry has banned loans of works to the Minneapolis Institute of Art, following a dispute with the U.S. museum over an ancient marble statue believed to have been looted from Italy almost a half-century ago.
Harvey Weinstein's 2020 conviction on felony sex crime charges has been overturned by the State of New York Court of Appeals.
The Vali-Hi Drive-In in Lake Elmo has been closed for almost two years now — but a filmmaker raised in Woodbury is keeping memories of the iconic theatre alive.
Eight years ago this week, music icon Prince died of an accidental painkiller overdose at his Paisley Park estate.
La Raza's mission is to bring music, news and community to more than 200,000 Latinos in the Twin Cities.
The Chicago White Sox dropped to 3-22, wasting a two-run lead and stretching their losing streak to a season-high seven with a 6-3 defeat to Minnesota as Edouard Julien hit two of the Twins' five solo home runs.
The Minnesota Vikings have chosen JJ McCarthy to be their franchise quarterback of the future.
An unprecedented six of the first 12 picks were quarterbacks, an NFL Draft record.
The NFL draft is almost here, and Minnesota Vikings fans will soon know whether or not the team has a new franchise quarterback.
It's the day Minnesota Vikings fans have been waiting for: The NFL draft is set to begin in Detroit Thursday evening, but there's also a celebration right here at home.
The Metropolitan Council has made headlines for its mismanagement of the Southwest Light Rail project. In Talking Points, community members and Minnesota legislators on both sides of the aisle are pushing for major reforms.
The Metropolitan Council has made headlines for its mismanagement of the Southwest Light Rail project. In Talking Points, Esme Murphy spoke with DFL Sen. Scott Dibble and Republican Sen. Eric Pratt about the legislation push major reforms.
The Metropolitan Council has made headlines for its mismanagement of the Southwest Light Rail project. In Talking Points, community members and Minnesota legislators on both sides of the aisle are pushing for major reforms. Esme Murphy spoke with Abou Amara, a Democratic analyst, and Mary Pattock, a long-time critic of the Met Council.
The Metropolitan Council has made headlines for its mismanagement of the Southwest Light Rail project. In Talking Points, lawmakers pushing for reform. But Republican analyst Amy Koch says its going to take a bi-partisan public outcry from the politically diverse seven-county area.
It may have been more than 25 years ago, but Jesse Ventura's 1998 win for governor stands out as one of he most successful third-party runs in U.S. history.
It's one of the few covered bridges remaining in the Midwest, and it's seen a lot of traffic over the years.
Decades ago, at an 88-acre pasture near Annandale, cars replaced cows and French Lake Auto Parts was born.
There's an attraction in Fergus Falls that's centered around a man-made disaster.
In this week's Finding Minnesota, John Lauritsen goes to New Ulm where the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame is celebrating 35 years.
It cost $85,000 to build St. Stan's — equivalent to about $100 million today. As the basilica approaches its 130th birthday, its biggest fans say they wouldn't change a thing.
Minnesotans love to get outside no matter the season. Something about being in nature always seems to leave us feeling better. So why does it feel good to get outdoors? Good Question.
What do Lebron James, David Bowie and Bill Gates all have in common? They're left-handed. While they're a minority of the population, they're not alone. So why are we right- or left-handed? Good Question.
April is Earth Month and we're less than a week from Earth Day. That timing matches up with an email we received from Mary in Minneapolis. She wants to know: What can the average person do to help reduce global warming? Good Question.
The gorgeous weekend we had was more than just a great time to get outside. For many, it was a chance to get their hands dirty whether they wanted to or not. We wanted to know How can we efficiently clean our homes? Good Question.
If you have a drawer packed with old cellphones, cameras and laptops, you're not alone. Global electronic waste has hit record highs and it's growing five times faster than recycling rates. So how should you dispose of e-waste?
Many Minnesotans were treated to a stunning double rainbow on Thursday.
Nicolae Miu, a 54-year-old man from Prior, Lake, Minnesota was found guilty of six criminal charges, including first-degree reckless homicide. Miu's trial lasted eight days in a Hudson, Wisconsin courtroom.
The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed early Tuesday, March 26 after a column was struck by a container ship that reportedly lost power, sending vehicles and people into the Patapsco River.
An early spring snowstorm made for many beautiful sights across the state of Minnesota over the weekend.
State fire officials say a grass fire near Waseca is contained Monday morning after burning more than 1,000 acres.
WCCO meteorologist Chris Shaffer says rain moves in tomorrow and we have a few soaking rounds on the way through the weekend.
In Minnesota, weather can be all over the place. Here at WCCO, we want to give you what you need to prepare for what's happening next.
WCCO meteorologist Charis Shaffer says rain will move in tomorrow and there's a chance for severe weather in parts of the state.
This week's drought update shows improvement for central and southern Minnesota as well as central Wisconsin. However, there are a few pockets where it's still abnormally dry.
Rain will move in on Thursday, and more rounds will follow.
WCCO meteorologist Chris Shaffer says rain moves in tomorrow and we have a few soaking rounds on the way through the weekend.
Minnesotans love to get outside no matter the season. Something about being in nature always seems to leave us feeling better. So why does it feel good to get outdoors? Good Question. WCCO's Kirsten Mitchell found the benefits are both mental and physical.
In a new rule, the EPA says coal plants need to start capturing their smokestack emissions or shut down. It's a move to curb planet-warming emissions — something Minnesota wants to do by going carbon-free with our electricity by 2040.
Police say two thieves shoved a woman to the pavement and ran away with her pet.
A crash left a car torched early Easter Sunday in Minneapolis. 21-year-old Cole Thompson did not survive. As the driver took off running, another passenger stayed to fight for his friend. Now, he's fighting to heal, and being hailed a hero.