
Gisela Castro Medina
OKLOOSA COUNTY, FL (KFGO/KVRR) – 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 “Tony” Lazzaro.
Lazzaro was recently charged with five counts of sex trafficking of a minor, a count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors, and another count of attempted sex trafficking, along with three counts of obstruction, according to an unsealed indictment. The indictment included a co-conspirator whose name was redacted. It’s unclear if that person is Medina.
According to the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office in Florida, Gisela Castro Medina was arrested Aug. 12 on the same charges, hours after the indictment against Lazzaro came down. According to deputies, Medina was arrested at a hospital. It’s unclear why she was at the hospital in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. A police report indicates Medina may have had alcohol in her system but it’s unclear if that is related to her hospital visit.
Gisela Castro Medina, whose address is listed in St. Paul, is a member of Minnesota College Republicans. The organization released a statement, confirming that Medina recently assumed the role of Chair for the University of St. Thomas chapter, where she is a student. The statement, along with a statement from the Minnesota GOP and other media reports, connects Medina to the Lazzaro case.
According to the indictment, the accusations cover the time between May 2020 and December 2020 involving six unnamed victims under the age of 18. Prosecutors say there could be additional victims and ask anyone with information on the case to contact the FBI at 763-569-8000.
Medina is expected to appear in federal court on Monday.
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