Sen. Justin Eichorn (R-Grand Rapids) Bloomington Police Dept.
MINNEAPOLIS (KFGO) – A northern Minnesota lawmaker has been charged in federal court with attempted coercion and enticement of a minor.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office has charged Justin Eichorn, 40, a Republican from Grand Rapids. Eichorn was arrested by Bloomington Police during an undercover sting.
Police say they placed online ads offering commercial sex and Eichorn responded and arranged a meeting. Investigators say he thought he would be meeting a teenage girl. He was actually communicating with a detective. He was arrested after arriving at the meeting location.
According to the criminal complaint, on March 12, 2025, Bloomington Police detectives began an undercover operation to target commercial sex involving juveniles. Law enforcement placed online advertisements offering commercial sex. Unbeknownst to the prospective sex buyers, it was in fact undercover law enforcement officers who received and responded to the messages.
On March 11, 2025, undercover officers began receiving messages from Eichorn, age 40, inquiring, “I saw your post and [sic] chance you are still available tonight?” and then later, “What’s a guy gota do to get with the hottest girl online tonight.” Over the course of messaging over several days, the undercover officer repeatedly said that she was not 18 but was, in fact, 17 years old. Even so, Eichorn proceeded to ask the undercover officer about pricing for various sex acts she might perform, and then Eichorn arranged an in-person meet-up to pay for commercial sex. Eichorn also requested that the undercover officer—whom he believed to be a 17-year-old minor—send him “a naught[y] pic” including one “with lot less clothes.” Eichorn arrived at the agreed-upon location to find law enforcement waiting to apprehend him. In his car, among other things, law enforcement found cash and a condom.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office has no tolerance for public officials who violate federal law—particularly those laws meant to protect children,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick. “I am grateful to the Bloomington Police Department, to the FBI, and to all law enforcement officers who use undercover operations to identify and arrest child sex predators to prevent them from abusing real children.”
“The actions alleged in this case are an appalling attempt to exploit an innocent and vulnerable minor,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. “The FBI and our partners are committed to protecting children from predators who seek to harm them. Every child deserves to grow up in a safe environment, free from the threat of exploitation.”
Eichorn was charged by complaint with one count of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor.
Eichorn serves a district that covers parts of Crow Wing, Itasca and Cass Counties.
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