Undercover Sting In St. Paul Leads To 10 Arrests, 3 Victims Rescued

ST. PAUL, MN — Ten men were arrested and three female victims were rescued during a recent undercover sex trafficking sting in St. Paul, officials announced Thursday.

The two-day operation on July 30 and 31 was led by the Minnesota Human Trafficking Investigators Task Force, which is headed by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), in partnership with the St. Paul Police Department and several other agencies.

Agents posed as minors online and communicated with suspects via text and phone. The men were arrested after arriving at a meeting spot expecting to engage in sex acts.

All ten were booked into the Ramsey County Jail on probable cause for solicitation of a minor under 18 for prostitution. One suspect, Ryan James Epps, was also booked for fleeing police. Formal charges are expected in the coming days.

Investigators also found three female victims believed to be caught in a trafficking situation. Victim advocates, including the BCA’s victim relations coordinator, were on hand to offer immediate support and services.

“Helping three people exit the throes of a potential sex trafficking situation to begin the healing process and regain control of their lives is why we are passionate and committed to this work,” said BCA Superintendent Drew Evans. “We will remain in lockstep with our law enforcement partners to rid our state of this reprehensible sex crime and support victim/survivors.”

“These 10 arrests are a true testament to the hard work of St. Paul police investigators, the Ramsey County Violent Crime Task Force and the BCA Human Trafficking Task Force,” said St. Paul Police Major Crimes Deputy Chief Jeff Stiff. “Let it be a message that we will hold you accountable for the crimes you commit in St. Paul.”

Agencies assisting in the operation included the Ramsey County Violent Crime Task Force and Tribes United Against Sex Trafficking (TRUST).

Who Was Arrested

Authorities identified the following individuals as those arrested in the operation:

• Tura Hassen, 34, Burnsville
• Oscar Lema-Mejia, 24, Anoka
• Julio Cesar Martin Garcia, 38, St. Paul
• MD AL Amin Piyal, 30, St. Paul
• Logofatu Florin, 30, Chicago, IL
• Pedro Garcia, 45, St. Paul
• Allen Omare Machora Ikobe, 24, Brooklyn Park
• Ryan James Epps, 27, Cannon Falls (also booked for fleeing)
• Oscar Villalba Villalba, 31, Little Canada
• Solomon Gebrezgabher, 44, St. Paul

Help Is Available

If you or someone you know is being trafficked:

• Call 911 if you’re in immediate danger
• Report tips to the BCA: 877-996-6222 or bca.tips@state.mn.us
• Contact the Day One Hotline at 866-223-1111 or dayoneservices.org
• Reach the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888 or text HELP to 233733

Under Minnesota’s Safe Harbor Law, minors involved in prostitution are treated as victims, not criminals.

About the Task Force

The Minnesota Human Trafficking Investigators Task Force includes:

• Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension
• Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office
• Minneapolis Police Department
• St. Paul Police Department
• Ramsey County Attorney’s Office