Crime & Safety

Woodbury Man Convicted Of Prostituting A Minor

Stevon Warren, 52, recruited a 15-year-old girl as part of a sex-trafficking operation.

In federal court today, a Woodbury man was convicted of prostituting a 15-year-old girl.

Stevon Warren, 52, was convicted of one count of sex trafficking of a minor and one count of interstate transportation to engage in prostitution, according to a release from the Minnesota District of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Warren faces a maximum penalty of life in prison on the sex trafficking charge and 10 years for violating the Mann Act, which prohibits the interstate transportation of individuals for the purpose of prostitution, according to the release.

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Warren took an adult woman into Wisconsin to have her engage in prostitution sometime between November 2008 and March 2009, according to the release.

Police learned of Warren’s activities through advertisements on Craigslist.

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Warren was convicted after a three-day trial; he was charged on March 15. U.S. District Court Judge Patrick J. Schiltz will determine his sentence at a future hearing, which as not been scheduled.

The Minneapolis Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney LeeAnn K. Bell.

The U.S. Department of Justice reports that 14,500-17,500 people are trafficked within the U.S. each year. According to the Justice Department, the Twin Cities metropolitan area is one of the 15 largest human trafficking centers in the nation.


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