Sex trafficking is a concern in the Twin Cities and the nearby suburbs even when the city isn’t preparing to host the Super Bowl. To crack down on sex trafficking, Minnesota passed enhanced anti-trafficking laws back in 2005, and made them even stronger during a 2009 amendment. The laws are very strict, and the punishments for a sex trafficking conviction are steep.
Minnesota defines sex trafficking as:
- Receiving, recruiting, enticing, harboring, providing or obtaining by any means an individual to aid in the prostitution of an individual, or:
- Receiving profit or anything of value and knowing or having reason to know it is derived from sex trafficking.
This means that you don’t need to be forcing someone to work in the sex trade in order to be convicted of sex trafficking. If you are profiting from sex trafficking, or accept payment or services from sex traffickers, you can also be convicted of the crime. Don’t think that just because you’re not on the ground level of the operation doesn’t mean that you can’t end up in big trouble.
Sex Trafficking Penalties and Aggravating Factors in Minnesota
Minnesota comes down harshly on sex traffickers. A first offense conviction for sex trafficking is punishable by up to 15 years in jail and fines up to $40,000. Those penalties only increase if the victims are minors. If the victim is under 18, a person can be sentenced to 20 years in jail and up to $50,000 in fines. Finally, is any of the following aggravating factors are present, a person can be sentenced to up to 25 years in jail and fines up to $60,000.
- A prior sex trafficking conviction
- The victim suffered bodily harm during the commission of the offense
- The victim was held in debt, bondage or forced labor for more than 180 days
- There was more than one victim
Minneapolis Sex Trafficking Lawyer
These are serious penalties, so if you got caught up in something you never wanted to be a part of, or you’re facing stiff jail time, be sure to reach out to a Minnesota sex trafficking attorney. We can defend you against certain charges and help explain your situation. We also have victim resource connections to help the victims of sex trafficking get back on their feet. Reach out to Appelman Law Firm for more information at (952) 244-2277.