Washington County Attorney Pete Orput announced that sex trafficking related charges have been brought against seven individuals caught in a proactive juvenile exploitation operation conducted by the East Metro Sex Trafficking Task Force (EMSTTF). The EMSTTF is comprised of the Washington County Attorney’s Office, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Woodbury Department of Public Safety, Oakdale Police Department and the US Department of Homeland Security Investigations. Cottage Grove Police Department assisted law enforcement in the operation. The cases will be prosecuted by Scott Haldeman, the newly assigned prosecutor in the task force and director of the EMSTTF.
Over the last seven years, the EMSTTF has participated in dozens of undercover operations centered on decreasing the demand for commercial sex in the online market place. The amount of volume from men communicating with law enforcement surprised even the most seasoned sex trafficking detectives. Those charged include:
- Michael Joseph Fiedler (11-13-1972), Electronic Communication with a Minor
- Jason Richard Weidner (06-14-1982), Underage Prostitution, 13-16
- German Iban Galicia (04-08-1988), Electronic Communication with a Minor
- Antonio Diangelo Silva (07-11-1993), Underage Prostitution, 13-16
- Naveen Todd Fitterer (06/26/1987), Underage Prostitution, 13-16
- Joshua Emanuel Hickerson (12-23-1993), Underage Prostitution, 13-16
- Robert Charles Engvall (01-21-1969), Underage Prostitution, 13-16
Washington County Sheriff Dan Starry stated, “Our mission remains consistent that we continue to remain proactive in addressing sex trafficking in Minnesota. These operations are essential to decreasing the demand for commercial sex.”
Imran Ali, Assistant Criminal Division Chief stated, “The demand for juvenile exploitation still is prevalent and pervasive in our communities. The prolific level of response revived by law enforcement illustrates the need to continue to focusing proactively to eradicate sex trafficking. As many of our children are now on summer break, it is imperative that parents continue to remain vigilant in protecting their children from the dangers that exist online.”
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