Five men were arrested in a prostitution/sex trafficking sting in Pope County on August 20.
Investigators from the Pope County Sheriff's Office, the Glenwood and Starbuck police departments, the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the West Central Minnesota Drug and Violent Crime Force conducted the sting.
Law enforcement officials posed as prostitutes online for the one-day sting, during which several individuals agreed to trade sex or sexual acts for money, according to authorities.
Five suspects were charged with solicitation of prostitution in a public place, which is a gross misdemeanor under Minnesota law. They include Randall Scott Bohlman, 59, of Thompson, North Dakota; Joshua Ronald Boogaard, 25, of Melrose; Cort Edward Dero, 25, of Garfield; Parker David Fuchs, 21, of St. Cloud and James Allen Trousil, 39, of Glenwood.
Charges against additional individuals are expected in the days ahead, according to Pope County Sheriff Tim Riley. Their names will be released once charges are filed.
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"This is a statewide issue and law enforcement is attempting to address it in our local communities," Riley said in a news release.
