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Notorious GOP Operative & Convicted Sex Trafficker Thwarted in Defamation Case Against Victim’s Law Firm

By Molly Burke April 13, 2026

Anton Lazzaro Used Power & Wealth to Sex Traffic Teen Girls at Luxury Condo in Hotel Ivy

Court Order Sends Nationwide Message – Hotels & Commercial Enterprises Need to be Held Accountable

(Minneapolis, MN) – Yesterday, Judge Reynaldo Aligada Jr. of the Ramsey County District Court made detailed findings dismissing Lazzaro’s efforts to sue Jeff Anderson and his firm, Jeff Anderson & Associates, for defamation. In his lawsuit, Lazzaro claimed that a press conference held on December 3, 2024, was defamatory. Jeff Anderson & Associates represents JA Minor Doe 1, who was sex trafficked by Anton Lazzaro in 2020.

The Court stated that, “As discussed above, each of these statements aligns with sworn testimony adduced at trial (and with the account of Lazzaro’s co-defendant). Thus, as a matter of law, Lazzaro’s claims must be dismissed with prejudice…” (pg.26)

“This dismissal is much bigger than us, this case, or even victims assaulted by Lazzaro. This sends a nationwide message to victims of sex trafficking – that wealthy and powerful predators are not above the law.” – Molly Burke, attorney & advocate

Below are some key takeaways from the Court’s Order:

Judge Reynaldo Aligada Jr.’s ruling sends a strong message to commercial enterprises.

The court has made the message clear – Hotel Ivy permitted sex traffickers to prosper. There’s a long history of powerful commercial enterprises permitting sex traffickers to prosper, like Anton Lazzaro or Jeffrey Epstein. These criminals can only prevail when other institutions look the other way. The public must be informed of crimes occurring in their community.

The Court document states that, “The Court concludes that Defendants’ statements concerning the Ivy Lawsuit related to matters of public concern.” (pg.15)

“The Court’s ruling sends a powerful message to sex traffickers, to Ivy Hotel, and to any commercial enterprise that permits and enables these horrific crimes. No one is above the law. We must continue to hold guilty institutions accountable.” – Jeff Anderson, attorney & advocate

Lazzaro was a political operative and GOP donor who weaponized his wealth and prestige to sex traffic teenage girls.

Anton Lazzaro used his wealth, prestige, and power to prey on and sex traffic underage girls.

The Court stated that, “Lazzaro made multiple appearances on national news television networks as a political commentator. (Id.) It is also undisputed that Lazzaro maintained websites and social media accounts which he used to engage in public debate and political discourse.” (pg. 3)

They Court also said, “Based on his political activity and his founding and operation of political action committee, he obtained notable visibility in the local and national media. He made recurring appearances on national television programming and posted about politics and public debate to social media.” (pg. 29)

These statements confirm Lazzaro’s political power, prestige, and overall influence he held in the community, including his place of residence in Hotel Ivy.

Minor Doe 1 Sued Hotel Ivy to Shine a Light on the Corruption of Commercial Enterprise’s Involvement in Sex Trafficking

In December of 2024 we filed a lawsuit against Hotel Ivy and did a press conference on behalf of Minor Doe 1 and the other victims, exposing Lazzaro further, and emphasizing the participation and role of the Ivy Hotel.

In it, Anderson outlined the case against Hotel Ivy and how some of the staff knew what was occurring. For example, the front office manager testified that it would’ve been a “red flag” to see three young girls come to, or leave, the Hotel Ivy residences at 1:00 a.m. She testified the “girls” that came to see Lazzaro, a 29-year-old man, appeared to be “significantly younger” than 19 years old and looked closer to 16 or 17. The manager also testified that “everyone knew” Lazzaro had a “type.”

Regarding Hotel Ivy’s staff knowledge of these crimes, the Court stated that, “Testimony from the victims is consistent with the manager’s testimony. It includes testimony about staff from Ivy calling Lazzaro before escorting them in the elevator to Lazzaro’s apartment.” (pg.20)

Judge Reynaldo Aligada Jr.’s Court Order also stated that, “Medina agreed that Lazzaro paid each of Victims A through E cash and other items of value—such as alcohol, vaping cartridges, food, smartphones, high-end purses, accommodations at the Hotel Ivy, and transportation—in exchange for sex.” (pg. 5) and also stated that, “The Court concludes that Defendants’ statements concerning the Ivy Lawsuit related to matters of public concern.” (pg.15)

The Court’s analysis also weighed in on a specific piece of testimony that Anderson discussed in the 2024 press event in which a teenage girl was kicked out of Lazzaro’s condo, but her sister remained inside. Both the girl and her father informed hotel staff that Lazzaro sex-trafficked teen girls and asked them to help get their sister/daughter out of his condo. The staff said they could not do anything.

The Court stated that, “In summary, Victim B’s testimony confirms that she (1) reported to Ivy staff that Lazzaro was paying cash to minors for sex and that she asked them to intervene; (2) that her sister was drunk and remained in Lazzaro’s apartment; and (3) that Ivy staff father declined to intervene after she called her father and he asked for help. Therefore, Anderson’s statement is a substantially true characterization of Victim B’s trial testimony.” (pg. 22)

 

Message from Zero Abuse Project: Protect the public, not predators or commercial enterprises

The court stated that, “the press conference was also attended by representatives of Zero Abuse Project, who spoke to raise awareness on the issues of sex trafficking and child abuse prevention and intervention—additional matters of public concern.” (pg. 16)

“It is not enough to go after predators who traffic children. We must make it economically untenable for any business to complicitly facilitate these crimes,” said Jeff Dion, CEO of Zero Abuse Project, a nonprofit dedicated to ending child sex abuse.

The power of NDAs and how they silence victims. Lazzaro’s repeated attempts to muzzle and silence victims and cover up his crimes

Lazzaro attempted to silence JA Minor Doe 1 with a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) before she reported her abuse. But rather than be silenced, she reported the abuse to law enforcement. Lazzaro  attempted to silence his victims during the investigation. Lastly, he attempted to silence us from exposing the truth through this frivolous defamation lawsuit. This is a common tactic used by powerful predators; many get away with their crimes because victims are scared, sign the NDA, and the abuse remains a secret.

Regarding the NDA that Lazzaro tried to get JA Minor Doe 1 to sign, the Court stated, “Anderson also correctly recited testimony that Lazzaro sought to prevent Victim A from speaking with law enforcement by offering money and presented her with a nondisclosure agreement.” (pg. 23)

“Anton Lazzaro was a mirror image of Jeffrey Epstein – a wannabe. But he was stopped, exposed and convicted before he could rise further in political power and his perversions of young girls. The findings by the Judge are a testament to early intervention, prevention and the courage of Minor Doe 1 who has come forward along with her family.” – Jeff Anderson, attorney & advocate

Overview of Anton Lazzaro’s Crimes & Legal Battles (according to lawsuits, legal documents, and trial testimony)

 

  1. When the family of JA Minor Doe 1 called our firm and reported Lazzaro’s efforts to silence the parents and the minor by an NDA, we immediately facilitated the report to law enforcement.
  2. This triggered a rigorous investigation by the FBI and the BCA of Lazzaro and his conduct with his co-conspirator Gisele Castro Medina.
  3. The investigation determined that Lazzaro, with the help of Gisele Castro Medina, sexually trafficked teenage girls at his luxury condo in Hotel Ivy.
  4. Medina targeted teen girls who matched Lazzaro’s physical/sexual preferences.
  5. Lazzaro instructed the girls to inform Hotel Ivy staff that they were there to see Tony in #1920. Hotel staff would escort the teen girls to a private elevator to access Lazzaro’s condo.
  6. Lazzaro provided the teens with alcohol and/or drugs and gave them cash and/or items of value to perform sex acts.
  7. The arrest and seizure of Lazzaro and his property at Hotel Ivy including the penthouse, copious amount of crypto currency, his Ferrari and other items. A lengthy trial before chief Judge Patrick Schiltz led to conviction on all counts (in which Gisele Medina cooperated as a testifying witness). Five of the victims, courageous survivors, testified at trial. In 2023, the jury returned a verdict convicting Lazzaro on all counts of sex trafficking and conspiracy and Lazzaro was sentenced to 21 years in federal prison.
  8. In December of 2024, Jeff Anderson and his firm filed a civil complaint naming Lazzaro for damages from sex trafficking on behalf of JA Minor Doe 1 and her family.
  9. JA Minor Doe 1 then sued Hotel Ivy on December 2, 2024 and we did a press conference on behalf of Minor Doe 1 and the other victims, exposing Lazzaro further, and emphasizing the participation and role of the Ivy Hotel. In it, Anderson outlined the case against Ivy Hotel. Zero Abuse Project, a nationwide non-profit dedicated to education, training and prevention of sexual exploitation, also attended and made powerful statements about the importance of this case. Alison Feigh talked about how this case is emblematic of a nationwide problem with enterprises who don’t step up to stop sex trafficking.
  10. Lastly, while serving his prison term, Lazzaro sued Jeff Anderson & Associates for defamation. We brought a motion to dismiss the lawsuit. As stated above, the Court dismissed Anton Lazzaro’s claim.

 

“The significance of this decision and the courage of Minor Doe 1 cannot be understated. Lazzaro, a serial sex trafficker is in prison. Hotel Ivy has been held accountable for their role in these crimes. And, the Court’s decisions emphasize that guilty people and institutions must be held accountable. This paradigm shift in public perception gives other victims a safer space to come forward,” said Anderson.

 

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