The Court of Appeals defends the condemnation of federal sexual trafficking of Anton ‘Tony’ Lazzaro

Anton “Tony” Lazzaro, the political donor and strategist declared guilty of minors of sex trafficking in Minnesota in 2023, has lost an appeal of his conviction.

The Court of Appeals of the 8th Circuit issued its ruling on Tuesday, affirming the jury verdict, as well as a handful of decisions made by the main judge Patrick J. Schiltz, who presided over the trial.

Lazzaro, called “Jeffrey Epstein de Minnesota” of federal prosecutors, is currently Fulfilling a 21 -year sentence in the Federal Prison of the State in Arenisca.

Prosecutors argued that the 33 -year -old man used his wealth and political status to attract five minor victims to his condominium, where he paid them for sex. He gave them cash, vapees and other articles.

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In his appeal, Lazzaro argued that the Federal Statute of Sex Traffic for which he was accused was “unconstitutionally vague” and that the trial was “infected with the misconduct of the prosecutor and the jury.”

The appeal of Lazzaro also focused on several decisions of Judge Schiltz, including denying a motion of a null trial after Lazzaro argued that the use of the term “minor” by the prosecutor to describe the victims harmed the jury .

The judges of the Circuit Court concluded that there were sufficient evidence to support the convictions and that the District Court was not mistaken in their decisions.

Daniel Gerdts, Lazzaro’s lawyer in the appeal, has not yet returned a message in search of comments on the court’s decision.

Lazzaro’s accusation in 2021 shook the Minnesota Republican Party. Lazzaro had donated thousands of campaign cash to the party and several candidates. The controversy led to resignation of the then Jennifer Carnahan party chair.