Twelve men ranging from 24 to 46 years old were arrested in Eden Prairie after they knowingly attempted to pay for sex with a 17-year-old, who turned out to be an undercover police officer in a meticulously planned sting operation.
Key Takeaways
- A multi-agency sting operation in Eden Prairie resulted in the arrest of 12 men attempting to solicit a minor for commercial sex.
- Nine suspects have been charged with felony prostitution of a minor, which carries a potential 10-year prison sentence and $20,000 fine.
- Since 2016, Eden Prairie police have conducted 38 similar operations, leading to 401 arrests and providing support for 117 victims.
- The operation involved multiple law enforcement agencies, including police departments from Bloomington, Edina, Maple Grove, Minnetonka, Plymouth, and Richfield.
- Items seized during the arrests included cash, cell phones, firearms, and illegal drugs.
Predators Caught in Sophisticated Police Operation
On June 23, Eden Prairie police executed a targeted sting operation that exposed the dark underbelly of child exploitation in Minnesota. Working as part of the 494 Corridor Group, a dedicated multi-agency task force, officers posted decoy advertisements online featuring what appeared to be a 17-year-old girl. Despite being explicitly informed of the “minor’s” age, twelve men from the Twin Cities metro area and Wisconsin continued arranging meetings for commercial sex, walking directly into the hands of waiting law enforcement at a predetermined location in Eden Prairie.
The operation reflects the ongoing battle against human trafficking in Minnesota’s suburbs. Each suspect deliberately chose to pursue illegal sexual activity with someone they believed to be underage, demonstrating a disturbing willingness to exploit vulnerable minors. During the arrests, officers recovered various incriminating items, including cash, cell phones, firearms, and in some instances, illegal drugs – further evidence of the criminal nature of these encounters. These men now face serious consequences for their actions, with nine already charged with felony counts of prostitution involving a minor.
A dozen men were arrested for soliciting a minor in a human trafficking sting in Eden Prairie on Monday. https://t.co/dY0Zzixrj6
— FOX 9 (@FOX9) June 28, 2025
Part of a Larger Effort to Combat Human Trafficking
This operation represents just one chapter in Eden Prairie’s aggressive campaign against human trafficking. Since 2016, the department has conducted an impressive 38 sting operations, resulting in 401 arrests and providing crucial support to 117 victims. These numbers highlight both the pervasiveness of the problem and the effectiveness of law enforcement’s approach. The collaborative effort involved multiple agencies, including police departments from Bloomington, Edina, Maple Grove, Minnetonka, Plymouth, and Richfield, as well as the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office – demonstrating the unified front necessary to combat this persistent criminal activity.
The sting exemplifies a dual approach to fighting human trafficking: reducing demand through aggressive prosecution while simultaneously identifying and supporting potential victims. No actual juveniles were involved in the operation, protecting real minors from harm while still enabling law enforcement to identify and apprehend those seeking to exploit children. The consequences for these offenders are appropriately severe – under Minnesota law, prostitution involving a minor between 16 and 17 years old carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine.
Accountability for Those Who Prey on Children
As of Thursday, ten of the twelve arrests had resulted in felony charges, with the remaining two cases under review by prosecutors. This high rate of charging demonstrates the solid evidence gathered during the operation and the seriousness with which authorities are treating these crimes. The ages of the arrested men, spanning from 24 to 46 years old, indicate that the desire to exploit minors crosses generational lines. This troubling reality underscores the importance of continued vigilance and aggressive enforcement by law enforcement agencies tasked with protecting the most vulnerable members of our communities.
President Trump’s administration has consistently emphasized the importance of targeting human trafficking networks and protecting children from sexual exploitation. This operation in Eden Prairie represents exactly the kind of proactive, coordinated law enforcement action needed across the country to combat these heinous crimes. By focusing on those seeking to purchase sex from minors, authorities are attacking the economic incentives that drive human trafficking while sending a clear message that such behavior will not be tolerated in our communities.
