Man In Town For Super Bowl Charged With Child Prostitution

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — A Branson, Missouri man in town to work the Super Bowl was charged with two counts of prostitution of children under 16, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman announced Thursday.

Justin Beard, 33, was arrested when he responded to a Craigslist ad that was placed by a sex-trafficking task force, according to police. The ad was titled “Eagles suck and so does my entire family.” The text of the ad stated “In town for SB and brought my open and active family....I have a few hours to spend with you and the rest of my fun clan.”

The criminal complaint states Beard saw the ad and began texting to the number provided, thinking he was talking first to the man trafficking a 15-year-old girl and a 13-year-old boy and then thought he was texting with the girl. In all cases, he was communicating with undercover agents.

He eventually offered two VIP tickets to Super Bowl Live, which he said were worth $100 each, according to the complaint. Investigators said when he showed up at the Minnetonka apartment where he was directed to go, he was arrested.

Freeman said the influx of people coming for the Super Bowl increases commercial sex activity. “This will make them aware that if they are engaging in this activity, we are watching, we will arrest you and we will charge you.”

Amanda Koonjbeharry, co-chair of a Minnesota taskforce for increasing services for sex trafficking victims, said research at the University of Minnesota show there are more online ads during large events happening in a city.

“This issue is happening 365 days a year and we are sending the message that our efforts will not end after this weekend,” Koonjbeharry said.

Image via Shutterstock