Woodbury Hotel Arrest Part Of National Prostitution Case: Police

WOODBURY, MN — Woodbury police made an arrest at a hotel Wednesday as part of what they say is a national, large-scale prostitution and sex trafficking case. Brittany Marie Harenza, 25, faces felony racketeering and concealing criminal proceeds charges after she was arrested at the Woodbury Country Inn & Suites hotel about 6 p.m. Wednesday.

Alleged partner Ricky Arlen Turner Jr., 29, also faces charges, the Woodbury Bulletin reported:

The arrests came after two to three months of monitoring by authorities in Woodbury, according to the criminal complaint filed March 18 in Washington County District Court.

The complaint said the operation offered commercial sex services in more than a dozen other states.

A subpoena requested from Backpage.com revealed advertisements for more than 35 women associated with an account traced to Harenza's IP address.

Turner was arrested hours later when Minnetonka police raided the couple's lakefront home in Wayzata.

Authorities said a minor the two had recruited was present at the home during the arrest.

Read much more at the Woodbury Bulletin.

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