University of St. Thomas Student Incarcerated for Sex Trafficking Worked In Minnesota's Property Management Sector

Gisela Castro Medina—formerly chair of the University of St. Thomas College Republicans chapter—was arrested in Florida in August 2021 alongside Minnesota GOP operative Anton “Tony” Lazzaro. Both faced federal charges including conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, sex trafficking of minors, and obstruction of justice.

Early Involvement & Institutional Profile

Medina was a 19-year-old sophomore at the time, officially listed as a business administration student and recently selected to lead the campus GOP chapter. Her designation sparked scrutiny regarding how politically active students are vetted for leadership roles and whether party affiliations influenced institutional response to her arrest.

Recruitment Role in Trafficking Operation

According to prosecutors and court filings, Castro Medina recruited underage girls—some as young as 15—for Lazzaro by using social media apps like Snapchat. She introduced him as a wealthy “sugar daddy,” offering luxury gifts and cash in exchange for sexual acts. Testimony revealed Medina idolized Lazzaro, described herself using grooming language he encouraged, and played an instrumental role in luring victims.

Prosecutors further allege she actively helped silence some of the girls by offering them alcohol and money in exchange for keeping quiet. Her involvement went beyond passive compliance; she was fully embedded in the mechanics of the trafficking operation.

Related: GOP Operative Anton Lazzaro’s Sex-Trafficking Conviction Reveals He Worked In Minnesota Property Management

Plea & Sentencing

In September 2023, Medina was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison. Her sentence also included five years of supervised release and court-ordered restitution to her victims. The judge cited her cooperation with federal prosecutors during Lazzaro’s trial but emphasized the severity of her role in a conspiracy that targeted vulnerable minors.

Broader Implications

Institutional Proximity to Power: Medina’s position in a college Republican organization and her job in property management suggest how proximity to perceived legitimacy can shield bad actors or delay intervention.
Grooming and Exploitation: Her relationship with Lazzaro is a case study in grooming. Prosecutors say she was simultaneously a victim and an active recruiter, reflecting how complex power dynamics play out in trafficking cases.
Breakdown of Accountability: The scandal reverberated through Minnesota politics, triggering resignations and scrutiny of party leadership. It also exposed how systemic safeguards failed to prevent the abuse or detect it earlier.

Why It Matters

Gisela Castro Medina’s conviction reflects a broader truth: trafficking and exploitation do not always come from shadowy corners of society. They can emerge from places of prestige and proximity to power—college campuses, political circles, and professional institutions.

For survivors and advocates, this case is a call to action. The system enabled silence, disguised privilege as trustworthiness, and failed to protect the vulnerable until irreparable harm had been done. Genuine reform must go beyond arrests—it must restructure oversight systems that repeatedly allow grooming and trafficking to go unnoticed or unpunished.

APA References

Associated Press. (2021, August 13). College GOP leader arrested in Florida in sex trafficking case. AP News. https://apnews.com/article/arrests-cdb6e1763c98489a1a86f9caee512084

Justice.gov. (2023, September 14). St. Paul woman sentenced to three years in prison for role in child sex trafficking conspiracy. United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota. https://www.justice.gov/usao-mn/pr/st-paul-woman-sentenced-three-years-prison-role-child-sex-trafficking-conspiracy

Law & Crime. (2021, August 13). High-profile Republican donor, newly selected college GOP chapter leader arrested for alleged sex trafficking of minors. Law and Crime. https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/high-profile-republican-donor-newly-selected-college-gop-chapter-leader-arrested-for-alleged-sex-trafficking-of-minors-authorities/

Mannix, A. (2021, August 14). University of St. Thomas College Republicans leader arrested in sex trafficking case. Star Tribune. https://www.startribune.com/st-thomas-u-s-gop-chair-arrested-in-florida-on-sex-trafficking-allegation/600087883

Mannix, A. (2023, September 15). Castro Medina sentenced to three years for role in Lazzaro sex trafficking scheme. Star Tribune. https://www.startribune.com/castro-medina-sentenced-to-three-years-for-role-in-lazzaro-sex-trafficking-scheme/600302179

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