A formerly well-connected Republican donor, accused of plying vulnerable teenage girls with alcohol, goes on trial tomorrow on charges of sex-trafficking minors.
nton “Tony” Lazzaro is charged with seven counts involving “commercial sex acts” with five minors aged 15 and 16 in 2020, when he was 30 years old.
His co-defendant, Gisela Castro Medina, pleaded guilty to two counts last year. She is co-operating with prosecutors and will testify against him.
Mr Lazzaro denies the sex-trafficking allegations. He says the US government targeted him for political reasons and because of his wealth.
Prosecutors say it’s simply a sex-trafficking case. They have not signalled any intent to call political figures as witnesses, nor has the defence.
Mr Lazzaro gave more than $270,000 to Republican campaigns and political committees over the years. Several recipients donated those contributions to charity after the charges became public.
Prosecutors alleged in their trial brief earlier this month that Mr Lazzaro conspired with Castro Medina and others to recruit 15- and 16-year-old girls to have sex with him in exchange for cash and gifts.
According to the brief, Mr Lazzaro had a preference for “young, tiny girls” and liked them “broken” and vulnerable, but without tattoos.
“Once the girls Castro Medina recruited arrived at Mr Lazzaro’s apartment, a similar pattern ensued,” the brief alleges. “Lazzaro would brag about his wealth and connections.
“He would give the girls – small and young – hard liquor. Lazzaro would then take out stacks of cash and offer the girls precise sums of money to perform certain sex acts with him, and with each other.”