On September 3 and 4, 2025, Blaine Police conducted a special operation to identify people trying to hire juveniles for commercial sex. A fake advertisement was placed on several websites used for commercial sex transactions, offering commercial sex with a female who listed her age as 18. Multiple officers and special agents from the BCA were assigned to chat undercover with people who responded to the advertisement. During the conversations, the undercover officers told inquirers that the female was actually 17 years old, and that “she” had misrepresented her age in order to circumvent the website’s restrictions.
If the inquirer acknowledged this and persisted in seeking sexual contact in exchange for money, officers directed the inquirer to a specific location in Blaine, Anoka County, where they were intercepted and taken into custody. One of the inquirers who responded to the advertisement on September 4 was Defendant, JOSEPH MICHAEL STRUB [DOB REDACTED]. Defendant indicated that he wanted to purchase a half hour of protected sexual intercourse for the price of $150. The officer asked Defendant if it was ok that “she” was only 17 years old.
Defendant initially hesitated, texting “[y]ou being 17 kinda makes me nervous.” However, Defendant continued the conversation and confirmed he was “[l]ooking for full service hh.” Defendant was directed to the second location and was taken into custody. Officers confirmed that Defendant’s phone was the one used to communicate with the officer. Defendant admitted that the officer told him that she was 17 before his arrival and that he agreed to $150 for 30 minutes.
