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 posted on several websites used for commercial sex transactions that offered 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 ad. During the conversations, the undercover officers informed the inquirers that the female was actually 17 years old.
If the inquirer acknowledged this and continued to seek sexual contact in exchange for money, officers directed them to a specific location in Blaine, Anoka County, MN, where they were intercepted and taken into custody. One of the inquirers who responded to the advertisement around 10:42am on September 4 was SEAN JOSEPH GAVEL [DOB REDACTED], Defendant herein. Defendant indicated interest in meeting the officer, and after a few messages, the officer asked Defendant if it was a problem for him that “she” was only 17 years old.
Defendant replied, "Umm legally yes. Lol f*** not really trying to catch a case." He was initially reluctant to proceed and worried, but he eventually agreed to meet after receiving several photos of the purported 17-year-old. The officer inquired about "bare or reg oral vag anal.” Defendant replied, "No anal. Not about that.” He confirmed he wanted half an hour to start, to which the undercover officer responded, "150 hh no anal but all other sex fair game." Defendant replied with a thumbs-up emoji.
Defendant was given the address to meet up and was taken into custody at that location. Officers confirmed that Defendant’s phone was the one used to communicate with the officer. During a search of Defendant's vehicle, officers found $222 in cash and a small baggie between the driver's seat and center console that contained a white powder suspected to be cocaine. Defendant is not in custody as of the filing of this complaint. The State is requesting a complaint summons.
