6 Charged in Stillwater Sting Targeting Sex with Underage Victims
BY MN CRIME STAFF
Six men were recently arrested in Stillwater during a targeted operation aimed at apprehending suspects accused of soliciting underage victims.
Authorities say the arrests happened between Jan. 28 and Jan. 30 during a coordinated effort focused on suspects attempting to engage in commercial sex acts with someone they believed was 16 years old.
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The Washington County Attorney’s Office charged Vishwateja Reddy Guntupally, Christopher James Kohn, Manuel Mateo Chunzho-Canar, Sanyi Mechalu Tefera and Terry Valentino Reynolds with prostitution for allegedly hiring or agreeing to hire someone they believed was at least 16 but under 18 years old.
Dakotah Robert Ott is charged separately with felony fleeing police in a motor vehicle. The prostitution charge carries a maximum five-year prison sentence. Ott faces up to three years and one day for fleeing police in a motor vehicle.
According to charging documents, investigators posted a fictitious online advertisement on a known commercial sex website. Authorities say undercover officers communicated with multiple suspects who continued conversations and arranged meetings after the men were told the girl was 16.
Prosecutors allege Reynolds exchanged messages with the undercover officer and discussed meeting in Stillwater. Investigators say Reynolds acknowledged the age but continued arranging to meet and agreed to bring condoms. Authorities say Reynolds arrived at the meeting location as a passenger in a vehicle driven by Ott. When officers attempted to stop the vehicle, investigators say Ott reversed into a squad car and attempted to flee before both men were taken into custody. Authorities say officers located condoms and a bottle of alcohol inside the vehicle. Court records show Reynolds has prior convictions for fifth-degree assault, domestic assault and simple robbery.
According to prosecutors, Tefera contacted the advertisement multiple times and continued communicating after learning the decoy was 16. Investigators say Tefera arrived alone in a vehicle at a park in Stillwater, where officers took him into custody and recovered the phone used to communicate with the undercover officer.
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Authorities allege Chunzho-Canar also contacted the advertisement and agreed to meet after learning the decoy’s stated age. Investigators say he arrived at an apartment complex parking lot in Stillwater, where he was arrested. Officers reported recovering cash and his phone during the arrest.
Prosecutors allege Kohn offered to pay several hundred dollars for a meeting and asked questions intended to learn whether the person he was communicating with was law enforcement after being told the decoy was 16. Authorities say Kohn arrived at the meeting location and was arrested, and investigators reported finding cash in his vehicle.
According to charging documents, Guntupally initially declined after learning the decoy was 16 but later re-initiated communication and agreed to meet at a Stillwater apartment complex. Authorities say he arrived at the location and was taken into custody.
Officials say the operation was designed to target people seeking to exploit minors through commercial sex and was conducted with assistance from the Stillwater Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations and the Washington County Attorney’s Office.
“Protecting children and vulnerable populations remains a top priority, and collaborative operations such as this are a critical component in disrupting exploitation and ensuring public safety,” Washington County Sheriff Dan Starry said.
“Operations such as this one take tremendous effort from both law enforcement officers and County Attorney’s Office staff. We are grateful for the commitment of everyone involved in this operation and in keeping our community safe,” Washington County Attorney Kevin M. Magnuson said.
Authorities encourage anyone with information related to suspected human trafficking or sexual exploitation to contact local law enforcement.
