MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – A 29-year-old Minneapolis woman faces sex trafficking and prostitution promotion charges after police found two Wisconsin runaway teens working as prostitutes in her home.
Police arrested Meranda Warborg on Saturday after an investigation led them to her north Minneapolis home, according to court documents.
According to documents filed on Tuesday, Warborg is charged with two felony counts of first-degree sex trafficking and one felony count of promoting prostitution. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and/or a $50,000 fine.
Minneapolis Police began an investigation last week after receiving information that a 15-year-old girl and 17-year-old girl were involved in sex trafficking in the city. Both of the teens had gone missing from Eau Claire, Wis., earlier this month.
In a statement, Warborg admitted she knew the teens “were working as prostitutes” and that she knew prostitution activity had happened in her home. She also admitted to using funds on pre-paid credit cards to buy ads featuring the teens on Backpage.com and to giving the teens drugs.
She told officers she received $100 for letting the teens stay with her. She said she used the money to buy drugs.
The teens also gave statements to police in which both said they engaged in prostitution activity in Warborg’s home.
Warborg is currently in custody. Court records show she has several pending criminal matters, including two DWI counts and two counts of patronizing a prostitute.
