St. Paul man hit with record 58-year sentence for sex trafficking

ST. PAUL -- A St. Paul man was sentenced Friday to 58 years in prison for his role in a sex trafficking ring in what prosecutors are calling the longest-ever sentence of its kind in Minnesota.
Rashad Ramon Ivy, 35, was convicted in February of multiple counts of sex trafficking, solicitation and criminal sexual conduct. Ramsey County prosecutors described him as "a ring leader and criminal mastermind" in a plot that ensnared multiple victims in 2014 and 2015. According to court documents, he and two accomplices -- Tarris Trapps and Danika Johnson -- recruited women by approaching them in expensive rented cars, telling women how attractive they were and offering promises of "making money, getting new cars and living the dream" if they worked with them. They began with talk of music videos but turned the conversation quickly to prostitution, using what prosecutors called "a combination of enticements, coercion and physical violence." For at least one victim, Ivy used her small child "as a hostage to compel cooperation," according to the charges. Two women reported being sexually assaulted by Ivy and Trapps, and one was beaten so badly by Ivy she was hospitalized, according to the charges. That's what led to his arrest. Trapps, 26, pleaded guilty to his role in the crimes in January and was sentenced to seven years and 10 months in prison. Johnson, 20, pleaded guilty in November and was sentenced to a year in the county workhouse. If Ivy is released, he will be required to register as a predatory offender for life. The Pioneer Press is a Forum News Service media partner.ST. PAUL -- A St. Paul man was sentenced Friday to 58 years in prison for his role in a sex trafficking ring in what prosecutors are calling the longest-ever sentence of its kind in Minnesota.
Rashad Ramon Ivy, 35, was convicted in February of multiple counts of sex trafficking, solicitation and criminal sexual conduct. Ramsey County prosecutors described him as "a ring leader and criminal mastermind" in a plot that ensnared multiple victims in 2014 and 2015.According to court documents, he and two accomplices -- Tarris Trapps and Danika Johnson -- recruited women by approaching them in expensive rented cars, telling women how attractive they were and offering promises of "making money, getting new cars and living the dream" if they worked with them.They began with talk of music videos but turned the conversation quickly to prostitution, using what prosecutors called "a combination of enticements, coercion and physical violence."For at least one victim, Ivy used her small child "as a hostage to compel cooperation," according to the charges.Two women reported being sexually assaulted by Ivy and Trapps, and one was beaten so badly by Ivy she was hospitalized, according to the charges. That's what led to his arrest.Trapps, 26, pleaded guilty to his role in the crimes in January and was sentenced to seven years and 10 months in prison.Johnson, 20, pleaded guilty in November and was sentenced to a year in the county workhouse.If Ivy is released, he will be required to register as a predatory offender for life.The Pioneer Press is a Forum News Service media partner.