Human Trafficking Charges

A Cannon Falls High School graduate and Bomber wrestler who has been listed as a volunteer wrestling coach for the Cannon Falls program since 2020-2021 has been arrested in an undercover operation by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension-Human Trafficking Investigators Task Force. 

According to a BCA press release, 27-year old Ryan Epps and nine others are facing felony charges for attempting to solicit minors for sex.

The Cannon Falls School District released this statement on August 8th:

“The Cannon Falls Area Schools is aware that an individual who is listed as a district volunteer assistant wrestling coach has been arrested. Charges are expected for felony solicitation of a minor. Although listed as a volunteer, this individual has not worked for the school district in the past couple years.

We do not believe that the alleged crime involved any of our students. However, please know that counseling supports are available to anyone who may need assistance at this time. Our focus is on ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our students.

The undercover operation took place July 30-31 in St. Paul and the release said that investigators posed as minors and sex buyers while communicating with suspects over text and phone.

The investigators then “arrested the suspects as they arrived at an arranged meeting place for an encounter.”

The release says that charges are expected in the coming days and those arrested were booked into Ramsey County Jail on probable cause for felony solicitation of a minor under 18 years of age for prostitution. 

Three females were rescued from a potential sex trafficking situation during the operation, the press release said.