Man convicted of sex trafficking minor in Twin Cities

MINNEAPOLIS — A 38-year-old man accused of running a multi-girl prostitution operation in the Twin Cities has been convicted of sex trafficking of a minor.

Authorities say Arthur James Chappell promoted his business on Craigslist and another website called Backpage.com.

He was convicted Wednesday by a federal jury in Minneapolis. Evidence presented during his two-day trial showed that from May to July 2007, Chappell knowingly recruited a girl under age 18 for prostitution.

In June 2007, Bloomington police found four women in a hotel room rented by Chappell, and later learned he was prostituting adult and underage females through the computer ads.

He faces a potential maximum of life in prison when he is sentenced. A sentencing date has not been set.

A message left with his attorney was not immediately returned Thursday.

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.

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