Seven Minnesota businessmen, allegedly customers of the on-line “Minnesota Nice Guys” prostitution ring, were charged last week. The charges came as the result of a lengthy investigation by the Minneapolis Police Department’s Violent Offender Task Force into the activities of former Hennepin County Assistant Attorney John St. Marie, 66, who was charged in July 2010 with allegedly making arrangements for liaisons with highpriced prostitutes for wealthy businessmen. Among the men charged last week was John Robert Stone, 62, of Grand Marais.
According to the Hennepin County police report of Sergeant Grant Snyder, on May 22, 2009, Stone allegedly met a 35-yearold woman identified as K.M. at a prearranged location and traveled with her to the Hotel Minneapolis. Stone allegedly had communicated with a person who he believed to be K.M. via e-mail to arrange a one hour “date.” According to the police complaint, Stone allegedly brought a $350 “donation” plus a $300 tip for the services arranged through the “My Fast Pass” website.
According to a June 2009 Minneapolis Star-Tribune
article by David Chanen, the approximately 30 “Nice Guys” had been enjoying the services of prostitutes for three years. Chanen reported that police told him the men were getting weekly e-mail blasts that advertised women who were flying into town from Florida and staying at some of Minneapolis’ finest hotels.
The alleged ringleader of the “Nice Guys,” John St. Marie, has been charged with six felony counts of promoting prostitution, including transporting women across state lines for sex. On November 2, 2010, Stone was charged with one count of soliciting prostitution, which carries a possible penalty of one year incarceration and a minimum fine of $1,500.
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