Eight arrested in sex trafficking investigation at Sturgis

STURGIS, SD. (AP) — An investigation into sex trafficking at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally has resulted in the arrest of eight men, the U.S. attorney in South Dakota announced on Tuesday.

U.S. Attorney Ron Parsons announced that two of the men had been arrested on charges of attempting commercial sex trafficking of a minor. Six others were arrested for attempting to entice a minor using the internet.

The investigation was conducted by both federal and South Dakota law enforcement officers and operated for the entire duration of the 10-day rally. The annual event was expected to draw a t least 250,000 people to western South Dakota.

Police officers in the region also made 126 felony drug arrests, 241 misdemeanor drug arrests and 145 arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol during the 10-day rally.