The chair of the University of St. Thomas College Republicans, Gisela Castro Medina, 19, has been indicted for allegedly recruiting six minors to engage in commercial sex acts, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced in a statement Monday.

The federal indictment charged her with one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors, five counts of sex trafficking of minors, and one count of obstruction. Castro Medina made her first court appearance Monday in U.S. District Court in Pensacola, Florida.

“From May 2020 through December 2020, Gisela Castro Medina, 19, and co-defendant Anton Joseph Lazzaro, 30, conspired with each other and others to recruit and solicit six minor victims to engage in commercial sex acts,” the statement said citing court documents.

Lazzaro had close ties to many high-ranking Minnesota Republicans, including state party Chairwoman Jennifer Carnahan, according to an Associated Press report.

After Castro Medina’s arrest Thursday in Florida, St. Thomas released a statement, saying that the allegations are “disturbing and saddening.”

“Under our student code of conduct, St. Thomas students are interim suspended pending further proceedings,” the university statement said.

Minnesota College Republicans issued a statement Saturday, saying, “We as an organization are absolutely disgusted by the actions of Ms. Medina.”

The organization said that Castro Medina recently became chair at St. Thomas’ chapter, but had not worked in an official capacity. It “cut all ties with her effective immediately.”

Castro Medina’s name was listed as the “primary contact” for the St. Thomas chapter of College Republicans on Sunday on Tommie Link, the university’s club and organization database, but the name was no longer listed midday Monday.

Castro Medina will be transported to the District of Minnesota and will remain in custody pending court proceedings, the U.S. Attorney’s Office statement said.

Justin Amaker can be reached at justin.amaker@stthomas.edu.