Unsealed warrants detail sex trafficking, lavish spending in Eden Prairie case

Lavish strip club spending, luxury cars, and questionable medical billing are among the striking details in newly unsealed federal search warrants tied to a years-long Eden Prairie-based sex trafficking investigation.

Federal investigators allege that Gabriel Adam Alexander Luthor, also known as Gabriel Langford, and Elizabeth Christine Brown operated a multi-state scheme involving sex trafficking and health care fraud. The two are charged in U.S. District Court.

Investigation began with sex trafficking tips

The investigation began in May 2019, when Eden Prairie police received multiple tips about Luthor and others allegedly involved in sex trafficking and related crimes.

The first tip came from a manager at a local hair salon, who reported that two new clients arrived together on the morning of May 7, 2019. The women were dressed in revealing clothing and heavy makeup – attire the manager said resembled what someone might wear to a nightclub rather than a salon. One of the women, later identified as Brown, appeared to be in her 30s and spoke on behalf of the younger woman, estimated to be in her early 20s. The salon manager told police that Brown made all decisions regarding the younger woman’s services and described the pair’s dynamic as controlling, raising concerns about potential sex trafficking.

In January 2020, a city building inspector relayed a tip from a plumbing inspector about suspicious features inside a residence at 11631 Welters Way, which was undergoing renovations. According to the inspector, the basement included a large “grotto-style” hot tub, a multi-user “gang shower,” and a glass-walled solarium with a door that he believed could be used to “view and pick women.” The inspector said he had never encountered a setup like it in a private home.

Eden Prairie Local News reported on the 2023 federal search of the Welters Way property at the time and published a subsequent follow-up story detailing the ongoing investigation.

Search warrants detail controlling behavior

Affidavits filed in support of the search warrants included text messages between Luthor and several women. In one July 2018 exchange, a woman asked Luthor if she still needed permission to eat or drink anything other than water. Luthor replied that she did, and instructed her to “step this up” and “start working out each day” because she had “a ways to go” to lose more weight.

During the execution of a search warrant at the Welters Way property in January 2023, officers found several women living in the home, including Brown. Investigators noted that the women appeared to defer to Luthor, who dictated when they would leave the house, which vehicle they would take, and whether one of them would wear a coat – despite the frigid January weather.

Bank records reveal luxury spending

As the investigation progressed, federal agents uncovered a pattern of extravagant personal spending. Between July and December 2021, Luthor’s personal Bank of America account received roughly $1.37 million in deposits and recorded $1.35 million in debits.

Among the expenses during that six-month period:

• Spent approximately $453,000 at strip and nightclubs in Minneapolis and Miami Beach

• Spent more than $96,000 at restaurants including Seven Sushi, Manny’s, and Oceanaire
• Transferred over $94,000 via Tinder, CashApp, and Zelle to various women
• Paid $42,500 toward a 2021 Rolls-Royce, including $8,500 monthly payments

Witnesses told investigators that Luthor regularly traveled to Las Vegas – weekly or biweekly – bringing with him around $20,000 in cash to pay women for sex. He allegedly also paid women to provide sex services to others he was trying to impress.

Real estate deal raises questions

Records from the city and the Minnesota Secretary of State show a complex sequence of real estate transactions involving the Welters Way property.

On March 22, 2019, Flip Funding, LLC, purchased the home for roughly $994,900. That same day, Brown entered into a contract for deed with Flip Funding, putting down $315,000 in cash toward a purchase price of $1.049 million. She agreed to pay $6,429 per month for 61 months, with a $342,531 balloon payment due in March 2024.

Three years later, on April 29, 2022, Banken Holdings, LLC – managed by the same individual as Flip Funding – purchased the property for $1.7 million with a $595,000 down payment. That same day, Olympia, LLC, bought the property from Banken Holdings on a contract for deed for $1.883 million, with a $633,000 down payment. Brown is listed as Olympia’s registered agent, and the business address is the Welters Way residence.

Investigators link funds to alleged health care fraud

Investigators allege that the funds used to purchase the property – and much of Luthor and Brown’s personal wealth – came from Golden Victory Medical (GVM), a company they control.

Bank of America and U.S. Bank records show that from August 2018 to October 2022, about $14.7 million was deposited into GVM’s business accounts. Roughly $9.6 million was then transferred into Luthor and Brown’s personal accounts, according to federal affidavits.

GVM’s website, as of January 2023, claimed to provide “high-quality, empathetic, personalized healthcare” at five locations across Florida, Nevada, Oklahoma, and Kansas. Brown was listed as the company’s CEO and co-owner, with a photo and biographical details displayed on the site.

Billing records show that GVM filed over $16 million in claims to Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurers in 2019 – the company’s first full year of operation. More than $4 million was paid out. At the time, Brown and one other nurse were listed as the only rendering providers. Brown alone was credited with more than 28,000 patient encounters – an average of 76 per day.

From January 2018 to March 2021, GVM and seven other providers submitted claims for over 776,000 patient visits. Brown was listed as the provider in more than 591,000 of them. In 2020 alone, she was credited with 164,791 encounters – an average of more than 450 per day.

Investigators also allege that some of these billings occurred during periods when Brown was vacationing. For example, she billed for 204 patient visits between Dec. 7 and Dec. 10, 2020, while simultaneously staying at a luxury resort in Vail, Colorado. A document recovered from her Google Drive account confirmed the trip and included details about a private chef.

Legal proceedings ahead

Luthor and Brown have not yet responded to the charges filed against them. As of this writing, it is unclear whether they are in custody or have retained legal counsel. Both are scheduled to make their initial appearance in U.S. District Court on April 30.

Editor’s note: Contributor Frank Farrell is a member of the EPLN Board of Directors and a resident of Welters Way. Farrell, who is also an attorney, witnessed some of the events reported in EPLN’s 2023 coverage of the raid.