Federal authorities have broken up a prostitution ring that had spread throughout metro Atlanta.
Eight men were indicted on 18 counts for allegedly running an elaborate prostitution ring in Atlanta, Marietta, Norcross, and Duluth. One of the homes is in a nice neighborhood in Marietta off Seminole Drive. It was one of about a half dozen homes that was used for prostitution, the indictment said. Another one of the homes is five minutes away off West Atlanta Street.
"I wouldn't expect it in this neighborhood because it’s more businesslike, but I guess that's a business too," Marietta resident Tommy Hill said.
Federal prosecutors say 12 women worked as prostitutes and others were being recruited. They were brought in from others states such as New York and Massachusetts.
The men arrested were Jose Miguel Almonte; Tiena Calderon; Epifania Sanchez Delarosa; Luz M. Gutierrez; Maria D. Rodriguez Herrera; Oscar Lnu.; Romualda Resendiz Perez; and Saula Morales Villareal.
Tiena Calderon was the only person granted bond. He is a U.S. citizen from New York.
Prosecutors claim the suspects had business cards to advertise their homes and get clients. Housekeepers were paid up to $350 a week to maintain the homes, watch the women and collect the fees from the clients.
The men started recruiting their women more than a year ago, prosecutors said.