10 arrested for prostitution, operating brothels within several Lee County businesses

FORT MYERS, Fla. (WINK)— Florida State Attorney Amira Fox announced a two-year-old investigation that yielded arrests involving prostitution and racketeering in Fort Myers.

On Friday, State Attorney Fox announced that arrests made within the Cape Coral and Lee County area occurred at several establishments, which operated as brothels.

Fox said that eight search warrants were issued on four residential locations and four business locations. Ten people have been arrested for their involvement with the alleged brothels in Fort Myers and Cape Coral.

The following charges have been issued: Racketeering, living off the earnings made from prostitution, maintaining a structure for prostitution, and money laundering.

All 10 people have been arrested over the past 36 hours, according to Fox. The state attorney added that these individuals were operating their brothels leading up to their arrests.

According to Fox, the brothels were held in plain sight, among other businesses within Cape Coral and Fort Myers. Fox then stated that one of the brothels was in close proximity to a children’s day care center.

Operation Red Light was conducted through anonymous tips from residents in Lee County.

Watch the entire conference above.