Arrest warrants reveal new information after Lee County brothel raids lead to 10 in custody

LEE COUNTY, Fla. —

Law enforcement raided eight brothels in Cape Coral and surrounding areas last Thursday, arresting 10 people as part of a multi-agency operation following a two-year investigation.

Daniel Barker, a massage therapist at Essential Balance in Cape Coral, said he saw law enforcement near SE 47th Terrace, close to his workplace, during the raid.

"They were just in there, equipment, talking, looked like they were doing some kind of investigation. I wasn’t going to ask; they were busy working," Barker said.

The raids targeted homes and businesses, including locations at the Edison Mall. Charges against those arrested include racketeering, deriving proceeds from prostitution, maintaining a place for prostitution, money laundering, and other offenses.

Joseph Amin, a Fort Myers resident, shared his reaction to the news.

"It’s pretty crazy. I didn’t think that would be happening here, especially so lowkey," Amin said.

Steven Perez, a Cape Coral resident, expressed his concerns about the situation.

"It’s hard to hear that it’s gotten to the point that can happen here and it flies under the radar," Perez said.

Two suspects were arrested using a grappler device, which the Lee County Sheriff’s Office recently acquired to stop fleeing vehicles. The state attorney has not confirmed whether all 10 arrests are connected.

Last week, in a Cape Coral neighborhood where two arrests occurred, neighbors said they did not know the individuals well and could not provide much information. An affidavit is expected to reveal more details about how the brothels operated.

The arrest warrant listed 16 names; however, the following 10 people are facing charges at this time:

• Fedner Alzime
• Felicia Lynn Iglehart
• Miriam Carlin Arnava
• Walter William Thomas
• Tranesia Keeona Rebecca Denson
• Antonio Martinez Blanco
• David Arevalo
• Alexis May Pierce
• James "Jimmy" Joseph O'Brien
• Yesney Perez Parra

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