WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — Police arrested a prostitute and the doorman of a brothel that's been operating in West Palm Beach for about two years.
Herver Barrios, 38, faces numerous charges including one for maintaining a place for prostitution. Police also arrested 55-year-old Belgica Diaz on a lewdness charge.
Their arrests stems from a tip from a confidential informant who police said is in charge of the brothel, located at 510 47th St. in West Palm Beach. The source of information said he knew of several active brothels in West Palm Beach, some may be using girls under the age of 18.
According to the arrest report, Barrios said he worked as the doorman, collected $30 from "Johns," and gave them a token. The "Johns" would then give the token to the prostitutes for sex. The prostitutes would turn the chips in to Barrios for $15.
Barrios told police his brothel has been in operation for about two years.
Police had the home under surveillance for several months in March and again in August.
Police said they saw about 10 to 15 "Johns" visit the brothel during the average day, but neighbors tell CBS12 News that number could be a lot higher.
One woman living in the home right next door to the alleged brothel said that dozens of "Johns" wanting to solicit prostitutes come knocking on her door every day.
"This was an everyday thing," the neighbor told CBS12 News. "People used to come to my door asking for women."
The woman explained that she has teenage kids living in her house, and felt "scared" knowing that her next door neighbors were running this illicit operation.
She remembers feeling scared pulling into her drive recently and seeing a "John" approaching her daughter
"I pulled up and I said, 'What do you want? And he said, 'I'm looking for girls,'" the neighbor recalls. "So I said, 'Nobody sells girls here, this is a family house.'"
Some women, according to police, showed up Monday morning and didn't leave until Friday or Saturday night.
Another neighbor, Tracey Swindell, said she also has a teenage daughter living in the neighborhood. She says she felt "very uncomfortable" when she found out about the alleged brothel, and is grateful that the operation has been shut down and that her young daughter is safe.
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