WAS NO ACTUAL THREAT TO THE SCHOOL. PUTTING AN END TO PROSTITUTION IN LEE COUNTY JUST HOURS AGO, THE STATE ATTORNEY’S OFFICE SAYS THEY SHOT DOWN MULTIPLE BRAUNFELS IN CAPE CORAL AND FORT MYERS. TAKE A LOOK AT THE MULTIPLE PEOPLE ARRESTED OVER THE LAST DAY. 10 PEOPLE TOTAL. THEY’RE ACCUSED OF PROSTITUTION, RACKETEERING AND MONEY LAUNDERING. STATE ATTORNEY AMIRA FOX IS THE BROTHELS WERE OPERATING NEAR STORES THAT YOU MAY SHOP AT ONE EVEN NEXT TO A DAY CARE. >> THESE BROTHELS WERE HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT IN AREAS AMONG OTHER BUSINESSES. BUT WITH NO SIGNAGE. >> ALL RIGHT. TAKE A LOOK AT THIS MAP OF SOME OF THE PLACES BUSTED FOR TRAFFICKING, THOUGH, PEOPLE, INCLUDING AT THE EDISON MALL, A STRIP MALL IN CAPE CORAL AND AT 4 DIFFERENT HOMES ACROSS LEE COUNTY. THIS IS VIDEO OF ANOTHER LOCATION IN CAPE CORAL WHERE ONE MAN WAS ARRESTED IN ITS A MASSAGE PARLOR ON SOUTH EAST 47TH TERRACE. >> GULF COAST NEWS FOUNDED CLOSED TODAY. STATE ATTORNEY AMIRA FOX SAYS 2 OF THE PEOPLE ARRESTED ARE HERE IN OUR COUNTRY ILLEGALLY. WE’RE WORKING TO FIND OUT WHERE THEY CAME FROM. VIDEO FROM THE LEE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE SHOWS THEIR NEW GRAPPLER TECHNOLOGY BEING USED TO ARREST 2 OF THOSE 10 SUSPECTS FOR OPERATION RED LIGHT. LISTEN TO THIS. >> POINT OF HANDS OUT THE WINDOW. IT’S OUT THE WINDOW. DO NOT MOVE YOU REACH OUT THIS. I COME OVER HERE NOW UNDER YOUR SEAT BELT RIGHT NOW. >> DEPUTIES FIGURED OUT THE 2 WERE DRIVING A BLACK KIA ON LEE BOULEVARD. AS YOU JUST SAW, THE DRIVER TRIED TO ESCAPE. SO THE DEPUTY USED HIS GRAPPLER TO GRAB THE BACK TIRES OF THE KIA AND BRING IT TO A STOP. EARLIER THIS WEEK, GULF COAST NEWS TOLD YOU LEE COUNTY DEPUTIES JUST GOT THIS BRAND-NEW GRAPPLING TECHNOLOGY FOR THEIR CARS. DEPUTIES SAY THEY ARRE
10 in custody after multi-agency operation busts brothels in Lee County
Updated: 7:48 PM EDT Apr 17, 2026
The State Attorney’s Office hosted a news conference in Fort Myers on Friday afternoon.State Attorney Amira Fox announced that 10 people were taken into custody in connection with “Operation Red Light”, a multi-agency investigation that targeted brothels in Fort Myers and Cape Coral. The two-year investigation started after law enforcement received tips and information.According to Amira Fox, eight search warrants were executed at four homes and four businesses. She said the brothels were hidden and had no signage, and one of them was a few feet away from a children’s day care.Arrests were made over the last 36 hours.Officials said suspects are facing charges that include money laundering, racketeering, and prostitution. According to the SAO, two of the people who were arrested were in the country illegally and may face deportation.What is INTERCEPT Task Force?The INTERCEPT Task Force, Fort Myers Police Department, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Hendry County Sheriff’s Office were some of the agencies involved in the investigation.The INTERCEPT Task Force is a collaboration between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies focused on rescuing human trafficking and child exploitation victims. You can click on the player below to watch the full announcement from the State Attorney’s Office.More stories:Child exploitation task force nabs 95 suspects, seizes 98M files and ID’s 177 victims in Florida 70 arrested, 30 guns recovered in months-long Lee County Sheriff’s Office narcotics operation5 arrested after deputies, SWAT raid drug house in Port Charlotte DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.
FORT MYERS, Fla. —
The State Attorney’s Office hosted a news conference in Fort Myers on Friday afternoon.
State Attorney Amira Fox announced that 10 people were taken into custody in connection with “Operation Red Light”, a multi-agency investigation that targeted brothels in Fort Myers and Cape Coral. The two-year investigation started after law enforcement received tips and information.
According to Amira Fox, eight search warrants were executed at four homes and four businesses. She said the brothels were hidden and had no signage, and one of them was a few feet away from a children’s day care.
Arrests were made over the last 36 hours.
Gulf Coast News
Mugshots of people in custody.Â
Officials said suspects are facing charges that include money laundering, racketeering, and prostitution. According to the SAO, two of the people who were arrested were in the country illegally and may face deportation.
What is INTERCEPT Task Force?
The INTERCEPT Task Force, Fort Myers Police Department, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Hendry County Sheriff’s Office were some of the agencies involved in the investigation.
The INTERCEPT Task Force is a collaboration between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies focused on rescuing human trafficking and child exploitation victims.
You can click on the player below to watch the full announcement from the State Attorney’s Office.
More stories:
DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.
