Men arrested in FBI raid in Columbia are charged
Two men who were arrested during an FBI raid in Columbia Thursday have been charged in federal court, accused of promoting prostitution online.
ABC 17 News was at the scene as authorities took Ronald Clark and Barry Manthe into custody at a home on Vandiver Drive.
Court documents show that both men are charged with use of interstate commerce, namely the internet, in aid of racketeering enterprise, between June 23, 2016 and June 29, 2016.
According to the documents, Manthe paid for escort advertisements on Backpage for “the prostitutes utilizing the brothel” and Clark collected a $20 “door fee” for the use of the brothel.
Investigators determined the house used as a brothel was rented by Manthe and Clark.
ABC 17 News reported that Kenneth Jones, 25, of Columbia, was indicted on three counts of transportation for illegal sexual activity by coercion and enticement. Jones is accused of luring three victims to travel across state lines to engage in prostitution and illicit sexual activity between May 1 and June 1, 2016.
Jones is accused of forcing a runaway juvenile from Wisconsin into prostitution. Documents said a cell phone ping found the victim at 1125 Vandiver Drive.
According to federal agents, Jones knew Manthe and Clark through his sister Iris Faheem, who is allegedly the lead prostitute at the brothel and managed it when her brother was out of town.
Manthe said in an interview with agents that Faheem worked for him for ten years, but wouldn’t elaborate on what she did.
