An ongoing multi-agency investigation involving state, local and federal agents led to the arrest of five men Wednesday in connection with the operation of an illegal brothel in Antioch.
Metro Nashville police, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security and the Federal Bureau of Investigation learned the brothel was being operated at a home at in the 2300 block of Hobson Pike, Metro police said in a news release.
When authorities arrived, five men ran from the home and were later caught and arrested.
A search of the home revealed that an upstairs area had been converted into smaller rooms investigators believe were used for prostitution. Business cards and ledgers associated with the promotion of prostitution and a pound of marijuana were seized by authorities during the search, the release noted.
All five of the men arrested Wednesday ― ages 22, 27, 27, 31 and 37 ― were charged with promoting prostitution, felony marijuana possession and evading arrest.
The 31-year-old is also charged with two counts of aggravated assault, felony reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon and use of a gun in the commission of a dangerous felony with a deadly weapon in connection with the Sept. 17 shooting of two men at another illegal brothel at a home in the 6100 block of Mt. View Road, police said.
One of the 27-year-olds is also charged with felony possession of “Tusi,” a combination of cocaine, ecstacy, fentanyl and other drugs.
The second 27-year-old is also charged with felony gun possession after an Alcohol Tobacco and Firearm dog found a semi-automatic pistol in the brush where he was arrested. He later told police the gun was his, the release said.
And, the 22-year-old is also charged with criminal impersonation, police said.
The Metro Nashville Police Department said the Wednesday arrests were part of a months-long, large scale local, state and federal investigation that is continuing.
Reach reporter Craig Shoup by email at cshoup@gannett.com and on X @Craig_Shoup. To support his work, sign up for a digital subscription to www.tennessean.com.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Five charged after months-long Nashville sex sting uncovers brothel