WF Police make several prostitution arrests

Several people from around the region were recentlyarrested by West Frankfort Police Department for operating what Chief of Police Jeff Tharp described as a prostitution ring.

The chief said an investigation revealed the operation was being ran through a website called backpage.com, which is a classified advertisement directory designated by states and regions. According to Tharp, the suspects were offering "female escorts," which were actually prostitutes exchanging sexual acts for money, and had been active in West Frankfort.

WFPD officers made a total of seven arrests Tuesday night. Of the men and women taken into custody, the chief said some were prostitutes and others were sent for protection or oversight.

Arrested were:

April E. Snowden, 27, of Benton

Donald V. Snowden, 30, of Murphysboro

Dianne E. Behrens, 28, of Carbondale

Shareece L. Frye, 22, of Salem

Thomas L. Mapp, 22, of Springfield

Morgan M. Jones, 27, of Carrier Mills

Amanda DJ Rathbert, 23, Carbondale