WASHINGTON COUNTY (KFSM) -- Search warrants served at nine Northwest Arkansas homes by the Department of Homeland Security and local law enforcement agencies reveal the details of a prostitution and drug ring involving the exploitation of underage teens and marijuana brought in from Colorado.
The search warrants were served at homes in Fayetteville, Springdale and Rogers on May 26. The investigation began after a 17-year-old female, identified as Jane Doe, told authorities she had worked for two pimps named "T. Boi" and "T. Nash," according to the search warrants.
She disclosed underage teens and adult women were being trafficked every night at the Hill Top Inn in Springdale and all of them were being overseen by the pimps, the warrants state. The women were given a percentage of the money made from their sexual encounters, as well as narcotics, according to the warrants.
The pimps would post ads on Backpage.com with either fake photos of women or real ones along with either of their cell phone numbers, the warrants state. The females would answer the pimp's phone and set up a meeting time at the Hilltop Inn where the pimps would leave their hats and necklaces in the motel room to show the women were protected by them, according to the warrants.
The search warranted identify "T. Boi" as Antonio Demetris Nash, 22, and "T. Nash" as Antwane Lee Nash, 24, the warrants state.
The Nashes would bring females from Springfield, Missouri and move them between the Hill Top Inn and an undisclosed location in Little Rock, according to the warrants.
Hill Top Inn Manager Viral Narsinh said he and his maid, the only two employees, did not know about the operation.
"I had no idea. [The maid] did not mention anything about it," said Narsinh. "Whenever we have bad things going on in some rooms we just call Springdale police and they come in."
And while Narsinh said Antonio and Antwane Nash had stayed at the Hill Top Inn from time to time, they were both eventually banned.
"One of the guys came in, got drunk and peed on the bed," he said. "The second one, he was being delinquent on paying on time. The last straw and I said 'no, you need to leave.'"
A search of the Nashes' Facebook pages revealed dozens of conversations related to the sale and distribution of illegal narcotics and prostitution, the warrants state. Facebook turned over 12,124 pages of records including posts, photos and private conversations made between Nov. 2014 and April 2016.
Authorities were also told Antonio Nash would bring pounds of marijuana to Northwest Arkansas from Colorado, according to the warrants.
Law enforcement searched the following residences:
- 1128 B Conner St. in Springdale
- 1811 Patti Ave. in Springdale
- 1361 N. Genoa Ave. in Fayetteville
- 2984 Setter St. in Fayetteville
- 1753 E. Zion Rd. Apt. A3 in Fayetteville
- 2091 A Emily Circle Dr. in Springdale
- 514 Butterfield Coach Rd. Apt. F205 in Springdale
- 1562 N. Dawn Dr. in Fayetteville
- 2856 N. Peg Lane in Fayetteville
Investigators identified the duplex on Conner Street as the primary residence for Antonio and Antwane Nash, the warrants state. At that address, among various computers and tablet, authorities found more than 20 different cell phones and 49 $45 prepaid phone cards, the warrants show.
The people living at the other addresses were identified as other pimps or people engaged in drug or prostitution transactions with the Nashes, according to the warrants.
Washington County Prosecutor Matt Durrett could not comment on the investigation, but said none of the people named in the search warrants have been arrested, but authorities are going to through the evidence to decide what charges will be brought against the individuals involved.
Narsinh said the investigation had taken him by surprise, but reaffirmed that he was not involved.
"If we would have known, then we would not have allowed it here," said Narsinh. "We run a nice and quiet environment here because we did all the renovations. Why would we do the renovation and damage the business name?"
Records show both Antonio and Antwane Nash were recently arrested on unrelated charges.
Antonio Nash was arrested March 21 and charged with possession of marijuana with intent to deliver, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of cocaine, possession of 25I-NBOMe, and fleeing, according to court documents.
Antwane Nash was arrested May 12 on suspicion of third-degree domestic battering, court records show.
