The women accused of selling sex acts out of a Hickory Flat barn apparently had a way with words.

Advertisements on the Craigslist.com Web site never said the three-letter word, but Cherokee County Sheriff's Office investigators read between the lines and launched a six-week investigation.

Six women, three of whom were from Cobb County, were arrested Thursday in connection with the operation at 2516 E. Cherokee Drive, according to records released Friday.

The owner, Terri Confer, 55, was charged with pimping and keeping a place of prostitution, which investigators suspect began operating in August, if not earlier.

Four women accused of masturbation for hire and unlawful massage were arrested: Annie Walker, 43, of Kennesaw; Deborah Ingram, 42, of Kennesaw; Carla Fortner, 44, of Dallas and Jennifer Adams, 22, of Acworth. Ms. Walker faces an additional charge of giving a false name to police and is wanted on other charges in DeKalb County.

Cheri Phillips, 53, who also lives at the house, was charged with possession of heroin and possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute.

"They don't come out and say what you're going to get, but it's obvious," sheriff's office Public Information Officer Sgt. Jay Baker said of the online advertisements. "If you call the number, they gave you the menu over the phone. They were explicit about what they were going to give you."

The ads still were posted on Cragslist on Friday, but the phone number listed went straight to a full voice mailbox beloning to "Terri."

"Come Find a Little Paradise" and "Let's Get Wet" the headlines on the listings read. They promise "one-of-a-kind massages," "four-hand massages," hot tub massages and "a little fantasy" from "attractive, trim therapists."

The therapists frequently are described by hair color, build and other details like Kimberly, who "is great with her hands"; Cheyenne, who is "perky and sweet"; Leslie, who is "sleek, busty," and Jenna who is "22, blonde and beautiful (like a little Barbie doll)." Cheyenne, according to the listings, also was available for "outcalls" in the surrounding area.

Coincidentally, Craigslist officials on Thursday announced they were taking steps to prevent people from posting ads for prostitution and other illegal activities after reaching a pact with more than 40 states, including Georgia.

When men arrived at the farm, they spent their time behind the house, Baker said, in an area that included a barn, two trailers, an outdoor hot tub and an outdoor shower.

While investigators still are sorting out the transactions and an apparent client list, more than $15,000 in cash was found when a search warrant was executed Thursday and credit was accepted, according to the listings. A laptop computer also was seized.

The operation, he said, couldn't be seen from the road and neighbors weren't aware of the happenings.

The investigation started with a tip given to the Holly Springs Police Department, possibly by someone who went in for a legitimate massage and got a surprise, Baker said.

The undercover operation included both calling and visiting the business, he said, adding that investigators did not participate in any illegal acts.

"When we executed the search warrant, it was just as we expected," Baker said, noting that two male customers were there and another arrived during the bust.

One of the men then began suffering chest pains, and paramedics were called to the scene, Baker said.

The three men, whose names were not released as they have not been charged, range in age from 20s to 40s and some of them lived in Cherokee.

Customers received massages and masturbation by hand, Baker said, noting there is no immediate evidence of other sex acts for money taking place. The business had no business license or massage parlor license, and while two of the women had massage therapist licenses on them, it's unclear whether they are valid or accurate, Baker said.

The investigation remains ongoing, he added, noting that "there certainly are more women than this involved." Investigators believe Ms. Confer was bringing in women from across metro Atlanta on different days to offer varied services.

Ms. Confer bonded out of the Cherokee County Adult Detention Center on Friday morning. Her bond was set at $1,360.

Ms. Phillips remains in jail on $22,000 bond. The rest of the women also still are incarcerated with bond set at $1,360 for all but Ms. Walker, whose bond is $2,040.

County Commissioner Jim Hubbard lives a few doors down from the farm, which is surrounded by rural homesteads and one church - Sunnyside. The arrests were "quite a surprise to the neighborhood," he said.

Baker said in the past decade, the sheriff's office has received "very few" reports of prostitution.

"We're definitely not going to put up with it," Baker said of prostitution. "Our citizens don't want that kind of activity going on, and neither do we."

Comment on this Story

Comments posted below are not edited and do not necessarily represent the views of the Marietta Daily Journal. Comments are reviewed before they are posted.

Please enter the validation words. If you cannot read them, you may obtain a fresh set of words by hitting the button.