Cricket Darlene Kimbrough

An Athens woman who operated a prostitution ring featuring more than a dozen prostitutes has been arrested on a human trafficking charge, an official said.

Limestone County Sheriff’s Office Spokesman Stephen Young said Cricket Darlene Kimbrough, 35, of 803 Malone St., had recruited at least 14 individuals to participate in her prostitution ring. He said investigators believe the female victims would participate in sex parties held at local motels and would be paid in methamphetamine.

Evidence of the ring was found after a search warrant was obtained for her cellphone on March 29.

The search warrant was related to an ongoing narcotics investigation, Young said.

He said investigators believe the prostitution ring had been active for several months. Transportation of males and females to the sex parties parties was provided, Young said.

Once the female recruits arrived at the parties, Young said they were required to perform sex acts on “Johns” at the party, and cash would be collected from them. He added Kimbrough would facilitate private meetings between the prostitutes and “Johns.”

Kimbrough remains in the Limestone County Jail on one count of felony second-degree human trafficking, two counts of felony possession of methamphetamine and possession of marijuana. Bond was set at $6,000 on the drug charges. Bond had not been set on the human trafficking charge.