DeKalb Police Bust Alleged Brothel

DeKalb County police have arrested a 33-year-old woman in connection with charges that she ran a brothel, complete with a stripper's pole, bar and dance floor, out of the basement of her upscale home.

Tiendra Demian, 33, was being held Wednesday in the DeKalb jail, where she is facing prostitution and drug charges, authorities said. Her 13-year-old daughter, who lived in the house on Amberly Court, was removed from her custody and placed with state child welfare workers.

DeKalb police credited tips from neighbors and a one-month police sting for leading to the woman's arrest. The arrest is part of the county's ongoing crack down on illegal massage parlors and other sexually related businesses.

Authorities said the woman passed out a letter to neighbors recently to introduce herself, saying she was a nutritionist who sold vitamins from her home.

DeKalb police said the home has been operating as a brothel for the past six months. The woman allegedly sought customers by advertising on a Web site.

Armed with a search warrant, DeKalb police busted the operation after entering the home, where they found evidence of the woman's operation.

"The whole basement was converted into a club-type atmosphere," said DeKalb police Sgt. Chris Craddock. "There was a bar, a couple of dancing poles, a dance floor and a couple of rooms that were sectioned off."

Neighbors said they grew alarmed by what they saw.

"There were a lot of attractive women over there and their activities started after 11 p.m. at night," said one resident, who requested anonymity.

Authorities said they had planned to go after some of the women who worked at the home as well as the customers who patronized the establishment.

They said they decided not to, however, after finding the teen girl, who showed signs of neglect.

"There was no hot water and not enough food," Craddock said.

Channel 2 Action News reporter Tracy Martinez contributed to this report.

Woman Faces Prostitution Charge