EAST RUTHERFORD from www.leadernewspapers.net — Following an investigation that lasted several months, six people were arrested Tuesday in connection with an alleged prostitution ring at the Homestead Studio Suites Meadowlands Hotel in East Rutherford.

“We have contacted the owners of the (hotel) chain to attempt to rectify the problem and apparently this is a very big problem,” East Rutherford Capt. Ed Bury said in a phone interview with The Leader. “It seems we just got the tip of the iceberg.”

East Rutherford Police Chief Larry Minda said the prostitutes involved were using craigslist.com and backpage.com to promote themselves and make contact with potential clients.

“This is something that is partially created by people using the Internet to create these contacts,” Minda said. “It’s not something you see directly, such as when you walk into a hotel. … They are not standing in front of the hotel, it’s all done through the Internet.”

Cherise Dyer, 31, of Haywood, Calif.; Ana Duarte, 20, of Sacramento, Calif.; Rosy Gomez, 29, of West New York; and Malina Acosta, 18, of San Leandro, Calif., were all charged with engaging in prostitution.

Melinda Ashley, 24, of Las Vegas, Nev., was charged with promoting prostitution. Faith Rinehuls, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., was arrested for having outstanding warrants for prostitution out of Paramus and Georgia.

Police said they became aware of the suspicious activity after they received several complaints from hotel patrons. The investigation then branched out to include the efforts of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office.

This is not the first time prostitutes have been arrested at the Homestead Suites, Minda said.

A call requesting comment from Homestead Suites was not immediately returned.

Minda continued to encourage hotel officials to report any suspicious activity. “The East Rutherford Police Department continues to work diligently to work with all of its hotels to create a safe, family environment for all visitors to our area,” Minda concluded.