Two Foley men are facing felony charges after a months-long undercover investigation into an alleged prostitution operation that stretched across Baldwin and Mobile counties, and the state is now moving to seize the car investigators say was used to carry it out.
Obeth Quaihua Acahua and Felix Albino Lopez-Acahua were arrested July 16 following what investigators described as a “buy-bust” operation in Baldwin County. Both men, both of Foley, face two counts each of promoting prostitution, according to court documents filed Monday in Baldwin County Circuit Court.
Investigators say the case began after officers received a tip about someone advertising prostitution services and offering to deliver women to a location of a customer’s choosing. Officers say they traced a phone number listed on a business card connected to the advertisements back to Acahua.
During surveillance conducted in May and June, officers say they observed both men driving women to residences and hotels across Baldwin and Mobile counties. Court documents allege that Lopez-Acahua was also seen handing out business cards at a hotel and a nearby gas station in Mobile County, and that a second phone number found on those cards was traced back to him as well.
Based on that evidence, investigators obtained a vehicle tracking warrant covering two cars registered to Acahua, allowing them to monitor the vehicles’ movements across multiple counties in the weeks that followed. On July 16, officers moved in and arrested both men. Court documents state that at the time of the operation, Acahua was driving a woman through Baldwin County toward Atmore.
Both men were read their Miranda rights and gave statements to investigators afterward. According to the court filing, Lopez-Acahua admitted his involvement in the operation, explained how clients were recruited, and described how the business cards used to advertise the services were made and distributed. Acahua also acknowledged his role in the operation, the documents state.
The State of Alabama is now seeking to forfeit a black 2015 Honda Civic that investigators say was used to transport women as part of the operation, arguing the vehicle was used in violation of state law. Both men were booked into the Baldwin County jail on July 17.
Promoting prostitution is a felony offense in Alabama, and cases involving the transport of individuals for commercial sex acts are often examined closely by investigators for potential ties to human trafficking. Baldwin County, with its mix of tourist destinations, hotels along the Highway 59 corridor, and proximity to Mobile, has seen law enforcement increasingly focus resources on this kind of coordinated, multi-county vice investigation in recent years.
The case remains pending in Baldwin County Circuit Court. Additional details, including scheduling for future court proceedings, had not been released as of this report.