George L. Dunn, left, and Rashawn B. Davis are facing human trafficking charges. (Submitted photos/State Police)

SUSSEX COUNTY — An eight-month investigation into alleged human trafficking ended with two arrests, the Delaware State Police said Monday.

State Police, the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Ocean City Police Department all contributed to the investigation, bringing the arrests of Rashawn B. Davis, 24, of Millsboro, and George L. Dunn, 24, of Georgetown, police said.

According to authorities, beginning in December 2015, investigators obtained information that Mr. Davis was allegedly running a prostitution ring out of numerous motels. Troopers then launched an investigation into the illegal activities report and known associates of Mr. Davis. Over the course of several months persons connected with Mr. Davis were contacted several times at local motel rooms in eastern Sussex County, police said.

In April 2016, State Police and agents from the Homeland Security Investigations with the help of the Ocean City Police led an investigation into the activities of Mr. Davis, spokesman Sgt. Richard Bratz said. During this month investigators discovered Mr. Davis had allegedly recruited, Mr. Dunn and showed him how to operate another prostitution ring, police said.

Over the course of the investigation detectives were able to identify more than eight females that were current or former alleged victims of Mr. Davis and Mr. Dunn, police said. The investigation also revealed that Mr. Davis and Mr. Dunn were business associates who operated jointly and independently, authorities said.

Through interviews detectives learned that Mr. Davis had allegedly been operating prostitution rings out of local motels since the fall of 2015, police said. Mr. Dunn and Mr. Davis allegedly used coercion, verbal abuse and the withholding of heroin to control the behavior of the victims, authorities said.

Mr. Dunn and Mr. Davis allegedly posted advertisements utilizing the website www.backpage.com, police said. Mr. Dunn and Mr. Davis negotiated with potential clients and set all prices, police said. All proceeds from prostitution activities went back to Mr. Dunn and Mr. Davis, police alleged.

The female victims involved were only provided with minimal amounts of heroin, and basic items like fast food and clothing, according to police.

As the result of the investigation Mr. was also charged with an unrelated home invasion on Jan. 4, 2016 in the unit block of Carriage Lane in Rehoboth Beach, police said. During this incident two masked suspects armed with a handgun had allegedly forced their way into a residence, and forcibly removed items from a 42-year-old male victim, police said.

On Aug. 12, Mr. Dunn turned himself in to troopers and was charged with three counts of human trafficking-sexual servitude and a count of second-degree conspiracy. He was arraigned by JP Court 2 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution in default of $10,000 secured bond.

On Aug. 18, Mr. Davis was arrested without incident and charged with two counts each of human trafficking-sexual servitude and second-degree conspiracy and one count each of first-degree robbery, home invasion and wearing a disguise during the commission of a felony. He was arraigned by JP Court 2 and committed to SCI default of $147,000 secured bond.

Police said additional human trafficking charges against Mr. Davis will be added by indictment.