TRUMBULL COUNTY, Ohio — Eight people were accused in an 83-count indictment of running a human trafficking ring that forced women into prostitution at massage parlors in the Mahoning Valley. 

What You Need To Know

  • An 83-count indictment was filed against eight people in Trumbull County

  • The defendants operated the Tiger Spa and Sunny Spa, both on West Market Street in Warren

  • The defendants are all charged with felonies which stemmed from an ongoing investigation

  • Aattorney general Dave Yost's Special Prosecutions Section is prosecuting the case within Trumbull County Common Pleas Court

Attorney General Dave Yost and Mahoning County Sheriff Jerry Greene announced the indictment on Thursday, which says the defendants operated the Tiger Spa and Sunny Spa, both on West Market Street in Warren, for sex trafficking and money laundering. The defendants allegedly trapped Korean women at the establishments for three months at the time where they could not leave the premises and had to perform sex acts for money.

“There is no humanity, only depravity, in holding a person against their will to profit from their suffering,” Yost said in a news release. “Let these indictments be a warning to criminals, our task forces are relentless in pursuing prosecution of traffickers and freedom for survivors.”

The defendants are all charged with felonies which stemmed from an ongoing investigation by the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force. In March 2023, the task force partnered with other agencies to execute search warrants at the spas. investigators seized large amounts of cash, financial assets and business records during “Operation Saving Daylight."

(Attorney General Dave Yost)

The eight people facing charges are: 

  • Tae Suk Hwang, aka “Jeannie,” 62, of Saginaw, Michigan:
    • One count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity (F1)
    • One count of trafficking in persons – commercial sex acts (F1)
    • 58 counts of money laundering (F3)
    • 14 counts of promoting prostitution (F4)
  • Dong Meliodon, aka “Sara,” 62, of Duluth, Georgia:
    • One count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity (F1)
    • 34 counts of money laundering (F3)
    • Six counts of promoting prostitution (F4)
  • Suk Hui Starr, 64, of Fort Worth, Texas:
    • One count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity (F1)
    • 12 counts of money laundering (F3)
    • Two counts of promoting prostitution (F4)
  • Miock Dong Schaffer, aka “Cookie,” 56, of Norwalk, Ohio:
    • One count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity (F1)
    • Nine counts of money laundering (F3)
    • One count of promoting prostitution (F4)
  • Chang Mi Hwang, aka “Cherry,” 59, of Duluth, Georgia:
    • One count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity (F1)
    • Three counts of promoting prostitution (F4)
  • Young Hee Yoon, 56, of Warren, Ohio:
    • Two counts of promoting prostitution (F4)
  • Kum Cha Shugars, 75, of Dallas:
    • One count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity (F1)
    • One count of promoting prostitution (F4)
  • Young Sug Kim, aka “Young Crazy,” 61, of New Waterford, Ohio:
    • One count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity (F1)

The attorney general's Special Prosecutions Section is prosecuting the case within Trumbull County Common Pleas Court. More than two dozen of the charges include specifications for forfeiture of assets.

While the Tiger Spa is no longer in operation, another search warrant was executed at the Sunny Spa. As the investigation is ongoing, no other details from the latest search are available.

To report suspected human trafficking in Ohio, officials can be reached by calling (844) END-OHHT, texting “ENDOHHT” to 847411 or through the END OHHT app on Apple or Android devices. Information can also be submitted online at gov/ENDOHHT.