4 of 8 women accused of running human trafficking ring arraigned in Trumbull County
Four of the eight women who were accused of running a human trafficking ring out of two massage salons in Warren, were in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court on Thursday morning, May 8 for arraignment before Judge Ronald J. Rice.
An 83-count indictment was presented in court by a special prosecutor.
The indictment maintains that the defendants operated the Tiger Spa and Sunny Spa, both on West Market Street in Warren, as illegal fronts for sex trafficking and money laundering.
The crime ring allegedly trapped Korean women at the establishments for three months at a time, forcing them to live on the premises 24/7 and perform sex acts for money.
The Tiger Spa is no longer in business.
The charges – all felonies – stem from an ongoing investigation by the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force, formed under the Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission, part of Ohio Attorney General David Yost’s office.
In March 2023, the task force and partnering agencies executed search warrants at the businesses as part of “Operation Saving Daylight,” a coordinated crackdown during which investigators seized large amounts of cash, financial assets and business records.
The following were arraigned:
Dong Meliodon, aka “Sara,” 62, of Duluth, Georgia, through her attorney David Betras, pleaded not guilty to one count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity (F1); 34 counts of money laundering (F3); and six counts of promoting prostitution (F4). Mellidon surrendered her passport and was booked into the county jail. She will remain in custody pending the posting of a $100,000 bond. The next pretrial is set for June 5;
Chang Mi Hwang, aka “Cherry,” 59, of Duluth, Georgia, pleaded not guilty to one count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity (F1) and three counts of promoting prostitution (F4). Hwang also surrended her passport and advised the judge she is a Korean citizen with a green card. The judge told her that the court will inform federal ICE authorities about the charges. She was also booked and taken into custody at the county jail, pending the posting of a $100,000 bond. The next pretrial is set for June 5;
Kum Cha Shugars, 76, of Dallas, Texas, pleaded not guilty to one count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity (F1) and one count of promoting prostitution (F4). Shugars also stated she has a valid green card, while her attorney Betras stated she has not left the United States since 1992. Bond was also set at $100,000 and the next pre-trial is June 5.
Young Hee Yoon, 56, of East Avenue, Warren, pleaded not guilty through an interpreter and her attorney, Gary Rich, to two counts of promoting prostitution (F4). Yoon, through the interpreter, told the judge that she does not have a work visa and the judge informed her that ICE will have to do an investigation. Bond was set at $50,000, but the judge told Yoon that she shall remain in the county jail until her passport is surrendered to the court. Her next pretrial is also set for June 5.
All defendants were told as conditions to their bond that they are forbidden to have any contact with any massage parlor or salon.