WARREN– Eight people have been indicted on 83 felony charges related to a human trafficking ring that allegedly forced women into prostitution at illicit massage parlors in northeast Ohio, authorities announced Thursday.

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and Mahoning County Sheriff Jerry Greene said the defendants operated Tiger Spa and Sunny Spa on West Market Street in Warren as fronts for sex trafficking and money laundering. The indictment alleges Korean women were held at the businesses for months at a time, forced to live on-site and perform sex acts for profit. Tiger Spa has since closed.

“There is no humanity — only depravity — in holding a person against their will to profit from their suffering,” Yost said in a statement. “These indictments send a warning: Our task forces will relentlessly pursue traffickers and fight for survivors.”

The charges stem from a multi-year investigation by the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force, part of the Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission. In March 2023, authorities executed search warrants as part of “Operation Saving Daylight,” seizing cash, financial records, and other evidence.

The defendants, with alleged ties to Michigan, Georgia, Texas and Ohio, face charges including engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, trafficking in persons, money laundering and promoting prostitution. More than two dozen counts include asset forfeiture provisions.

Among those charged are Tae Suk Hwang, 62, of Michigan facing 74 total counts, including trafficking and money laundering; Dong Meliodon, 62, of Georgia with 41 counts, including money laundering and Suk Hui Starr, 64, of Texas has 15 counts tied to the alleged scheme; Miock Dong Schaffer, 56, also known as “Cookie,” of Norwalk, charged with one count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, nine counts of money laundering, and one count of count of promoting prostitution.

Chang Mi Hwang, 59, also known as “Cherry,” of Duluth, Georgia, is charged with one count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, three counts of promoting prostitution; Young Hee Yoon, 56, of Warren, Ohio, faces two counts of promoting prostitution; Kum Cha Shugars, 75, of Dallas, Texas, is charged with one count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity and one count of promoting prostitution

Young Sug Kim, 61, also known as “Young Crazy,” of New Waterford, Ohio, has one count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity.

Prosecutors say the crimes spanned more than five years.

The case is being handled by Yost’s Special Prosecutions Section in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court.

Investigators executed another search warrant Thursday at Sunny Spa, though details were not immediately released. The task force includes local, state, and federal agencies.

To report suspected human trafficking in Ohio, contact 844-END-OHHT or visit gov/ENDOHHT.