WARREN — Trumbull County Common Pleas Court Judge Ronald Rice sentenced six defendants in the human trafficking investigation of the former Tiger Spa and Sunny Spa, both on West Market Street in Warren, to three years of probation and fines totaling $166,000.

He also made each of the five defendants aware that they could spend years in prison if they fail to pay the fines or if they otherwise fail to obey the terms of their probation.

The Ohio Attorney General’s Office, which prosecuted the cases, stated in a news release in February that at least $676,500 of funds seized during the investigation will be forfeited to the state as part of plea agreements made with about 10 codefendants.

The defendants “operated a human trafficking ring that forced women into prostitution” at the two businesses, the release stated. The Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force, which is led by the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office, carried out the investigation with other area law enforcement agencies.

Though most of the charges filed in this investigation relate to the management and operation of the illicit massage parlors, Assistant Ohio Attorney General Dan Kasaris identified two of the defendants who were sentenced Tuesday as “workers,” meaning “survivors” at least part of the time they were involved with the businesses.

One of the defendants was Charles McGill, 69, of East Avenue in Warren, who pleaded guilty earlier to attempted compelling prostitution, two counts of attempted money laundering, three counts of promoting prostitution and two counts of obstruction of justice.

Kasaris said at McGill’s plea hearing that McGill transported women to and from the Sunny Spa and bought food and other supplies to feed the women who were living at the spa and performing sex acts.

McGill’s attorney, Gary Rich, referred to McGill as a “gopher,” but Rice interjected that he was a “gopher in an extensive criminal enterprise.”

Rice asked McGill to “tell me what you did as to why you are looking at prison for many, many years.” It appeared that McGill was looking at the possibility of about nine years in prison if he violated the terms of his probation.

McGill said, “I went to the grocery store and the airport, picked people up now and then.”

Rice responded, “You’re going to stand there (and tell) me you didn’t know” what type of business he was involved with?

“I know it, but if you don’t see nothing, you don’t know nothing,” McGill said.

Rice asked if McGill knew the businesses were dealing in prostitution, and McGill agreed that he did.

As with other defendants, Rice ordered McGill to get an alcohol and/or drug assessment and follow the recommendations of the assessment, get verifiable employment, have no contact with any of his co-defendants, obtain mental health or anger management counseling if ordered and abide by a curfew.

Another defendant was Young Hee Yoon, 58, of Warren, who pleaded guilty to four counts of promoting prostitution, one count of possessing criminal tools and four counts of attempted money laundering. Kasaris said she was an owner and manager of the Sunny Spa, “where prostitution occurred.”

It appeared that she could spend up to about 12 years in prison if she fails to abide by the terms of her probation, such as paying her fines. Like the others, she and the judge agreed on a monthly amount of money that she would pay toward her fines. In her case, she said she could pay $2,000 per month until her fine of $27,500 is paid.

During the sentencing of Sunny Oh, 68, of Palisades Park, N.J., Rice ordered a fine of $27,500. She pleaded guilty previously to five counts of possessing criminal tools, one count money laundering and one count attempted obstructing justice.

Kasaris said at Oh’s plea hearing that she “owned” the Sunny Spa, 2819 W. Market St., “where prostitution, money laundering and other similar offenses occurred.” Rice ordered her to pay a $27,500 fine. She agreed to pay $3,000 per month.

Rice asked Oh if she had anything to say and she declined. But he asked, “You knew you were operating a house of prostitution, did you not?” She eventually agreed that she did.

Rice said, “This court has struggled with what would be the appropriate punishment. Prison just puts a burden on the state and all of us taxpayers to feed and house you.”

He decided it would be “more appropriate to give a maximum fine,” saying, “Hopefully that sends you a message and anyone else you are in business with to stay out of Trumbull County.”

Her attorney, Sam Amendolara, said Oh has had “many legitimate business ventures,” including a restaurant, a physical therapy and acupuncture business and a chiropractic business.

The others who were sentenced Tuesday were:

• Tae Suk Hwang, 63, of Saginaw, Michigan, who was fined $31,000 after being convicted of three counts attempted promoting prostitution, one count engaging in prostitution, three counts possessing criminal tools, one count attempted money laundering and one count obstructing justice.

• Miock Dong Schaffer, 59, of Norwalk, was given three years’ probation and fined $17,500 after pleading guilty to promoting prostitution, attempted money laundering and three counts of possessing criminal tools. Kasaris said Schaffer was one of the spa workers and cooperated with the investigation.

• Young Sug Kim, 63, of New Waterford, was given three years’ probation and fined $17,500 on convictions of possessing criminal tools and two counts obstructing justice. Kim also was a spa worker who cooperated with the investigation, Kasaris said.

Sentencing hearings for Dong Meliodon, 63, and Chang Hwang, 60, both of Duluth, Georgia, were postponed until April 9 because their flights to the Mahoning Valley were postponed.