Trumbull County human trafficking probe leads to new indictments

 WARREN A Trumbull County grand jury has issued updated indictments against a dozen individuals, some as old as 75 years of age, and one business, along with a new indictment, as part of an ongoing human trafficking investigation. The grand jury returned the indictments on Wednesday.

The investigation, which began in March 2023, focuses on a human trafficking ring that allegedly operated at two Warren massage parlors, Tiger Spa and Sunny Spa. The new indictments include new charges for many of the original defendants and introduce new defendants.

A new name added to the list of those facing charges is 64-year-old Suk Starr of Fort Worth, Texas, charged with promoting prostitution, money laundering, and two counts of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity.

The following individuals and the business received superseding indictments, which add to or alter the charges they originally faced:

• Silver Mool LLC, doing business as Sunny Spa, now faces charges of promoting prostitution, possessing criminal tools, money laundering, and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity.
• Dong Melidon, 62, of Duluth, Georgia, now faces 10 counts of money laundering, five counts of promoting prostitution, and one count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity.
• Tae Suk Hwang, 62, of Saginaw, Michigan, faces a trafficking in persons charge, promoting prostitution, money laundering, and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity.
• Charles McGill, 69, of Warren, now faces charges of money laundering, promoting prostitution, obstructing justice, engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, and trafficking in persons.
• Miock Dong Schaffer, 56, of Norwalk, Ohio, faces money laundering, promoting prostitution, and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity charges.
• Sunny Oh, age and address unknown, now faces promoting prostitution, money laundering, and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity.
• Chang Hwang, 59, of Duluth, Georgia, faces promoting prostitution and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity.
• Youn Hee Yoon, 56, of Warren, now faces promoting prostitution, possessing criminal tools, money laundering, and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity charges.
• Suijin Yu, also known as Pepsi, age and address unknown: faces promoting prostitution and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity.
• Young Sug Kim, 61, of New Waterford, faces charges of identity fraud, engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, and trafficking in persons.
• Yeon Sue Crunn, also known as the Manager, age and address unknown, now faces charges of promoting prostitution, possessing criminal tools, and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity.
• Kum Cha Shugars, 75, of Dallas, faces promoting prostitution and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity.

According to the Trumbull County Prosecutor's Office, Kum Cha Shugars was not in court Thursday for a bond forfeiture hearing. Court officials stated Shugars was picked up on a warrant in Dallas, Texas, and is awaiting extradition to Ohio. Judge Ronald Rice stated that when she returns to Ohio, she will be held without bond pending the outcome of the case.

The new indictment, which is just over 100 pages, reveals new details about the investigation.

The indictment states that undercover agents went to Sunny Spa and Tiger Spa, and detailed multiple instances of undercover agents going into the spa and being offered sexual for money, but the agents would say they could not accept the offer due to a medical condition.

The suspects will be arraigned before a judge in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court.