Local woman sentenced in sex ring case

NORWALK — A local resident is among one of six people sentenced on Tuesday after previously pleading guilty to multiple felonies for their role in a Mahoning Valley human trafficking sex ring. Trumbull County Common Pleas Court Judge Ronald Rice sentenced Miock Dong Schaffer, also known as "Cookie," 57, of Norwalk, on three counts of money laundering, each a fifth-degree felony; one count of promoting prostitution and one count of attempted money laundering, both fourth-degree felonies, according to a release from Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost's office. In February, the five other defendants, including Schaffer, entered pleas of guilty to multiple felony charges. Rice imposed suspended prison sentences and fines on the defendants: • Schaffer received a suspended prison sentence of six years and a $17,500 fine. • Tae Suk Hwang, also known as "Jeannie," 63, of Saginaw, Michigan, received a suspended prison sentence of over five-and-a-half years and a $31,000 fine. • Young Sug Kim, also known as "Young Crazy," 62, of New Waterford, Ohio, received a suspended prison sentence of five-and-a-half years and a $17,500 fine. Kim also faces deportation. • Charles McGill, 69, of Warren, Ohio, received a suspended prison sentence of over 10-and-a-half years and a $35,000 fine. • Sunny Oh, 68, of Palisades Park, New Jersey, received a suspended prison sentence of seven years and a $27,500 fine. • Young Hee Yoon, 57, of Warren, Ohio, received a suspended prison sentence of 12 years in prison and a $37,500 fine. Yoon also faces deportation. Those defendants must also forfeit more than $332,000 in seized funds as a part of plea agreements, the release states. Two additional defendants, Dong Melidong and Chang Hwang, are scheduled to be sentenced on April 9. The release did not list their ages or cities of residence. Background State investigators said the group operated a human trafficking ring that forced women into prostitution at two illicit massage parlors in Warren: the Tiger Spa and Sunny Spa, the release states. Their indictments allege that the defendants confined women at these establishments and forced them to live on the premises and perform sex acts for money, the release states. In March 2023, the Mahoning County Sheriff's Office and the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force, along with other partnering agencies, executed search warrants as part of what's known as Operation Saving Daylight, during which investigators seized large amounts of cash, business records and financial assets.