Following a yearlong probe into suspected human trafficking operations hidden within the facade of massage parlors, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, together with Mahoning County Sheriff Jerry Greene, announced the indictment of three individuals thought to have managed the illicit establishments in Mahoning County. Yesterday, as the Ohio Attorney General's Office reported, a grand jury brought numerous felony charges against Aixin Cheng, Jinzhi Gong, and Man Ryung Yeo.
The indictment highlights serious offenses such as engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity and conspiracy. These charges, alongside accusations of money laundering, promoting prostitution, and possession of criminal tools, seek to hold accountable those who purportedly have been to operate discreetly, ultimately engaging in activities harmful to the fabric of the community. Not to be overlooked, the women also face solicitation charges, with further investigation by the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force linking them to massage parlors in Beaver and Springfield townships, where it's alleged that money was exchanged for sexual services.
Details released by law enforcement underscore the concerted efforts by multiple agencies, including the Austintown Police Department, Youngstown Police Department, Bureau of Criminal Investigation, and the Ohio Department of Public Safety, among others. The task force, created under the auspices of Yost's Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission and spearheaded by the Mahoning County Sheriff's Office, utilized several search warrants on the parlors and rented hotel rooms, leading to a paper trail of large cash flows through various bank accounts associated with the defendants.
Media inquiries can be directed to Steve Irwin, a spokesperson for the Ohio Attorney General's office, at 614-728-5417.
