Authorities in Las Vegas have uncovered a criminal organization involved in human trafficking and money laundering, which included a South Korean national among the suspects.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced that through a joint investigation, they arrested four individuals connected to the operation, which allegedly conducted illegal business activities involving human trafficking and financial crimes.
According to police, Jisup Hwang (27) of South Korea, and three Chinese nationals—Hua Xiao (35), Cheng Cheng Li (41), and Jianming Li (53)—were charged with serious offenses, including human trafficking, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and operating an illegal business.
The investigation revealed that the suspects used several massage parlors in the Central Valley area of Las Vegas as hubs for prostitution and money laundering.
The businesses identified include Midnight Rose Spa, Young Spa, and Jones Station Karaoke and Bar. The LVMPD said these establishments operated under the guise of legitimate massage services while in fact arranging illegal sex work and laundering the resulting profits.
Authorities believe the case is connected to a larger organized human trafficking network and are continuing to trace additional suspects and financial flows.
BY YEONGCHAE SONG [song.yeongchae@koreadaily.com]
