*** MEDIA ADVISORY *** December 9, 2004                                                        FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MEDIA CONTACT:  Curtis Hill 296-1888                                         Bill Wargo 296-1888 Prostitution Sting- Operation “Ho Ho Ho”              Organized prostitution activities in Elkhart County have been investigated periodically since 1996. At various times, search warrants and criminal arrests have resulted in the termination of operations at local businesses that advertise as “Massage Parlors”, but were in fact fronts for prostitution. In October of 2003 this office again served search warrants at two locations. The Natural Image Health Spa on County Road 6 and the Simonton Lake Massage Parlor on Cassopolis St were both investigated and found to be providing various sex services for pay. As part of the investigation it was determined that Korean nationals are heavily influencing most of this activity. Organized criminal enterprises across the United States, directed by Koreans and United States citizens, account for the majority of the illegal activity associated with unlicensed and unregulated “massage parlor” activities. Through investigation it has been determined that Korean females have been brought into the United States and are moved around the United States for the purposes of prostitution. Based on research these women are basically enslaved into this activity. In October of 2003 these locations shut down for a period of time. Within weeks new Korean females were brought into the Natural Image and Utopia. Both continued to advertise in local newspapers as Massage Parlors and “Body Wrap” operations. Investigator David Gizzi of the Elkhart County Prosecuting Attorney's Office was assigned to coordinate investigative efforts into determining the extent of the illegal activity.Over the past several months our investigation has verified that various sex acts were being purchased at these same locations. The assistance of the Indiana State Police was requested and that agency as well as the Elkhart County Prosecuting Attorney's Office and the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Unit developed information which lead to the execution of three search warrants. On Thursday, December 9th, 2004 Elkhart County Prosecuting Attorney's Office Investigators, 25 Indiana State Police uniformed and detective personnel, officers of the OCDEU, a Special Agent with the Indiana Department of Revenue and an Elkhart County Code Enforcement officer served search warrants at three locations; 1)Natural Image Spa, 26084 CR 6, Suite #4, Elkhart       2) The Utopia, 51533 SR 19 North, Elkhart       3) 52621 Juniper Road, South Bend            Information indicated that records associated with the operation of these businesses may be located at the Juniper Road location.       Two persons were arrested:1.      Nam Sun Kim, age 42-Kim reported that she was living at the Natural Image Spa on CR 6. She was arrested for Prostitution, a Class A Misdemeanor; she was arrested at the CR 6 location.2.      Sang P. Wiggins, age 48, 52621 Juniper Rd., South Bend-she was arrested on a warrant for Promoting Prostitution and Two Counts of Corrupt Business Influence. All three of these charges are Class C Felonies. Her bond on those charges is $5,000. She was also arrested for Prostitution, a Class A Misdemeanor. She was arrested at the SR 19 location.Both women were booked into the Elkhart County Jail. Five other Korean females were interviewed and released. Translators were provided by the Cass County Sheriff’s Department. In addition to the arrests officers seized approximately $25,000 in cash, numerous banking and financial records as well as other evidence of prostitution. Officers also seized the furniture and massage tables as well as other furniture items. Officers also found 100’s of condoms, both new and used. County Code Enforcement Officer Larry Harrell assisted and found numerous County Code Violations. Many of the violations were found due to the fact that the women working in these locations were living at the massage parlors. The Elkhart County Prosecuting Attorney's Office has requested that the Indiana Department of Revenue examine the financial records and forward reports to this office for possible additional charges.  Â“Prostitution cases are difficult investigations to undertake. These types of “consensual criminal acts” are considered by some to be “victimless crimes”. Across the country various law enforcement agencies have undertaken these investigations because the acts are illegal and the use of these Korean women is considered by some to be a form of slavery”, said Elkhart County Prosecutor Curtis T. Hill Jr. “The local property owners are going to be held accountable and cannot pretend that they do not know what is going on at their properties. “Our goal is to close these businesses once and for all”. Prosecutor Curtis T. Hill Jr. went on to say that “This is a community for families and prostitution is a business that we will not tolerate”.