Massive Sex Trafficking Ring: Chicago-Area Arrests In Thai Prostitution Network

Nearly two dozen people from Chicago and the western suburbs were indicted in a nationwide sex trafficking ring involving women from Thailand. The alleged suspects include Mohit Tandon, 37, of Burr Ridge, along with many Chicago residents and a man from DeKalb. .

The Cook County Sheriff’s Office began investigating the reported prostitution ring in 2015. As the case unfolded, HSI Chicago’s Human Trafficking Unit got involved to help reveal that the sex trafficking organization was scattered throughout different agencies in 11 different states. The widespread sex ring had been running since 2009, police said.

Hundreds of women were allegedly trafficked from Thailand to cities throughout the United States and held on “bondage debt” of more than $60,000 as they were subjected to daily prostitution. The organization reportedly laundered millions of dollars by forcing the women into prostitution, according to a release from the Cook County Sheriff’s Office.

Watch: Feds Indict 21 In Sex Trafficking Case

On Wednesday, Cook County Sheriff’s Police Special Operations arrested six people who were allegedly involved with the Thai sex trafficking scheme. The following individuals were taken into federal custody, police said:

Wilaiwan Phimkalee, 38, female, of Chicago, who allegedly served as a sex trafficker and house boss
Kanyarat Chaiwirat, 50, female of Chicago, who allegedly served as a house boss
Thoucharin Ruttanamongkongul, 34, of Chicago, who allegedly served as a house boss
Matthew Mintz, 25, of Chicago, who allegedly served as a facilitator
Mohit Tandon, 37, of Burr Ridge, who allegedly served as a facilitator
Richard Alexander, 52, of DeKalb, who allegedly served as a facilitator

Each person was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, one count of conspiracy to commit transportation to engage in prostitution, one count of conspiracy to engage in money laundering and one count of conspiracy to use a communications facility to promote prostitution.

The takedown of this massive sex trafficking operation led to the arrest of a total of 20 persons throughout the U.S., with one suspect still at large at press time.

The Cook County Sheriff's Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Sheriff Tom Dart reminds the public that the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty by the government in a court of law.

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