Human trafficking probed

CELINA - The owners of China Wok Buffet located at 1401 E. Market St. face felony charges of tampering with records after an investigation into suspected human trafficking that began in Vandalia.

Kang Yong Chen, 46, and Mei Yu Zheng, 45, are being held in the Mercer County Adult Detention Facility on third-degree felony tampering with records charges and are awaiting their initial court appearance on Wednesday.

According to a complaint filed in Celina Municipal Court, agents of the Ohio Investigative Unit had been actively investigating Chen and Zheng since June 21, 2017 on allegations including ties to human trafficking and tampering with records. The investigation included "numerous days of surveillance" at their business and two residences linked to the couple. Documents were also collected through subpoenas, according to the complaint.

On approximately June 1, 2017, a Vandalia Police detective tipped off the unit about a possible human-trafficking operation, according to the complaint. The detective had observed groups of people "of Asian and/or Middle Eastern descent" being dropped off at a business in Vandalia, which reportedly had been happening for several years.

According to the complaint, the subjects were being picked up by vehicles with license plates from various parts of Ohio as well as out of state. The individuals reportedly were frequently not dressed for the weather and had very little baggage with them.

During the Vandalia surveillance, an unknown female reportedly exited a white bus registered in another state. Investigators said she was eventually picked up by another female, later identified as Sharon Chen, who was listed in the complaint as the daughter of Kang Yong Chen and Mei Yu Zheng.

Sharon Chen allegedly transported the unknown female to 220 Parkview Drive in Celina before proceeding to a house at 1528 Mary Lane, Celina, a residence owned by Kang Yong Chen, according to the complaint.

China Wok's 2017 tax reports were reviewed by the OIU and reportedly listed eight employees, three of whom were Kang Yong Chen, Mei Yu Zheng and Sharon Chen. OIU agent Josh Bowers alleged that tax records included fewer China Wok Buffet employees than he had observed during his surveillance.

On different days of surveillance, Bowers reportedly had observed seven unknown employees in addition to the owners.

According to a 2018 quarterly tax report, four of the eight individuals listed as employees included Kang Yong Chen, Mei Yu Zheng, Sharon Chen and the couple's juvenile son. The complaint claims that surveillance "revealed that six additional workers were employed at the restaurant."

A review of the business bank records also allegedly shows that only Kang Yong Chen and Zheng were receiving checks that could be considered payroll, and four of the other individuals listed as employees had addresses outside the state of Ohio, according to the complaint.

Details about the employees were not available at press time today.

The restaurant was closed last evening, and no one could be reached at the restaurant this morning.