Woman charged with running brothels in Irvine

Authorities this week charged a Los Angeles woman with pimping five women in multiple Irvine brothels.

In July, Irvine police began investigating a home in Irvine that allegedly was being used for prostitution, according to the Orange County district attorney’s office.

During the next few months, investigators connected the location to Goan Suk Ko, 44, who is suspected of running at least two other brothels in Irvine in September and October, authorities said.

Ko pleaded not guilty Monday to five felony counts each of pandering and pimping. She is being held with bail set at $250,000.

If convicted, Ko could face up to 10 years and four months in state prison.

Hers is the fourth arrest in less than two months connected to alleged brothels in Irvine.

In August, police arrested three people suspected of running a prostitution operation out of apartments in Irvine and Los Angeles.

Miyon Kim, 36, Jin Woo Park, 41, and Heung Soon Kim, 56, pleaded not guilty to dozens of felony charges, including pimping and human trafficking.

— Jeremiah Dobruck

Twitter: @jeremiahdobruck