Attorney General indicts Big Island woman on labor trafficking charges

A woman from Hawai‘i Island was arrested Tuesday on offenses involving labor trafficking of minors.

Ludin Yorleny Pena Miranda, 26, was indicted in the 3rd Circuit Court in Kona on Aug. 27 by the Attorney General’s Special Investigation and Prosecution Division on nine counts of first-degree labor trafficking, a class A felony. Ludin is scheduled to appear for an arraignment and plea on Thursday.

The offenses occurred in 2023 and 2024. According to the indictment, Miranda obtained labor from at least two individuals by making false statements. In one instance, the court document indicates the 26-year-old withheld government-issued identification documents to keep the reported victim from moving.

The indictment also indicates Miranda caused bodily injury and threatened bodily injury against two different individuals.

The Attorney General’s Special Investigation and Prosecution Division conducted the investigation in concert with the U.S. Department of Labor Office of the Inspector General and Wage and Hour Division, U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, and the Hawai‘i County Police Department.

“Labor trafficking targets the most vulnerable people within our communities, including minors,” said Attorney General Anne Lopez. “My office stands ready to work with our federal, state and county partners to investigate and prosecute human trafficking in any form.”

If convicted, Miranda is facing 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $50,000 for each charge.

“An important part of the mission of the Office of Inspector General is to investigate allegations of labor trafficking,” said Quentin Heiden, Special Agent-in-Charge, Western Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General. “This collaborative investigative effort with our local, state and federal partners affirms our commitment to investigate these types of allegations.”

Homeland Security Investigations Acting Special Agent in Charge Christian Ammons said the arrest of Miranda shows how federal, state and local agencies work together to fight human trafficking and protect vulnerable people.

“Homeland Security Investigations is committed to bringing justice to those who exploit our communities, especially when minors are involved,” Ammons said.

The public can report human trafficking to the Department of the Attorney General’s Special Investigation and Prosecution Division using the Submit a Tip to SIPD website at https://ag.hawaii.gov/sipd/tips/.