A Massachusetts woman pleaded guilty in federal court on Friday for operating a high-end brothel network with wealthy and prominent clients in Massachusetts and the Washington, D.C., suburbs. Han Lee, along with two others, was indicted on charges of conspiracy to persuade individuals to engage in prostitution and money laundering. Han Lee initially pleaded not guilty but changed her plea in court. She faces up to 25 years in prison for the two felony charges and could be deported as she is not a U.S. citizen.
The commercial sex ring in Massachusetts and northern Virginia allegedly catered to politicians, company executives, military officers, lawyers, professors, and other well-connected clients. Prosecutors have not publicly named any of the buyers, and they have not been charged. However, Acting U.S. Attorney Josh Levy has stated that the authorities are committed to holding both the operators of the scheme and the buyers accountable. Some buyers have attempted to keep their names private by appealing to the highest court in Massachusetts.
Han Lee admitted in court, through a translator, that she had persuaded women to engage in interstate travel to take part in prostitution. The women who worked in the brothels were considered victims and were not identified or criminally charged. Prosecutors presented evidence including witness testimony from women who worked at the brothels, sex buyers, physical surveillance, and electronic evidence. Han Lee allegedly maintained the operation from 2020 to November 2023, with the money made at the brothels sometimes kept in the freezer.
The operators of the brothel network raked in hundreds of thousands of dollars through the scheme, where men paid from $350 to upwards of $600 per hour for services. Han Lee is accused of concealing over $1 million in proceeds by converting cash into money orders to make it appear legitimate. House rules were established for the women during their stays in various cities to protect the secrecy of the business. Authorities seized cash, ledgers detailing the activities of the brothels, and phones believed to be used to communicate with customers from their apartments.
The defendants maintained websites that falsely advertised nude models for professional photography, rented high-end apartments to use as brothels in multiple locations, and recruited women to work in the brothels. Han Lee paid one of her employees, Junmyung Lee, between $6,000 and $8,000 per month in cash to help vet sex buyers. The operation used a verification process for interested sex buyers and communicated with them through local brothel phone numbers to book appointments and provide information about available options and rates.
Han Lee is scheduled for sentencing on December 20th, and she remains in custody. Her lawyer declined to comment further on the case, and the lawyers for the other indicted individuals also refrained from providing statements. The case sheds light on the operation of high-end brothels that cater to wealthy and prominent clients, highlighting the efforts of prosecutors to hold not only the operators but also the buyers accountable for their involvement in illegal activities.
