A Massachusetts woman has pleaded guilty to running a high-end brothel network that catered to prominent clients across the state and Washington, D.C. suburbs. Han Lee, 42, admitted to her involvement in the operation, which spanned from 2020 to November 2023, during a federal court appearance on September 27.
Lee, along with two co-defendants, James Lee and Junmyung Lee, was initially charged with conspiracy to persuade individuals to travel across state lines for prostitution and money laundering. While initially maintaining her innocence, Lee ultimately changed her plea to guilty during Friday’s court proceedings. She remains in custody and faces a potential sentence of up to 25 years in prison for the two felony charges.
Prosecutors allege that the brothel ring targeted well-connected clients, including politicians, company executives, military officers, lawyers, and professors. While the identities of these buyers haven’t been publicly revealed, some have sought to keep their involvement confidential. Acting Massachusetts US Attorney Josh Levy has emphasized the prosecution’s commitment to holding both those involved in running the operation and those who fueled the demand accountable.
The brothels operated from rented high-end apartments in Massachusetts and Virginia, including locations in Watertown and Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Tysons and Fairfax, Virginia. The operation cleverly disguised its nature by advertising on websites posing as nude photography services. Clients were charged between $350 and $600 per hour for sexual services.
Authorities claim that Lee concealed over $1 million in proceeds from the operation. She allegedly converted cash into money orders and employed various other methods to disguise the origin of the income. Lee also played a role in recruiting women to work in the brothels, paying Junmyung Lee up to $8,000 a month to handle bookings and transport women to the brothels.
While Lee maintained that she didn’t control the women, she admitted to persuading them to travel across state lines for prostitution. Prosecutors have clarified that the women involved were not criminally charged and are considered victims in this case.
The investigation relied on a combination of evidence including witness testimony, physical surveillance, electronic communications, and financial records seized from the brothel locations. Court documents reveal that the defendants implemented house rules to ensure the women maintained a low profile within the buildings where the brothels operated.
To ensure client verification, the brothel operation implemented a rigorous process for booking appointments. Clients were required to provide personal information, including full names, phone numbers, employers, and references. The defendants also employed separate phone numbers for each brothel, used to send clients menus of available women and services along with directions to the locations, investigators said.
Han Lee’s sentencing is scheduled for December 20. The outcome of this case highlights the complexities of human trafficking and the significant impact it has on individuals and communities. It also underscores the importance of holding those involved in such illicit activities accountable for their actions.
