JOHN AND MARIA INVESTIGATORS SAY ONE OF THOSE BROTHELS WAS OPERATING IN THIS COMPLEX AND NEIGHBORS TELL US THEY HAD NO IDEA THE DOORS OPENING. IT’S A QUICK ELEVATOR RIDE UP THE SECOND FLOOR. AN INVESTIGATOR SAY MEN LOOKING FOR SEX TOOK THE TRIP OVER AND OVER TO APARTMENT 221. IT’S HONESTLY DISGUSTING AND DISHEARTENING. NEIGHBORS ON THE SECOND FLOOR SAY THEY HAD NO IDEA THAT WOMEN WERE ALLEGEDLY BEING EXPLOITED BEHIND THIS DOOR. I COULD HAVE WALKED BY SOMEBODY WHO WAS PART OF THIS AND THEN I WOULD HAVE NEVER KNOWN. THE APARTMENTS, ONE OF A NUMBER OF BROTHELS. INVESTIGATORS SAY WERE OPERATING OUT OF HIGH END BUILDINGS WITH RENTS EXCEEDING $3,000 IN WATERTOWN AND CAMBRIDGE. JUST SHOCKED. I GUESS. SURPRISED SERVICES WERE ALLEGEDLY ADVERTISED ON THE DARK WEB AND INVESTIGATORS SAY ONCE CUSTOMERS WERE VERIFIED, THEY’D GET A MENU OF SEX OPTIONS WITH SOME PRICES OVER $600 AN HOUR. THEY ARE DOCTORS. THEY ARE LAWYERS. THEY’RE ACCOUNTANTS. THEY’RE ELECTED OFFICIALS. THEY ARE EXECUTIVES AT HIGH TECH COMPANIES AND PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES. BUYING SEX IS NOT VICTIMLESS. LAUREN HIRSCH WORKS TO COMBAT HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND SEXUAL EXPLOITATION. SHE SAYS THE ARRESTS SEND A STRONG MESSAGE. HAN LEE JONG YOUNG LEE AND JAMES LEE ARE NOW FACING CHARGES IN A SWEEPING INVESTIGATION. THAT PROSECUTOR SAY COULD EXPAND THESE MEN WHO ARE PURCHASING SEX ARE WEALTHY, THEY’RE WELL, WELL-CONNECTED. WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE’S ACCOUNTABILITY. NOW, PROSECUTORS SAY THAT THE SUSPECTS WERE ALSO OPERATING BROTHELS OUT OF THESE BUILDINGS IN VIRGINIA, JUST OUTSIDE OF WASHINGTON, DC. THEY HAVE NOT IDENTIFIED THE MEN WHO WERE PAYING FOR SEX. AS THE INVESTIGATI
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Politicians, executives, military officers paid for membership in 'high-end brothel,' feds say
Case resulted from 'multiyear investigation'
Three people were arrested Wednesday in connection with a "sophisticated high-end brothel network" that allegedly catered to an elite clientele in Greater Boston and Eastern Virginia, including politicians, corporate executives, doctors, military officers, lawyers, professors and scientists. Acting United States Attorney Joshua Levy said the brothel ring facilitated the movement of predominantly Asian women across the United States."This commercial sex ring was built on secrecy and exclusivity, catering to a wealthy and well-connected clientele," Levy said. "Business was booming, until today."Those clients submitted personal information to identify themselves and often paid a monthly fee to participate in the club, which allegedly charged rates of $350 to $600 or more per hour for prostitution services, Levy said. "Once the buyers were verified, they were texted and then allowed to place orders with commercial sex workers. They would choose the duration of the encounter they wanted, the types of services they wanted, and they also would receive a menu of different options and different women they could purchase," Levy said. According to the criminal complaint, which was unsealed Wednesday morning, the defendants in the case are identified as Han Lee, 41, of Cambridge; Junmyung Lee, 30, of Dedham; and James Lee, 68, of California. Video below: "Business was booming, until today."The document describes a "multiyear investigation" that discovered the group was selling sex through at least two websites under the guise of professional nude photo shoots and established brothel facilities. The investigation included interviews with approximately 20 customers who told investigators about their experiences."The customers provided a cash payment (in an amount confirmed in an earlier text message with the brothel phone, usually based on the duration and type of service) to the Asian female in the apartment. The customers removed their shoes and were escorted by the Asian female to the bedroom, where the customers undressed and were accompanied into an attached bathroom. There, they were offered to use mouthwash; they were offered a shower with or without the Asian female; and they then returned to the bedroom," the complaint states. The websites used by the group have since been seized by federal agencies. Customers involved in the case are not identified in the complaint, which explains that their identities were withheld because of the ongoing investigation into their involvement. "These customers spanned a wide array of different professional disciplines. Some of these professional disciplines included, but are not limited to, politicians, pharmaceutical executives, doctors, military officers, government contractors that possess security clearances, professors, lawyers, business executives, technology company executives, scientists, accountants, retail employees, and students," the affidavit states. Additionally, the Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent who authored the complaint said he believes that "hundreds" of other customers may remain to be identifiedAccording to the complaint, the group used apartments in Cambridge, Dedham and Watertown, Massachusetts, as well as Fairfax and Tysons Corner, Virginia. List of apartment buildings and complexes associated with the case:Han Lee's residence, 80 Cambridgepark Drive, Unit 638, Cambridge, MassachusettsJunmyung Lee's residence, 71 Legacy Boulevard, Unit 207, Dedham, MassachusettsJames Lee's residence, 1031 Park Circle Drive, Torrance, California90 Fawcett Street, Units 109, 435 and 530, Cambridge, Massachusetts 66 Bond Street, Unit 221, Watertown, Massachusetts 2985 District Avenue, Unit 245, Fairfax, Virginia 1500 Westbranch Drive, Unit 649, Tysons Corner, Virginia Han Lee was born in Korea and came to the United States in 2014, the complaint said. She applied for permanent residency in 2019, when she reported marrying a U.S. citizen. Investigators said they observed her visiting brothel locations, making deliveries of women and supplies, and exchanging cash for money orders.According to the document, Junmyung Lee was born in Korea and came to Boston in 2018 to attend the Computer Systems Institute. He began working with Han Lee in at least 2022, and investigators said he signed one lease in his name and was observed helping sex workers with their luggage and groceries. He is also believed to be the one depositing brothel proceeds into bank accounts. James Lee also signed leases in Cambridge and Watertown, as well as one in Virginia for the organization. According to the complaint, he was paid approximately $1,000 per month per apartment for his leases. Following a hearing on Wednesday afternoon, Han Lee and Junmyung Lee are both being held pending another hearing next week. Prosecutors argued they were a flight risk. Previous coverage on human trafficking:
Three people were arrested Wednesday in connection with a "sophisticated high-end brothel network" that allegedly catered to an elite clientele in Greater Boston and Eastern Virginia, including politicians, corporate executives, doctors, military officers, lawyers, professors and scientists.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua Levy said the brothel ring facilitated the movement of predominantly Asian women across the United States.
"This commercial sex ring was built on secrecy and exclusivity, catering to a wealthy and well-connected clientele," Levy said. "Business was booming, until today."
Those clients submitted personal information to identify themselves and often paid a monthly fee to participate in the club, which allegedly charged rates of $350 to $600 or more per hour for prostitution services, Levy said.
"Once the buyers were verified, they were texted and then allowed to place orders with commercial sex workers. They would choose the duration of the encounter they wanted, the types of services they wanted, and they also would receive a menu of different options and different women they could purchase," Levy said.
According to the criminal complaint, which was unsealed Wednesday morning, the defendants in the case are identified as Han Lee, 41, of Cambridge; Junmyung Lee, 30, of Dedham; and James Lee, 68, of California.
Video below: "Business was booming, until today."
The document describes a "multiyear investigation" that discovered the group was selling sex through at least two websites under the guise of professional nude photo shoots and established brothel facilities. The investigation included interviews with approximately 20 customers who told investigators about their experiences.
"The customers provided a cash payment (in an amount confirmed in an earlier text message with the brothel phone, usually based on the duration and type of service) to the Asian female in the apartment. The customers removed their shoes and were escorted by the Asian female to the bedroom, where the customers undressed and were accompanied into an attached bathroom. There, they were offered to use mouthwash; they were offered a shower with or without the Asian female; and they then returned to the bedroom," the complaint states.
The websites used by the group have since been seized by federal agencies.
Customers involved in the case are not identified in the complaint, which explains that their identities were withheld because of the ongoing investigation into their involvement.
"These customers spanned a wide array of different professional disciplines. Some of these professional disciplines included, but are not limited to, politicians, pharmaceutical executives, doctors, military officers, government contractors that possess security clearances, professors, lawyers, business executives, technology company executives, scientists, accountants, retail employees, and students," the affidavit states.
Additionally, the Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent who authored the complaint said he believes that "hundreds" of other customers may remain to be identified
According to the complaint, the group used apartments in Cambridge, Dedham and Watertown, Massachusetts, as well as Fairfax and Tysons Corner, Virginia.
List of apartment buildings and complexes associated with the case:
- Han Lee's residence, 80 Cambridgepark Drive, Unit 638, Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Junmyung Lee's residence, 71 Legacy Boulevard, Unit 207, Dedham, Massachusetts
- James Lee's residence, 1031 Park Circle Drive, Torrance, California
- 90 Fawcett Street, Units 109, 435 and 530, Cambridge, Massachusetts
- 66 Bond Street, Unit 221, Watertown, Massachusetts
- 2985 District Avenue, Unit 245, Fairfax, Virginia
- 1500 Westbranch Drive, Unit 649, Tysons Corner, Virginia
Han Lee was born in Korea and came to the United States in 2014, the complaint said. She applied for permanent residency in 2019, when she reported marrying a U.S. citizen. Investigators said they observed her visiting brothel locations, making deliveries of women and supplies, and exchanging cash for money orders.
According to the document, Junmyung Lee was born in Korea and came to Boston in 2018 to attend the Computer Systems Institute. He began working with Han Lee in at least 2022, and investigators said he signed one lease in his name and was observed helping sex workers with their luggage and groceries. He is also believed to be the one depositing brothel proceeds into bank accounts.
James Lee also signed leases in Cambridge and Watertown, as well as one in Virginia for the organization. According to the complaint, he was paid approximately $1,000 per month per apartment for his leases.
Following a hearing on Wednesday afternoon, Han Lee and Junmyung Lee are both being held pending another hearing next week. Prosecutors argued they were a flight risk.
Previous coverage on human trafficking:
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Politicians, executives, military officers paid for membership in 'high-end brothel,' feds say - WCVB Boston
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