Feds: Elected officials, doctors, lawyers among clients who paid for sex in illegal group brothels

Elected officials, doctors, lawyers, professors, accountants and military officers were among a group of “high-end” clients who paid for sex at illegal brothels in Massachusetts that were recently arrested by federal investigators, law enforcement officials said Wednesday.

Acting United States Attorney for Massachusetts Joshua Levy announced the arrests of Han Lee, age 41, of Cambridge, James Lee, age 68, of California, and Junyoung Lee, age 30, of Dedham, all charged with . Operating a “sophisticated” brothel network in Watertown, Cambridge, and Eastern Virginia, where buyers paid up to $600 an hour for a wide range of advertised sex acts.

The organizations were promoted on two different websites: Bostontop10.com and BreweyesgirlVA.blog, Levy said.

Levy noted that the websites listed the height, weight and bust size of women available for appointments and displayed nude and semi-nude photos of each of them. Women were also listed as available on the websites and were frequently updated to include “coming soon” or “open” to reflect the imminent arrival of new women arriving in the area.

“The three individuals behind these sites facilitated the movement of predominantly Asian women across the United States for sex trafficking and commercial sex networks, exploiting them in the process,” Levy said. “This commercial sex ring was built on secrecy and exclusivity, catering to wealthy, well-connected clients, and business has been thriving even today.”

Potential sex buyers in this scheme allegedly first had to respond to a questionnaire on websites that involved providing photos of their driver’s license, employer information, and credit card numbers, and often paid a monthly fee to be part of the “exclusive club,” according to Levi.

When the alleged buyers were verified, they were sent a text message and were allowed to place orders from the sex workers, including logistics regarding duration, location, type of encounters and services offered, a “menu” listing women for purchase, and an affidavit indicated disclosure in court. Wednesday.

The list included “pictures of women available that day,” an hourly rate, and directions to the brothel’s location, according to Levy.

The affidavit showed that three of the suspects charged in connection with the case regularly used hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash proceeds from the prostitution trade to purchase money orders for values ​​less than the amount that would trigger reporting and identification requirements to conceal the source of the funds.

Those money orders were then used to pay rent and utilities at prostitution sites in Massachusetts and Virginia, the affidavit stated.

“These three individuals have made hundreds of thousands of dollars running this network,” Levy said. “This case dates back to the summer of 2020 when investigators identified several buyers.”

Levy claimed buyers included politicians, pharmaceutical executives, doctors, military officers, government contractors with security clearances, university professors, lawyers, business managers, technology company executives, scientists, accountants, retail employees and students.

“Choose a profession. They are probably actors in this case,” Levy said. “They are the men who fueled this commercial sex ring.”

“There are likely hundreds of clients who have not yet been identified who may include other professional specializations not included in the list above,” the affidavit also said.

The three arrests came after investigators executed search warrants at the following locations, according to the affidavit:

• 80 Cambridgepark Drive, Unit 638, Cambridge, Massachusetts

• 71 Legacy Boulevard, Unit 207, Dedham, Massachusetts

• 1031 Park Circle Drive, Torrance, California

• 90 Fawcett Street, Unit 109, Cambridge, Massachusetts

• 90 Fawcett Street, Unit 435, Cambridge, Massachusetts

• 90 Fawcett Street, Unit 530, Cambridge, Massachusetts

• 66 Bond Street, Unit 221, Watertown, Massachusetts

• 2985 District Ave., Unit 245, Fairfax, Virginia

• 1500 Westbranch Drive, Unit 649, Tysons, Virginia

Federal officials said they interviewed about 20 alleged sex buyers in connection with the years-long investigation, and that those men described arrangements to meet at various locations, including some of the “targeted locations” mentioned above.

The names of the buyers Levy referred to were not immediately available.

None of them have been charged, but Levy confirmed that the investigation is in its early stages.

The charge of conspiracy to coerce and induce travel to engage in unlawful sexual activity carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.

Read the full criminal complaint below:

Brothel USA v. Han Li et al by Frank James On Scribd

This is a developing story. Check back for updates when more information is available.

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