Woman Accused of Running High-End Brothel Network Will Plead Guilty

A Massachusetts woman accused of running an elite brothel network is set to plead guilty in federal court on Friday.
Han Lee, aged 41, is accused of heading the operation, which allegedly catered to wealthy clients in Massachusetts and the Washington, D.C. suburbs.
Lee, along with James Lee, of California, 68, and Junmyung Lee, 30, of Massachusetts, was indicted earlier this year on charges of conspiracy and money laundering.
Han Lee is accused of laundering over $1 million by converting cash into money orders to conceal the proceeds. All three were charged with enticing individuals to cross state lines for prostitution.
While James Lee and Junmyung Lee have pleaded not guilty, Han Lee plans to change her initial plea from not guilty to guilty, according to court documents. Her attorney, Scott Lauer, confirmed that she will remain in custody after the hearing.
Acting U.S. Attorney Josh Levy said prosecutors are focused on holding both the brothel operators and their clients accountable.
Prosecutors say the brothel ring attracted high-profile clients, including politicians, corporate executives, military officers, and academics. None of these clients has been publicly identified or charged. Some patrons are now appealing to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court to keep their identities private.
Han Lee’s operation reportedly rented luxury apartments in Watertown and Cambridge, Massachusetts, as well as Tysons and Fairfax, Virginia.
The brothel network used websites that advertised nude models but secretly served as a front for prostitution.
It is alleged that the defendants purchased and registered their primary web domain in August 2016.
Authorities say the network charged clients between $350 and $600 per hour, depending on the services requested. The operation brought in hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Han Lee allegedly recruited women for the operation and oversaw the management of the brothels.
Junmyung Lee, an employee of Han Lee, is accused of booking appointments and transporting women to each location. He allegedly earned between $6,000 and $8,000 per month for his work.
Court documents reveal that Han Lee enforced strict rules to maintain the secrecy of the brothel operation and avoid detection.
Investigators said the brothel’s websites had a verification process for clients, requiring personal details including names, employers, and references.
Customers received a “menu” listing available women, sexual services, and rates before being given directions to the brothel’s locations.
The defendants also allegedly concealed the proceeds of the prostitution network through “depositing hundreds of thousands of dollars of cash proceeds into their personal bank accounts and peer-to-peer transfers,” according to the District of Massachusis Attorney’s Office.
During raids, authorities seized cash, ledgers, and phones, and evidence of her “lavish and extravagant spending habits,” including designer shoes and handbags from her home.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.