Three individuals accused of running a high-end prostitution ring through luxurious apartments in Massachusetts and Virginia have been slapped with federal charges, authorities said. According to an announcement by the U.S. Attorney's Office, Han Lee, James Lee, and Junmyung Lee were indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston on charges of conspiracy related to interstate prostitution and money laundering.
The trio was arrested in November last year following allegations that they operated brothels in up-market apartment complexes, using them as a base to induce Asian women into interstate prostitution since at least July 2020. Per the official documents, the defendants allegedly arranged for the women's travel and accommodations and devised house rules to maintain the operation's secrecy and the women's compliance. They have been hit with charges that could lead to significant prison time, if convicted.
Boston's Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy, along with Homeland Security and local law enforcement, have brought the charges, which include a count of conspiracy to persuade, induce, entice, and coerce individuals to travel for prostitution, with penalties of up to five years behind bars. The money laundering conspiracy charge is even more severe, carrying the possibility of 20 years in prison.
Investigations reveal that customers were charged between $350 to $600 per hour for services, and transactions were conducted in cash to avoid triggering banking regulations. To launder their hefty proceeds from this illicit business, the defendants resorted to bank deposits, peer-to-peer transfers, and money orders purchased to fly under the radar of authorities. According to the indictment, this elaborate scheme involved using websites such as bostontopten10.com and browneyesgirlsva.blog, which falsely advertised photography services with nude models.
The defendants pitched their service as safe, claiming a verification process for clients that supposedly filtered out law enforcement and risky clientele. Officials have made a public appeal for information regarding the case, urging those with knowledge to step forward and contact the Justice Department at [email protected]. Meanwhile, the indicted parties remain innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lindsey E. Weinstein and Raquelle Kaye.
