High-end brothel operator in Virginia and Massachusetts gets 4 years in prison

FAIRFAX, Va. (WRIC) -- The manager responsible for running a "high-end brothel" network in Virginia and Massachusetts was sentenced Wednesday, March 19, in federal court to four years in prison.

42-year-old Han Lee of Cambridge, Mass., was sentenced by the U.S. District Court in Boston to four years in prison and one year of supervised release for operating an interstate prostitution network of high-end brothels in Boston, as well as Eastern Virginia. In addition to being sentenced, Lee was ordered to pay over $5 million in forfeiture, as well as restitution in a total that will be determined later.

According to the Department of Justice, the lead defendant convinced women -- particularly Asian women -- to travel between states for work and required "sex buyers" to go through a screening process, which included them providing employment information and references. From July of 2020, Lee operated this "network" of multiple brothels in the Boston area, as well as the Fairfax and Tysons area of Virginia.

“Han Lee didn’t just recruit women to sell their bodies for sex -- she built a criminal enterprise designed to thrive in the shadows, evading law enforcement while profiting off her victims like commodities,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “We will relentlessly pursue and prosecute those who exploit vulnerable women through interstate sex trafficking and launder their illicit gains. Those who engage in this conduct will be identified, held accountable and sent to federal prison. Full stop.”

In Nov. 2023, Lee was arrested and charged, along with co-defendants 31-year old Jummyung Lee and 69-year-old James Lee. By Feb. 2024, all of the defendants were indicted by a federal grand jury.

“Han Lee and her co-conspirators crafted an elaborate scheme to set up an interstate commercial sex network and to hide their activity by laundering the proceeds," said Homeland Security Investigations New England Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol. "This secretive and covert industry treats women like commodities and provides no protection for the safety and wellbeing of the participants. Today’s sentence reinforces the seriousness of this crime and our commitment to use every investigative tool we have to pursue justice.”

The department confirmed that Lee and the other co-defendants rented luxury apartments that they regularly furnished and maintained to serve as places for their brothel locations. Additionally, the defendants enticed the women to work in the network by coordinating all of the airline travel, transportation and overnight stays in other brothels.

DOJ shared they were able to protect the privacy of the business, making sure the women did not attract attention to the prostitution work happening inside of the apartments, by establishing some "house rules" for the women to abide by.

The prostitution network was advertised through websites -- bostontopten10.com and browneyesgirlsva.blog. Both of the websites appeared to advertise nude models for professional photography in upscale studios, which was a front for prostitution being offered through "appointments" -- these websites were seized by investigators and search warrants were issued in Nov. 2023.

The websites were described to have a "verification process" for the sex buyers to become eligible for these "appointments" -- which involved clients filling out a form with their demographics, employer and references. DOJ determined that the defendants were able to persuade the women to work for them by convincing them the business was well maintained due to the "safe" screening process.

Lee and the other defendants maintained phone numbers that they used to communicate within the brothel, verify clients, book appointments and send clients their "menu of available options at the brothel" -- which included the women, types of services available and the hourly rate for them.

According to the charging documents, the clients were charged a premium price for appointments with the women on the websites, which usually ranged from $350 to $600 an hour in cash depending upon services. Lee's brothel network generated a total of $5.6 million in revenue from scheduling approximately 9,450 dates with clients.

In efforts to conceal the proceeds, Lee deposited hundreds of thousands in cash proceeds into her personal and third-party bank accounts, as well as peer-to-peer transfers. The defendants also used a few hundred thousand to purchase money orders, which they used to pay rent and bills at the Massachusetts and Virginia brothels.

In Oct. 2024, Jummyung Lee plead guilty and is scheduled for sentencing on April 18. James Lee plead guilty on Feb. 2025 and is scheduled for sentencing on May 28.

If there are any memebers of the public that have questions or concerns, contact USAMA.VictimAssistance@usdoj.gov.