MEREDITH, N.H. — Another individual has entered a guilty plea linked to a sophisticated brothel operation catering to high-profile clients in Boston and Washington D.C. These clients reportedly included politicians, military personnel, academics, and lawyers, according to prosecutors on Thursday.
Junmyung Lee, 31, hailing from Dedham, Massachusetts, acted primarily as the booking agent for the prostitution ring. In federal court, he admitted to one charge of conspiracy to persuade, coerce, or entice individuals to travel across state lines for the purpose of engaging in prostitution, along with one count of money laundering. He could face a maximum sentence of 25 years in federal prison during his upcoming sentencing in February.
This plea follows last month’s guilty admission by Han Lee, 42, from Cambridge, Massachusetts, who was managing the operation. Officials reported that Han Lee disguised over $1 million in earnings by converting cash into money orders and other legitimate-seeming assets. Her sentencing is scheduled for December 20. In addition to Junmyung and Han Lee, James Lee, 69, from Torrance, California, is facing the same charges as the other two defendants.
Junmyung Lee’s legal representatives did not provide an immediate comment on the case.
Authorities have not disclosed the identities or charged any of the estimated 5,000 clients involved in the operation, although prosecutors have expressed a determination to hold accountable those who contributed to the demand. Some clients have even petitioned Massachusetts’ highest court in an attempt to keep their identities confidential.
The women who were part of the brothel’s operations are regarded as victims and have not been charged, according to prosecutors.
Recruited in late 2021 as the business grew, Junmyung Lee worked for the network of prostitution for nearly two years. Many of the clientele accessed services through two websites.
Prosecutors indicated that Han Lee compensated Junmyung Lee with cash payments reaching up to $8,000 per month to screen clients, schedule appointments, and transport female sex workers to and from the airport. Authorities noted that part of his earnings was used to purchase a Corvette.
Junmyung Lee engaged directly with clients, employing various cell phones, one specifically used for Massachusetts and another for Virginia. The Massachusetts phone held contacts for over 2,800 clients, while prosecutors mentioned a third phone that was never recovered.
The vetting process for clients typically required them to verify their identities by submitting photographs of themselves along with either a work-related image or a government-issued ID, as specified in the indictment.
The operators leased upscale apartments to conduct their illicit activities, with four locations situated in Massachusetts and two in Virginia, as reported by prosecutors. The financial returns from this venture amounted to hundreds of thousands of dollars, with charges for services ranging from approximately $350 to $600 per hour or even more, depending on the nature of the services offered.
