Man pleads guilty to booking politicians, professors into brothels near D.C. and Boston

Prosecutors said Junmyung Lee was hired in late 2021 due to business expansion and worked for the prostitution ring for about two years.

A man has pleaded guilty in connection with a high-end brothel network with wealthy clients in Northern Virginia, WTOP’s Linh Bui reports.

MEREDITH, N.H. (AP) — A second man has pleaded guilty to aiding in escape a high-end brothel network His clients around Boston and Washington, D.C., include elected officials, military officers, professors and lawyers, prosecutors said Thursday.

Prosecutors said Junmyung Lee, 31, of Dedham, Massachusetts, served primarily as a booking agent for the prostitution network. She pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of conspiracy to persuade, coerce or seduce people to travel interstate to engage in prostitution and one count of money laundering. He faces up to 25 years in prison when he is sentenced in February.

His plea followed that of Han Lee, 42, of Cambridge, Massachusetts. He confessed his crime last month to carry out the operation. Han Lee concealed more than $1 million in income by converting the money into wire transfers and other items to make it appear legitimate, authorities said. He will be sentenced on December 20. James Lee, 69, of Torrance, California, was indicted on the same charges as two other defendants.

Junmyung Lee’s lawyers did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Authorities did not publicly name or charge more than 5,000 clients; But prosecutors say they are determined to hold accountable those who fueled the demand. Some of the customers petitioned the highest court in Massachusetts to remain anonymous.

Prosecutors said women working in brothels were considered victims and were not charged.

Prosecutors said Junmyung Lee was hired in late 2021 due to business expansion and worked for the prostitution ring for about two years. Many customers reached them through two websites, www.bostontoptenl0.com and www.browneyesgirlsva.blog.

Han Lee was said to have paid Junmyung Lee up to $8,000 a month in cash to screen his clients, make appointments, and shuttle some female sex workers to and from the airport. Authorities said Junmyung Lee used some of his income to purchase the Corvette.

Prosecutors said Junmyung Lee communicated directly with customers using different cell phones for Massachusetts and Virginia. Prosecutors said the cellphones each contained the numbers of more than 2,800 customers, and a third cellphone was never found.

According to the indictment, the vetting process often involved men verifying their identities by submitting photographs of themselves and a photo of their work or a government-issued identification card.

Prosecutors said the operators rented high-end apartments to use as brothels, including four locations in Massachusetts and two in Virginia.

According to prosecutors, the scheme generated hundreds of thousands of dollars, with the men paying approximately $350 to $600 an hour or more, depending on the service.

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