Two Individuals Charged with Operating Upscale Brothel Network in Massachusetts and Virginia Presented in Court

On Monday, a court appearance was made by a duo charged with running a sophisticated prostitution ring, attracting elite clientele in both Massachusetts and the Washington, D.C. area. The decision regarding their pre-trial detention has been postponed until the following week.

The suspects, Junmyung Lee from Dedham, Massachusetts, and Han Lee from Cambridge, Massachusetts, appeared in handcuffs in a Worcester, Massachusetts courtroom. They interacted minimally, only responding to the judge’s queries about their awareness of forfeiting their right to a preliminary hearing.

The detention hearing was scheduled for November 22 by U.S. Magistrate Judge David Hennessy.

Their arrest occurred last week following a crackdown on their alleged brothel network in Massachusetts and Northern Virginia. According to Acting Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Josh Levy, this operation reportedly generated substantial revenue, attracting clients such as politicians, military personnel, and government contractors with security clearances.

As of now, none of their clients have faced charges, and their identities remain undisclosed. The U.S. attorney emphasized that the investigation is still in its initial stages and expressed commitment to prosecuting both the organizers and the clients of this network.

Junmyung Lee’s attorney refrained from commenting post-hearing, and Han Lee’s attorney had previously declined to comment. Another accused, James Lee, apprehended in California, is yet to be presented in a Massachusetts court. A California judge has ordered James Lee’s detention until trial, as stated by the prosecutor’s office.

The accused allegedly managed their illicit business under the guise of advertising nude Asian models for professional photography on websites. They are charged with utilizing luxury apartments in Watertown and Cambridge, Massachusetts, as well as Tysons and Fairfax, Virginia, as brothels.

Levy disclosed that customers were charged over $600 an hour for services, with some even subscribing to a monthly membership, allowing them expedited access, akin to a TSA PreCheck system.

Note: A previous version of this story incorrectly spelled Junmyung Lee’s first name as “Junmyhung.”

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• Source: ABC News
• Source: AP News