A “high-end brothel network” that catered to elected officials, government contractors, and executives operated out of two Fairfax County apartments and multiple apartments in Massachusetts, according to the U.S. Justice Department.
“These customers spanned a wide array of different professional disciplines. Some of those professional disciplines included, but are not limited to, politicians, pharmaceutical executives, doctors, military officers, government contractors that possess security clearances, professors, lawyers, business executives, technology company executives, scientists, accountants, retail employees, and students,” a 60-page affidavit said.
The Justice Department did not name the people who paid for the sex services.
Three men have been charged with conspiracy to coerce and entice to travel to engage in illegal sexual activity, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts. The men are identified as Han Lee, 41, of Cambridge, Massachusetts; James Lee, 68, of Torrance, California; and Junmyung Lee, 30, of Dedham, Massachusetts.
Homeland Security’s investigation in the brothels started in July 2020 and included interviews with 20 sex customers, as well as surveillance.
Here’s how the operation is believed to have operated. Customers would go to websites to book appointments with mostly Asian women, where they gave their names, email addresses, phone numbers, employers, and references. They would be texted confirmations and a menu of services that ranged from $350 to $600 per hour, the affidavit said.
The women provided the services, paid for in cash, in high-end apartments. The court documents identified the Fairfax County apartments as one in the Avalon Mosaic apartment complex in the 2900 block of District Avenue in Fairfax and another at Hanover Tysons in the 1500 block of Westbranch Drive in Tysons.
The prostitutes would travel between the Virginia locations and locations in the Boston area, the Justice Department said.
The affidavit said Han maintained day-to-day operations of the Virginia brothels. His name and Junmyung’s name are on the brothel leases, the affidavit said.
Feature image, stock.adobe.com
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