A Massachusetts woman has been sentenced for running a network of “sophisticated high-end brothels” in Northern Virginia and Massachusetts. Han Lee was sentenced to four years in prison, one year of supervised release, and ordered to pay forfeiture of $5,418,572.
“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.
Brothels in Fairfax and Tysons
Starting in July 2020, Lee operated an interstate prostitution network that included a brothel in both Tysons and Fairfax. Lee pleaded guilty in September 2024 to one count of conspiracy to persuade, induce, entice, and coerce one or more individuals to travel in interstate or foreign commerce to engage in prostitution. She also pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering conspiracy.
According to a news release, Lee and two co-defendants recruited primarily Asian women to engage in prostitution. The brothels operated out of luxury apartments. They often catered to politicians, company executives, lawyers, and other well-connected clients, AP reported.
The defendants advertised the network via websites that purported to advertise nude models. Lee and her co-defendants claim they persuaded women to work for their network because “the business maintained a regular customer base of men that were adequately screened, ensuring that the customers were not members of law enforcement or men who posed a risk to the safety and security of the commercial sex workers.”
Clients paid approximately $350 to $600 per hour. In total, the brothel network generated more than $5.6 million in revenue from approximately 9,450 scheduled appointments.
Lee deposited hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash proceeds into personal and third-party bank accounts. She also purchased money orders to pay rent and utilities at the facilities.
Lee’s co-defendants are Junmyung Lee, who pleaded guilty in October 2024 and will be sentenced on April 18, and James Lee, who pleaded guilty in February 2024 and will be sentenced on May 28.
Feature image, stock.adobe.com
