Cambridge Woman Accused Of Leading Sex Ring To Plead Guilty: Reports

CAMBRIDGE, MA — A Cambridge woman accused of leading a commercial sex ring that catered to "wealthy and well-connected clientele" is expected to plead guilty in federal court Friday, according to multiple reports.

Han "Hana" Lee, 41, is one of three people indicted in February in connection with operating sophisticated high-end brothels in greater Boston and eastern Virginia, the U.S. Attorney's Office previously said.

Also indicted in the case was James Lee, 69, of California — who has pleaded not guilty and will have a pretrial conference on Oct. 29 — and one of Han Lee's "top assistants" Junmyung Lee, 31, of Dedham, who is expected to plead guilty on Oct. 30, according to Boston25.

Their charges include conspiracy to persuade, entice, and coerce one or more individuals to travel in interstate or foreign commerce to engage in prostitution and one count of money laundering, WBUR reported, citing prosecutors.

The sex ring catered to elected officials, high-tech and pharmaceutical executives, doctors, military officers, government contractors that possess security clearances, professors, attorneys, scientists, and accountants, officials said, officials said.

Charging documents state that from at least July 2020, all three defendants operated an interstate prostitution network with multiple brothels in Cambridge and Watertown, as well as in Fairfax and Tysons, Virginia.

The men advertised their prostitution network online and used the brothels to "persuade, induce and entice women – primarily Asian women – to travel to Massachusetts and Virginia to engage in prostitution," officials said.

The brothel locations were high-end apartment complexes that were furnished, regularly maintained, and had a monthly rent as high as $3,664, according to officials. The trio also apparently sent customers a "menu" of available options at the brothel, including the women and sexual services available and the hourly rate.

All three involved were arrested in November.

The charge of conspiracy to coerce and entice to travel to engage in illegal sexual activity provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000, officials said.

The investigation into the involvement of sex buyers is ongoing.