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Han Lee, 42, of Cambridge, was sentenced to four years in prison followed by one year of supervised release on Wednesday, March 20, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said. U.S. District Court Judge Julia E. Kobick also ordered Lee to forfeit more than $5.4 million in illegal earnings, with additional restitution to be determined later.
Lee pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to induce individuals to travel for prostitution and money laundering. She was arrested in November 2023 alongside two co-defendants, Junmyung Lee, 31, of Dedham, and James Lee, 69, of Torrance, Calif. A federal grand jury later indicted the trio in February 2024.
“Han Lee didn’t just recruit women to sell their bodies for sex – she built a criminal enterprise designed to thrive in the shadows,” said U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley. “We will relentlessly pursue and prosecute those who exploit vulnerable women.”
Authorities say Lee operated brothels in Cambridge and Watertown, Mass., as well as in Fairfax and Tysons, Virginia, from at least July 2020. She and her co-defendants secured luxury apartments as brothel locations, covered travel costs for the women, and provided housing to encourage participation in their sex network.
A charging document said her phone had more than 4,000 contacts, including many wealthy and important people, including "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. "
To attract customers, Lee and her partners ran websites — bostontopten10.com and browneyesgirlsva.blog — disguised as modeling agencies. They required sex buyers to submit personal details, including employer information, before booking appointments. This screening process was designed to prevent law enforcement infiltration and ensure customer discretion.
Lee’s operation grossed over $5.6 million from nearly 9,500 appointments, charging customers between $350 and $600 per hour. The money was laundered through bank deposits, peer-to-peer transfers, and structured money order purchases to obscure its origins, prosecutors said.
Lee’s co-defendants have also pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. Junmyung Lee’s sentencing is set for April 18, while James Lee will be sentenced on May 28.
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