Woman accused of high -end brothels near Boston and Washington is 4 years in prison

A woman from Massachusetts accused of operating a network of high -end brothels with rich and prominent customers in that state and Washington, DC, Suburbs was sentenced Wednesday to four years in prison.

They have read and two others were accused last year for a conspiracy position to persuade, attract and force one or more people to travel in interstate or foreign trade to participate in prostitution and a money laundering charge, according to prosecutors. The operation, according to judicial documents, generated millions of dollars a year, and customers paid hundreds of dollars per hour for services.

Junmyung Lee De Didham declared himself guilty in October and will be sentenced next month. James Lee de Torrance, California, accused of renting the apartments in the operation, declared himself guilty last month of his participation in the scheme, as well as obtaining almost $ 600,000 in pandemic aid funds. It is scheduled to be sentenced next month.

“He directed a highly profitable business that involved recruiting women throughout the country to come to Massachusetts and Virginia to sell their bodies by sex,” said the United States District Judge, Julia Kobick. “The government argues and I agree that this is not a crime without victims.”

The prosecutors had asked that they have read, who declared himself guilty in September, was sentenced to six years in prison and three years of supervised released by directing “one of the most successful prostitution networks” on the east coast. They estimate that almost 10,000 commercial sexual dates occurred in their brothels, according to judicial records, and that she “controlled daily operations.” She made an amazing total amount of money, at least $ 5.46 million in more than four years, and used sophisticated means to hide that police money. “

The federal public defender of Lee, Scott Lauer, had begged for clemency, saying in the judicial documents that Lee grew poor in South Korea and had a father who drank a lot and was abusive. After arriving in the United States, he became a sex worker in California, Las Vegas and New York before settling in Massachusetts and continuing to work in trade.

After a brothel was raided, they have read the opportunity to establish the network. The defense said that none of the sex workers were forced to do the job and that they maintained most income.

“While cases involving prostitution often imply a certain degree of strength or coercion exerted against women involved, this case,” Lauer wrote. “There is a world of difference between Mrs. Lee, a sex worker, and a pimp (or lady) who enriches the expense of those who do the work.”

The authorities said the sex ring in Massachusetts and northern Virginia attended politicians, company executives, military officers, lawyers, teachers and other well -connected clients.