Mass. Woman accused of running high-end sex ring that got celebrity clients to plead guilty – Boston 25 News

BOSTON – A woman accused of running a commercial sex ring in Massachusetts and Virginia that authorities said targeted “wealthy and well-connected customers” is expected to plead guilty in federal court on Friday.

Han “Hana” Lee, 41, of Cambridge intends to “enter a guilty plea to the charges against her,” according to an Aug. 29 court filing. Her hearing is scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday at John Joseph Moakley Federal Court in South Boston.

One of Han Lee's alleged top aides, 31-year-old Junmyung Lee of Dedham, is also expected to plead guilty in the case during a hearing scheduled for Oct. 30, according to court documents. He filed a motion to change the plea earlier this month.

A third man, James Lee, 69, of California, continues to plead not guilty in the brothel case. A preliminary hearing for James Lee is scheduled for October 29th.

Meanwhile, attorneys for several alleged clients of the interstate brothel network have argued that their clients' names should not be released during hearings in the case.

In November, authorities arrested Han Lee, Junmyung Lee and James Lee, who are accused of running a “sophisticated” commercial sex network in Watertown, Cambridge and Virginia that paid buyers up to $600 an hour for a wide range of advertised sex acts Products paid sexual acts.

All three were indicted by a federal grand jury on one count of conspiracy to persuade, entice, entice and compel a person or persons to travel in interstate or foreign commerce to engage in prostitution; and one count of money laundering conspiracy. They were arrested in November.

In June, news broke of plea bargain discussions in the high-profile brothel case.

“The parties have engaged in pleading discussions,” U.S. Magistrate Judge David Hennessy wrote in a report filed June 10 in U.S. District Court in Boston.

All three defendants were arraigned in person on February 6th. Since then, Hennessy previously wrote, federal prosecutors “submitted discovery on March 5 and May 30, 2024” that are described as “extensive” and intend to make further discoveries, such as through forensic searches of some electronic devices that will not be completed by the time such a discovery becomes available.”

A trial against all three defendants would take up to 10 days, Hennessy wrote.

Lawyers for the alleged sex ring clients, previously identified in court documents only as “John Doe #1-17,” have pushed for the court hearings to be kept confidential.

Elected officials, doctors, lawyers, professors, accountants and military officers were reportedly among a group of “high-end” customers who paid for the illicit sex services at various locations in the Bay State and Virginia.

A Cambridge police investigator filed criminal charges on December 18, 2023 against 28 people for sexual conduct with another person for a fee.

The names on the customer list will not be released until probable cause is determined, officials said.

It was unclear Thursday when and whether public court hearings would take place.

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