Ringleader of Cambridge Brothel Network Sentenced to Four Years in Prison

Han Lee — the ringleader of the high-end brothel network that operated in parts of Cambridge and Washington, D.C., suburbs — was sentenced to four years in prison on Wednesday.

Lee was charged with one count of conspiracy to coerce the women “to travel in interstate or foreign commerce to engage in prostitution,” and one count of money laundering, according to court filings.

U.S. District Court Judge Julia E. Kobick ’05 ordered Lee to forfeit all profit from the brothels and pay restitution to the victims.

The brothel network generated more than $5 million in revenue, according to the U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts.

Han Lee, along with her co-defendants Junmyung Lee and James Lee, operated the multi-million dollar brothel ring from at least July 2020 to November 2023 — arranging more than 9,000 “scheduled dates” with clients across the Greater Boston area and parts of Washington D.C.

“Han Lee and her co-conspirators crafted an elaborate scheme to set up an interstate commercial sex network and to hide their activity by laundering the proceeds,” Homeland Security Investigations agent Michael J. Krol wrote in a Wednesday press release.

“This secretive and covert industry treats women like commodities and provides no protection for the safety and wellbeing of the participants,” Krol added.

The three were arrested in November 2023 and indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2024. Han Lee was the first to plead guilty in federal court in September 2024.

Junmyung Lee and James Lee separately pleaded guilty later that year. The two are scheduled to be sentenced at the end of April.

Federal prosecutors have not pressed charges against the alleged clients. Cambridge police have brought charges against 28 alleged clients, who will be facing probable cause hearings over the next two weeks.

Criminal charges have been filed against the first 23 men who were named in court in two hearings this month. Cambridge City Councilor Paul F. Toner was among the men named.

—Staff writer Matan H. Josephy can be reached matan.josephy@thecrimson.com. Follow him on X @matanjosephy.

—Staff writer Laurel M. Shugart can be reached at laurel.shugart@thecrimson.com. Follow them on X @laurelmshugart or on Threads @laurel.shugart.