BOSTON (AP) — A Massachusetts woman accused of operating a high-end brothel network with wealthy and prominent clients in that state and the Washington, D.C., suburbs is planning to change her plea to guilty in federal court Friday, according to court documents.
Han Lee and two others were indicted earlier this year on one count of 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, according to prosecutors. James Lee of Torrance, California, and Junmyung Lee of Dedham, Massachusetts, also were indicted. Han Lee initially had entered a not guilty plea.
She has remained in custody. A lawyer for Han Lee, Scott Lauer, said she will remain in custody after the hearing but declined to comment further. A lawyer for James Lee declined to comment.
A lawyer representing Junmyung Lee said his next court appearance has been rescheduled. Authorities said the commercial sex ring in Massachusetts and northern Virginia catered to politicians, company executives, military officers, lawyers, professors and other well-connected clients. Prosecutors have not publicly named any of the buyers and they have not been charged.
Acting Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Josh Levy has said prosecutors are committed to holding accountable both those who ran the scheme and those who fueled the demand.
Some of the buyers have appealed to the highest court in Massachusetts in a bid to have the.
