VIRGINIA (DC News Now) — Officials announced that a woman responsible for operating a "high-end brothel network" in Boston and Northern Virginia was sentenced to four years in prison Wednesday. According to the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia (USADC), 42-year-old Ha n Lee, of Cambridge, Mass. persuaded women to travel interstate to work for a prostitution network. She required sex buyers that allegedly included elected officials, high-tech and pharmaceutical executives, doctors, military officers, government contractors and more to undergo a screening process, including providing employer information and references. “Han Lee didn’t just recruit women to sell their bodies for sex – she built a criminal enterprise designed to thrive in the shadows, evading law enforcement while profiting off her victims like commodities,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “We will relentlessly pursue and prosecute those who exploit vulnerable women through interstate sex trafficking and launder their illicit gains. Those who engage in this conduct will be identified, held accountable and sent to federal prison. Full stop.” PREVIOUS COVERAGE | Tysons, Fairfax locations part of ‘high-end brothel network,’ feds say; politicians, military officers among alleged clients In September of 2024, Lee pleaded guilty to conspiracy to persuade, induce, entice, and coerce one or more individuals to travel in interstate or foreign commerce to engage in prostitution and money laundering conspiracy. The attorney's office reported that from at least July 2020, Lee ran the prostitution network with multiple brothels in Massachusetts and the Fairfax and Tysons Corner areas of Virginia. She persuaded mostly Asian women to travel between the two states to engage in prostitution. Lee, along with Junmyung Lee and James Lee, would rent high-end apartments as brothel locations. The trio coordinated the women's flights and transportation. She also allowed them to stay in the apartments overnight. The USADC said Lee along with Junmyung and James advertised the prostitution network and offered appointments online. The trio maintained local brothel phone numbers to communicate with customers, schedule appointments and send them a "menu." According to the charging documents, the trio charged buyers around $350 to $600 per hour depending on the services. The buyers paid in cash and the brothel generated over $5.6 million with about 9,450 scheduled dates. Georgetown University researcher detained by DHS, accused of spreading ‘Hamas propaganda’ The USADC said Lee then used the money to pay rent and utilities at the brothel locations in both states. Junmyung and James pleaded guilty and will be sentenced in April and June of 2025. "This secretive and covert industry treats women like commodities and provides no protection for the safety and wellbeing of the participants. Today’s [March 19, 2025] sentence reinforces the seriousness of this crime and our commitment to use every investigative tool we have to pursue justice,” said Homeland Security Investigations New England Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol. ...read more read less