Brothel owner receives prison time, $5.4M fine

A federal judge sentenced a woman to four years in prison for operating an interstate prostitution network, according to a Wednesday statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Han Lee pleaded guilty last year to operating so-called high-end brothels in eastern Massachusetts and eastern Virginia, according to the statement. U.S. District Court Judge Julia E. Kobick also ordered Lee to pay just over $5.4 million with additional restitution payments to be decided later. Lee built a criminal enterprise by selling other women’s bodies, according to U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley.

How extensive was the prostitution network? The 42-year-old operated several brothel locations out of rented high-end apartments in areas just outside Boston and Washington, D.C. The locations were furnished and regularly maintained with girls following behavioral rules to avoid drawing attention, according to the release. Lee advertised the locations online and rigorously screened prospective clients to ensure they did not risk the operation. The madame required buyers' full names, email addresses, and phone numbers, plus their employers’ names and references, if available, the attorney’s office said. Lee and her accomplices took charge of booking the appointments, coordinating travel for the women in her network, and negotiating hourly rates up to $600 per hour, prosecutors said. Federal attorneys reported that Lee’s network scheduled nearly 9,500 client appointments and generated over $5.6 million.