Judge rules alleged proprietors of 'high-end brothels' that serviced politicians must stay in jail

A federal judge has ruled that Han Lee and Junmyung Lee — who have been accused of running a luxury prostitution ring in both Massachusetts and Virginia — must remain incarcerated as they await trial.

According to CNN, the operation consisted of "high-end brothels" that serviced clients ranging from elected officials to business executives, high-ranking military officials and government contractors. A third individual allegedly involved in the scheme, James Lee, has not yet had a detention hearing scheduled. All three are accused of "conspiring to persuade, induce, entice and coerce one or more individuals to travel in interstate or foreign commerce to engage in prostitution."

Prosecutors say Han Lee, who is the alleged record-keeper, handled more than $1 million made from illicit activity in the form of money orders, cash deposits, and transfers between bank accounts. She also kept an apartment in Cambridge, Massachusetts where investigators found roughly $22,000 in cash as well as laptops, more than a dozen cell phones and “bulk quantities” of condoms and lingerie. Han Lee also reportedly kept pregnancy testing kits allegedly for sex workers involved in the brothels.

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A Department of Homeland Security (DHS) affidavit alleged that Han Lee kept "impeccable" financial and business records, and pointed to a ledger Lee used to keep track of appointment times for each sex worker categorized by her stage name, the address of the apartments where each woman was working, and how much those workers had earned. Lee also warned workers to not wear heavy makeup outside, and to not talk on the phone in apartment hallways between appointments.

"Keeping your words is keeping everyone safe." Han Lee reportedly wrote in a message to workers.

Earlier this month, Joshua Levy, who is the acting US Attorney for the District of Massachusetts, held a press conference announcing the arrests of the three alleged ring leaders, and said virtually every profession was represented in the investigation.

"They are doctors, they are lawyers, they are accountants, they are elected officials, they are executives of high tech companies and pharmaceutical companies, they are military officers, government contractors, professors, scientists," Levy said. "They are the men who fuel this commercial sex ring."

READ MORE: DOJ arrests three allegedly behind 'high-end brothels' with 'elected officials' as clients: report