Accused ringleaders of a “sophisticated brothel” network that served politicians, military officials and government contractors kept “perfect” records of their illegal operations that netted more than a million dollars, one of the top federal investigators in the case revealed Wednesday. .
New details about the prostitution ring, which operates out of luxury apartments in Massachusetts and Virginia, were included in an affidavit filed in the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts on Wednesday by Department of Homeland Security Special Agent Zachary Mitlitsky.
DHS agents argued that two of the co-conspirators in the case, Han Lee and Junmyung Lee, could have access to more funds than investigators have known and thus pose a flight risk and should remain in prison.
Han, whom Mitlitsky described as the ringleader of the scheme, “concealed over one million dollars in prostitution proceeds,” according to the filing.
A “sophisticated luxury brothel” serving politicians, military officers and government contractors. DOJ
During a search of the 41-year-old’s Cambridge, Mass., apartment, Mitlitsky found “bulk quantities” of condoms and lubricants, underwear, UTI and pregnancy test kits, and false eyelashes, as well as $22,000 in cash, dozens of gift cards, 16 cell phones and a ledger detailing the operation’s financial records, according to his affidavit.
“I believe that Han’s financial and business record keeping was impeccable,” Mitlitsky said.
“Han maintains a ledger detailing the daily activities of his brothel. At the time of the execution of the search warrant, a ledger was open to a page showing the woman’s stage name, date and time of appointment and income,” he wrote, noting that one of the names listed in the ledger matched a woman allegedly solicited online by the defendant and was found to be present at a Tysons, Va., brothel during the execution of a search warrant.
Condoms and lube, underwear, UTI and pregnancy test kits, and false eyelashes, as well as $22,000 in cash, dozens of gift cards, 16 cell phones and a ledger were found. DOJ
“Next to the ledger was an envelope containing a lump sum of cash and a handwritten note with the women’s stage names and a calculation of their earnings,” Mitlitsky said.
The agent described finding a Louis Vuitton shoebox in Han’s apartment containing hundreds of neatly organized money order receipts, some of which he believed may have previously been unaccounted for as a result of the operation.
Items indicative of Han’s lavish and extravagant spending habits were also found, including high-end bags and shoes from designers such as Yves St. Laurent, Givenchy, Louis Vuitton, Christian Louboutin and Jimmy Choo.
Records of the illegal operation show it netted them more than a million dollars, one of the top federal investigators in the case revealed. DOJ
Investigators also found a cell phone that Han apparently used to communicate with the sex worker through a South Korean messaging app.
“During this communication, Han not only listed a brief description of the expected client, the expected sexual service and the corresponding price, and the appointment schedule for the day but also stated what I believe to be his house rules for commercial sex workers involved in relationships sex. for pay in a brothel apartment,” Mitlitsky wrote, noting that Han used a photo of his pet pug as his profile picture.
Junmyung Lee is believed to be “responsible for booking appointments for sex clients,” according to Mitlitsky, who found $5,000 in cash, four ledgers/appointment books, and multiple computers and cellphones during a search of his Dedham, Mass. property. , apartment.
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Photos of an appointment book included in the affidavit appear to show that at least one of the sex workers was enslaved for about 10 hours on Oct. 18. 2022 – from 8:30 am to 8:15 pm, with an hour break.
“Collectively, these three pictures show that prostitution rings not only keep meticulous daily records of their operations but also keep those records for long periods of time,” Mitlitsky said.
Like Han, Junmyung, 30, also spends lavishly, according to the filing.
Authorities seized a Chevrolet Corvette belonging to Junmyung and valued at nearly $70,000, for which “the down payment is believed to have been made using the proceeds of prostitution.”
Deposits in Junmyung’s bank account totaled approximately $378,365, according to the agent. Han’s bank account shows about $965,000 in mostly cash deposits starting in December 2019.
Neither appears to have been legally employed in years, according to the affidavit.
“There is great concern by investigators that Han may have control over other accounts that have not yet been identified,” Mitlitsky wrote, noting that he appears to have transferred tens of thousands of dollars to South Korean bank accounts and as many as 30 individuals — suggesting that the operation may be larger. than is known now.
After Mitlitsky submitted his affidavit, lawyers for Han and Junmyung on Wednesday agreed to a voluntary detention order signed by Magistrate Judge David Hennessy.
Photos of an appointment book included in the affidavit appear to show that at least one of the sex workers was enslaved for about 10 hours on Oct. 18. 2022. DOJ
Their lawyers will be able to move for their release at a later date.
A detention hearing for the third member of the prostitution ring, James Lee, 68, has not yet been scheduled.
All three were arrested by federal authorities on November 8.
A cell phone detailing the rundown of the operation was shown, according to his affidavit. DOJ
The US Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts said at the time of their arrests that “the alleged commercial sex buyers included elected officials, high-tech and pharmaceutical executives, doctors, military officers, government contractors holding security clearances, professors, lawyers, scientists, and accountants, among others.”
“The investigation into the involvement of sex buyers is active and ongoing,” the Massachusetts US Attorney’s Office said at the time.
No information about the identity of the alleged prostitution ring’s customers has been made public.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
