Three individuals were arrested in connection with operating sophisticated high-end brothels in greater Boston and eastern Virginia. Commercial sex buyers allegedly included elected officials, high tech and pharmaceutical executives, doctors, military officers, government contractors with security clearances, professors, attorneys, scientists, and accountants, among others. The defendants have been charged with conspiracy to coerce and entice individuals to travel to engage in illegal sexual activity.
The brothels operated by the defendants were located in multiple states, including Massachusetts and Virginia, and were part of an interstate prostitution network. The infrastructure for the brothels was established to persuade, induce, and entice primarily Asian women to travel to Massachusetts and Virginia to engage in prostitution.
The defendants specifically rented high-end apartment complexes as brothel locations, furnished them, and maintained them regularly. The monthly rent for the brothel locations was as high as $3,664. They coordinated airline travel and transportation for the women and permitted them to stay overnight in the brothel locations, enticing them to participate in their prostitution network.
The prostitution network was primarily advertised on two websites – bostontopten10.com and browneyesgirlsva.blog. These websites offered appointments with women in greater Boston or eastern Virginia, respectively. The websites purported to advertise nude Asian models for professional photography at upscale studios, but in reality, it was a front for prostitution offered through appointments with the women listed on their websites. The websites featured descriptions and photographs of the women available for appointments, with the women’s height, weight, and bust size listed. The women listed on the websites were updated frequently, with new arrivals being announced, and they depicted nude and/or semi-nude photographs of the women.
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Each website described a verification process that interested sex buyers undertook to be eligible for appointment bookings, which included providing their full names, email address, phone number, employer, and reference if they had one. The defendants maintained local brothel phone numbers, which they used to communicate with verified customers and schedule appointments via text message. In these exchanges, the defendants sent customers a “menu” of available options at the brothel, including the women and sexual services available and the hourly rate. The defendants charged sex buyers a premium price for appointments with the women, ranging from approximately $350 to upwards of $600 per hour, which were paid in cash.
The charging documents allege that the defendants concealed the proceeds of the prostitution network by depositing hundreds of thousands of dollars of cash proceeds into their personal bank accounts and using peer-to-peer transfers. They also used the cash proceeds to purchase money orders in amounts that would not trigger reporting and identification requirements to conceal the source of the funds, and to pay for rent and utilities at brothel locations in Massachusetts and Virginia.
During the investigation, a wide array of buyers were identified, including politicians, high tech and pharmaceutical executives, doctors, military officers, government contractors with security clearances, professors, lawyers, scientists, and accountants. The investigation into the involvement of sex buyers is active and ongoing.
The arrests of the defendants shed light on the expansive and sophisticated nature of the high-end brothels operated by them and the types of individuals who were involved as commercial sex buyers. The charges against them highlight the severity of their crimes and the potential impact on the lives of the women who were coerced and enticed into their prostitution network.
Furthermore, the investigation into the high-end brothels and their operation reveals a broader issue of exploitation and trafficking that extends beyond the individuals who were arrested. It raises important questions about the demand for commercial sex and the lengths to which some individuals will go to satisfy this demand, as well as the need for greater awareness, prevention, and intervention to address the underlying issues and protect vulnerable individuals from exploitation.
The charges against the defendants serve as a reminder of the ongoing efforts to combat human trafficking, exploitation, and illegal sexual activity by law enforcement and the importance of holding those responsible for these crimes accountable. The investigation and prosecution of individuals involved in the operation of high-end brothels and the exploitation of vulnerable individuals is crucial in addressing these issues and seeking justice for the victims.
