High-profile customers in alleged Massachusetts brothel ask state's highest court to hide identities
BOSTON – Elected officials, doctors and lawyers are among dozens of men fighting to keep their names private as customers of an alleged brothel. On Monday, the highest court in Massachusetts heard arguments from both sides in the case.
In November, U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Joshua Levy announced that three people were arrested for allegedly operating a high-end brothel network out of apartment complexes in Cambridge, Dedham, and Watertown, Massachusetts as well as Virginia.
Brothel case at Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
Over a dozen of the alleged clients are asking to remain anonymous.
The full Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court heard this argument Monday after a judge ruled last year to open this case to the public.
"They will undoubtedly lose their jobs lose their professions and have their lives ripped apart," attorney Benjamin Urbelis, representing five alleged brothel clients, argued before the SJC.
The brothel ring leaders allegedly operated through websites advertising nude Asian models for professional photography as a front for prostitution.
"They are doctors, they are lawyers, they're accountants, they are executives at high-tech companies, pharmaceutical companies, they're military officers, government contractors, professors, scientists," Levy said about customers of the brothel when the arrests were announced. "Pick a profession, they're probably represented in this case."
Public interest vs. Right of privacy
Attorney Jeff Pyle told the SJC this is an issue of transparency.
"What the public perception will be, if these hearings are closed, or if these applications don't allow for the proper reporting of these hearings, is that anybody who is not charged will have not been charged because they got some time of preferential treatment behind closed doors" Pyle argued.
It will likely take weeks or months before the issue is decided.
"I believe that the law is on the side of the John Does, we made our points here in court, the justices asked some very important questions that we addressed, and now its in there hands," Urbelis said outside court.
Accused ring leaders seek to change plea
Junmyung Lee of Dedham, Han Lee of Cambridge, and 68-year-old James Lee of Torrance, California were initially charged with conspiracy to coerce and entice to travel to engage in illegal sex activity.
Last week, two of the three people accused of running the brothel filed for a plea change. They originally pleaded not guilty, months ago. That issue will be in court later this month.
