Three individuals have been charged with running a sophisticated sex trafficking ring that targeted influential clients such as elected officials and military officers. The operation involved falsely advertising nude Asian models and using high-end apartments as brothels. The arrests were made in Massachusetts and Virginia. nwademgaz reported
U.S. Authorities Arrest Three in Bust of Sophisticated Sex Ring
Three individuals have been apprehended by federal prosecutors for allegedly operating an elaborate commercial sex ring in Massachusetts and eastern Virginia. The illicit operation reportedly catered to influential clients, including elected officials and military officers. Authorities claim that the ring used deceptive websites, falsely promoting nude Asian models for professional photography, to feature women. Additionally, high-end apartments with exorbitant monthly rents up to $3,660 were allegedly utilized as brothels. Prosecutors have also revealed the existence of a website that allowed clients to rate the women involved.
Acting Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Josh Levy emphasized the secretive and exclusive nature of the commercial sex ring, stating, “This commercial sex ring was built on secrecy and exclusivity, catering to a wealthy and well-connected clientele, and business was booming, until today.”
The authorities identified the Massachusetts brothels in Watertown and Cambridge, while others were located in Tysons and Fairfax, Virginia, near Washington, D.C. The three individuals arrested and charged with conspiracy to coerce and entice others to engage in illegal sexual activity were Han “Hana” Lee, a 41-year-old resident of Cambridge, Massachusetts, James Lee, a 68-year-old resident of Torrance, California, and Junmyung Lee, a 30-year-old resident of Dedham, Massachusetts. Prosecutors allege that the trio amassed hundreds of thousands of dollars through their illicit scheme.
Owners of Colorado Funeral Home Arrested in Connection with 190 Decaying Corpses
The proprietors of a funeral home in Colorado have been taken into custody in Oklahoma after authorities discovered 190 sets of decomposing remains at one of their facilities. Shockingly, some of the corpses had been left there for as long as four years. Reports indicate that investigators encountered deplorable conditions upon entering the Return to Nature Funeral Home building in Penrose, Colorado, with bodies stacked haphazardly. The existence of bodies dating back to 2019 suggests that the cremains received by families previously could not have belonged to their loved ones.
The arrested individuals, Jon and Carie Hallford, have been accused of absconding from Colorado to evade prosecution. They are currently incarcerated with a $2 million bond, facing numerous charges including abuse of a corpse, theft, money laundering, and forgery. The Hallfords are expected to make their initial appearance on a federal fleeing charge on November 9 in Muskogee. At present, neither of them has legal representation, and efforts to contact them have been unsuccessful.
Texan Involved in Attorney General Scandal Faces Additional Charges
A Texas businessman, central to the scandal that led to the historic impeachment of state Attorney General Ken Paxton, has been indicted on further federal charges. Nate Paul, an Austin-based real estate developer, already faced accusations of fabricating information to secure $172 million in loans from mortgage lenders. The new indictment alleges that Paul defrauded business partners in addition to the previous charges of making false statements. Paul, aged 36, pled not guilty to the initial counts in June. His legal team has yet to respond to the latest indictment, which includes four new counts of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
The charges against Paul stem from a lengthy investigation by the FBI, which Paxton involved his office in. This chain of events ultimately led to a separate federal probe into the Republican attorney general and his subsequent impeachment by the GOP-controlled state House of Representatives in May.
Shootout in North Carolina Leaves Two Deputies and Suspect Injured
During a confrontation, two sheriff’s deputies from a county in southeastern North Carolina were wounded, as was the subject of their warrant. The incident occurred in a community near Maxton, approximately 120 miles southeast of Raleigh. Robeson County Sheriff Burnis Wilkins informed the press that the exchange of gunfire transpired around 9:30 a.m. Both deputies are in serious condition but are expected to recover, while the suspect remains in critical but stable condition.
The suspect, identified as Shawn Tobin Locklear Jr., aged 20, managed to escape in one of the wounded deputies’ cruisers. In the process, he ran over one of the deputies, resulting in a broken leg. However, Locklear was eventually apprehended by other deputies. The sheriff disclosed that Locklear had been sought by law enforcement for violating the conditions of his pretrial release after removing his ankle monitoring bracelet. Notably, Locklear had already faced a murder charge in December and had been released on bond in May.
Sheriff Wilkins expressed gratitude towards two local residents who provided assistance by offering a belt and towel to help stem the bleeding of the wounded officers.
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