A city council member in Boston’s suburbs is one of several men who prosecutors identified as clients in an upscale brothel network frequented by politicians, military officers and business executives in Massachusetts and Virginia.
Cambridge City Council member Paul F. Toner, 58, had his name revealed during a Friday hearing in Massachusetts state court where officials are assessing whether the “John Does” will face criminal charges for using the brothel’s services.
“I caused pain for the people I care about most. For that, I will be forever sorry,” Mr. Toner said in a statement. “This is an ongoing legal matter and I will not have further comment at this time.”
Mr. Toner is accused of agreeing to pay $340 an hour to meet with a prostitute named “Tulip” in April 2023. Prosecutors said the lawmaker engaged with the brothel multiple times between January and September of that year.
Disclosure of the alleged clients came days after brothel ringleader Han Lee, 42, was sentenced to four years in federal prison last week.
Co-conspirators Junmyung Lee and James Lee pleaded guilty to their roles in the prostitution business. They will be sentenced later this spring.
The brothel garnered national attention in 2023, when federal prosecutors said a “wealthy and well-connected clientele” was among the 2,800 verified customers between Massachusetts and Virginia.
Customers in the D.C. metropolitan area — the hub of political, military and intelligence officials — invited speculation the prostitution ring was a “honeypot” to target high-ranking figures for state secrets.
No foreign government or criminal organization has been linked to the brothel network run by Lee.
In Virginia, local prosecutors said they lacked the evidence to pursue charges against brothel customers who frequented locations in Fairfax and Tysons.
In Massachusetts, local courts allowed the 28 alleged clients to have their names made public in multiple “show-cause” hearings taking place this month.
