CAMBRIDGE, MASS. (WHDH) – A number of individuals accused of paying for sex at high end brothels around Boston will face a judge for the first time Friday.
Friday’s probable cause hearings will mark the first public disclosure of the alleged brother clients’ identities, something the defendants fought in court to keep from happening.
Three groups, totaling 28 defendants, will go through this process. All are facing charges of sexual conduct for a fee at brothels that were run in Cambridge, Watertown, and Washington, D.C.
The U.S. Attorney said all of the defendants are “wealthy and well-connected clientele”.
Federal investigators said that includes politicians, military officials, doctors, lawyers, and business owners.
The second group of defendants will have a hearing next Friday, and the third will be in court the Friday after that.
The three people, two men and one woman, accused of running these brothels all pleaded guilty in federal court. One is set for sentencing Wednesday morning in Cambridge. All of them were charged with conspiracy to coerce women and money laundering. One was also charged with wire fraud.
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court decided in November to open the hearings taking place today and over the next few weeks to the public.
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