Police Log: Man Arrested for Taking Pair of Shoes, Check Stolen from Mail Box

The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Jan. 27, 5:40 a.m.: Five people were seen exiting Milk Vape Shop on Arlington Street, got into a black SUV and sped away toward Arsenal Street. Four men and a woman, all wearing dark clothing, went into the store, jumped over the counter and took approximately $5,000 in merchandise. Detectives responded to the scene and found pry marks on the front door.

Three Men Indicted for Running Prostitution Ring in Mass. and Virginia, Including Watertown

The following announcement came from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Massachusetts:

Three individuals previously arrested and charged in November 2023 in connection with operating sophisticated high-end brothels in greater Boston and eastern Virginia have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston, Mass. 

The following individuals have each been indicted on one count of conspiracy to persuade, induce, entice, and coerce one or more individuals to travel in interstate or foreign commerce to engage in prostitution; and one count of money laundering conspiracy: 

Han Lee, a/k/a “Hana,” 41, of Cambridge, Mass.;

James Lee, 68, of Torrance, Calif.; and

Junmyung Lee, 30, of Dedham, Mass. According to the charging documents, from at least July 2020, the defendants operated an interstate prostitution network with multiple brothels in Cambridge and Watertown, Mass., as well as in Fairfax and Tysons, Va. It is alleged that the defendants collectively established the infrastructure for brothels in multiple states which they used to persuade, induce and entice women – primarily Asian women – to travel to Massachusetts and Virginia to engage in prostitution. 

Specifically, the defendants allegedly rented high-end apartment complexes as brothel locations, which they furnished and regularly maintained. It is further alleged that the defendants coordinated the women’s airline travel and transportation and permitted women to stay overnight in the brothel locations so they did not have to find lodging elsewhere, therefore enticing women to participate in their prostitution network. According to court documents, the defendants established house rules for the women during their stays in a given city to protect and maintain the secrecy of the business and ensure that the women did not draw attention to the prostitution work inside apartment buildings. 

The defendants allegedly advertised their prostitution network primarily on two websites – bostontopten10.com and browneyesgirlsva.blog – which offered appointments with women in either greater Boston or eastern Virginia, respectively.

Police Log: Wallet Stolen Out of Car, Counterfeit Bills Used at Target

The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Jan. 16, 1 p.m.: A Riverside Street resident moved her husband’s vehicle onto the street at 8:30 a.m. and left it running and unlocked. She came back out a half hour later and her wallet was missing out of the purse she left on the front passenger seat. It contained credit cards and her driver’s license.

Three Sent to Hospital After Watertown Motor Vehicle Accident

Three people suffered injuries in an accident on California Street late Saturday night. The Watertown Fire Department released the following statement on social media:

Just before midnight fire companies responded to a motor vehicle accident on California St. Two occupants were ejected from the vehicle and a third needed to be extricated. They were transported to area hospitals. The vehicle damaged in an accident on California Street on Jan.

Police Log: Woman Vandalizes Car, Multiple Shopliftings

The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Dec. 27, 7 p.m.: An Edith Avenue resident lost a wallet and an unknown person attempted to use the person’s credit card at multiple locations in the Boston area. One was a $2,548 purchase at the Apple Store; and three at Walgreen’s for $327, $400, and $300. All were unsuccessful, and Wells Fargo notified the resident about the attempted charges.

Learn About Being a Watertown Police Officer at Information Session

Find out what it is like to be a Watertown Police officer at an informal meeting hosted by Police Chief Justin Hanrahan. The Watertown Police will host an informal Q&A session for possible new officers. Hear from Chief Hanrahan, Capt. Dan Unsworth, and other members of the WPD. “If you are interested, come down to the PD and speak to our officers. Ask questions about the hiring process or anything else related to becoming a member of our police department.