The last of the three indicted operators of a network of brothels catering to wealthy clients in Greater Boston and Virginia suburbs of Washington D.C. pleaded guilty to his role.

James Lee, 70, of Torrance, California, pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston Wednesday to conspiracy to coerce women to travel interstate to engage in prostitution, money laundering conspiracy and wire fraud.

Money laundering and wire fraud carry maximum penalties of 20 years in prison each, while the coercion charge can carry up to five years in prison. U.S. District Court Judge Julia E. Kobick scheduled a sentencing date of April 29, 2025.

James Lee’s guilty plea followed that of the operation’s madam, Han “Hanna” Lee, 42, of Cambridge; and the operation’s errand boy and booker Junmyung Lee, 31, of Dedham, last year. Han Lee and Junymung Lee sought plea agreements early in their cases.

The trio, who are not related according to prosecutors, were arrested in November 2023 and formally indicted by a federal grand jury the following February.

While this closes the case on the operators of the brothel, more than two dozen alleged brothel “johns” have yet to be formally charged. The johns worked behind closed doors ever since the case began to keep their names hidden unless they are formally charged.

They eventually lost that mission when the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled last November that the show-cause hearings — which are intended to find probable cause enough to charge — will be open to the public. Those hearings are scheduled in Cambridge District Court for three Fridays next month: March 14, 21 and 28.

Prosecutors said clients included “elected officials, high tech and pharmaceutical executives, doctors, military officers, government contractors that possess security clearances, professors, attorneys” and others.

“Pick a profession, they’re probably represented in this case,” then-U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy said in November 2023 while announcing the case. “They are the men who fueled this commercial sex ring.”

James Lee’s involvement in the case was focused on renting the high-end apartments where the illegal sex took place. Prosecutors say that he was the “sole and legal tenant of at least six locations used by this prostitution network.”

James Lee used both his own name and a series of fake and stolen identities, which he backed up with multiple fraudulent driver’s licenses. In addition to leasing the apartments, he worked as a liaison between the sex workers and property managers. For this work, prosecutors say, he was paid a $1,000 per month commission per active lease.

This is a developing story.