Supposed sex buyers named in hearings

Crime

All two accused and jumped on Friday the initial hearings at the Cambridge District Court. Several presumed sex buyers are expected to be identified in hearings at the end of this month.

Of Abby Patkin

March 14, 2025 | 16:04

4 minutes to read

Expect to face the public for the first time Friday, the first batch of men accused of bought sex from a Boston’s larger brothel network Mostly refused to appear for their initial court hearings.

All two accused and killed the hearings of probable case at the Cambridge District Court, who marked the first public disclosure of the names of clients of the supposed brothel. Authorities request charges against a total of 28 peopleWith the initial hearings, they stopped Three data in March.

At least one defense lawyer said that his client’s absence was in objections to the Sharon Shelfer Casey. The choice to do usually with closed doors Open hearings to the public – a consolidated decision of a November decision from the highest court of the state.

“With great respect for the decision of the Supreme Judicial Court, my client continues his objection to this public hearing and I would ask the official to reconsider,” said Howard Cooper, lawyer for sex buyer John Doran.

Casey agreed to submit accusations against all 12 cases of which were named on Friday.

Men’s identities were a source of fervent speculation of November 2023, when federal prosecutors announced the arrest of three persons accused of operation a network of high quality brothels Apart from the apartments in Cambridge, Watertown and The Washington, DC, suburbs. At that time, the American lawyer for Massachusetts, Joshua Levy, said that “rich and well -connected clientele” include politicians, military officers, doctors, lawyers and business directors.

Speaking in court, Lt. Cambridge police, Jarred Cabral, went through a series of similar police reports for each man, offering a perspective on communications between brothel operators and their accused customers, who would agree to spend hundreds of dollars per time with sex workers. He also presented the common terminology, such as the “friend experience” on the border and the use of “donations” to refer to payments.

Lawyers for alleged clients in Bordel request clemency

So-called Cause hearings Determine if there is a probable cause to issue a criminal complaint and allow prosecutors to continue the case. While the alleged sex buyers fought Keep these private hearingsThe Supreme Judicial Court agreed that Levy’s announcement “raised legitimate public concerns about the potential favoritism and prejudices if such hearings were organized behind closed doors.”

Appearing on behalf of his client David Lacava, who did not participate in the hearing, Defense lawyer Kevin Maoneoy asked Casey to use his discretion to determine the probable cause. He stated that the police have already exercised some discretion in prosecuting criminal charges, mentioning that while the US Lawyer Office estimated the number of brothels verified at More than 2,800Only 28 men were accused at the Cambridge District Court.

“Not everyone will be exposed here criminally. Not everyone here will be tracked. Not everyone here will be penalized, “said Mahone. “So, it’s just a very small number of people who are in danger here, and my client is not one of the individuals, a civil servant, whom anyone in the media will be interested. Is a software engineer. He does not hold any government authorization. “

Also, Defense Lawyer, Steven Goldwyn, pleaded for clemency, observing his client, Mark Zhu, “has 0.0 criminal records of any kind.”

Zhu and another man, Jason Han, were the only presumed sex buyers who appeared in court on Friday. Han’s lawyer, John Pensa, recognized a sufficient probable cause, but claimed that Casey should make an exception, given the lack of criminal history of his client, as well as his career in health care.

“He gave him a ton back to this community,” Pensa said. “Without a problem of substance abuse. No mental health problems. Only a citizen of astonishment. “

If Han would lose his license to work as a radiological intervention technologist at Bright and Women’s Hospital, “we will lose an incredible member of the Boston community,” he argued.

Pensa added: “It is worth – Commonwealth of Massachusetts deserves – to maintain this young hero of health care.”

Casey addressed Han directly in her answer.

“This is a radar blip and I know you will go through it. Okay? “She said.” Will you do the right thing, okay? It’s a crime. You’ll go through it. “

Defense lawyer David Yannetti, representing Jonathan Lanfear and Pinhao Chao, tried a different approach, claiming that the evidence against both clients is insufficient.

“This is everything, in my opinion, rank speculation,” he said as he addressed Chao’s case.

Below are the name of the accused whose probable hearings have taken place on Friday:

1. Kerry HK Wu, born in 1970
2. John J. Doran, born in 1949
3. Boya Zhou, born in 1997
4. David Lacava, born in 1978 from Waltham
5. Mark Zhu, born in 1996 from Lincoln
6. Jason Zixuan Han, born in 1995, from Concord
7. Peter H. Macgillivray, born in 1964 from Boston
8. Yihong Zou, born in 1994
9. Pablo Domingo Maceira, born in 1985, from Roslindale
10. Jonathan Lanfear, born in 1968 from Winchester
11. Pinhao Chao, born in 1992, Newton
12. Patrick Walsh