61-Year-Old Woman Pleads Guilty In Global Sex Trafficking Operation

ST. PAUL, MN — A Thai woman has admitted in federal court to her role in a global sex trafficking organization.

In the United States District Court of Minnesota Tuesday, Sumalee Intarathong, 61, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking and one count of conspiracy to engage in money laundering.

A sentencing hearing is not yet set.

"Today’s guilty plea marks the final conviction in a years-long international sex trafficking prosecution resulting in 37 convictions," U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger said in a news release.

"Ms. Intarathong, worked directly with others at the highest levels in the organization to victimize hundreds of vulnerable women for her own financial gain."

The criminal organization made tens of millions dollars by forcing hundreds of women from Bangkok, Thailand, to engage prostition in cities across the U.S., according to investigators.

Intarathong, 61, served as a "boss" and trafficker for the organization, authorities said. She "owned" victims until they could pay her a "bondage debt" of up to $60,000, acccording to investigators.

Intarathong arranged for victims to travel from Thailand to a prostitution house somewhere in the U.S., and she committed vias fraud to facilitate the travel, authorities said.

Intarathong was arrested in Belgium in August 2016 and was extradited to the U.S. in February 2021.