Cambridge City Councilor charged in high-end brothel case will not seek re-election

Cambridge City Councilor Paul Toner announced that he will not seek re-election, just months after being charged with buying sex from a brothel.

In a Facebook post Monday, Toner wrote that he has decided to "take a step back from elective office to explore other opportunities."

"I believe I would be successful in a run for re-election, and I am deeply grateful to the many friends and supporters who have reached out over the past few months to offer me their continued support and have encouraged me to run for another term," Toner wrote.

In March, Toner was among more than two dozen men charged with buying sex from a brothel that operated out of apartments in Cambridge and Watertown. Authorities said the brothel advertised online and required the men to provide personal information, including their employer and references. Prosecutors said the fees ranged from $350 to $600 an hour.

Toner is charged with one count of sexual conduct for a fee, which carries a penalty of up to a year in prison and up to a $500 fine. The case is pending.

After the charges became public, some called for Toner to resign, including fellow councilor Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler and Desiree Demos, executive director of the EVA Center, a Boston nonprofit that seeks to end prostitution.

Toner has been a Cambridge city councilor since 2022. He's also president of the education consulting group Cambridge Strategic Partnerships and a former 7th and 8th grade social studies teacher. Toner was also the former president of the Massachusetts Teacher Association.

Toner said he will continue to be "active in Cambridge civic life as a private citizen."

A total of 28 people were accused of paying for sex from the brothel ring, which authorities say made millions of dollars by enticing primarily Asian women to engage in prostitution. Federal authorities say the brothel network, believed to be operating since 2020, generated more than $5.6 million from more than 9,400 customer visits.

The leader of the ring, Han Lee, as well as two associates — Junmyung Lee of Dedham and James Lee of Torrance, California — have pleaded guilty to several charges for their roles in the scheme. Han Lee was sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to charges of money laundering and coercing individuals to engage in prostitution. Junmyung Lee received one year in prison for his work as the brothel's "booker." James Lee is awaiting sentencing.