A top Pentagon official has been arrested for allegedly paying an undercover agent for sex in a motel room – before claiming to cops he was only there for a massage.
Stephen Hovanic, 64, of Sharpsburg, Georgia, entered the room with the woman, placed his sunglasses next to a condom, and asked her if they could ‘do a half hour,’ before police officers came barging through the door.
Video released by the Coweta County sheriff’s office revealed the moment Hovanic was busted in the motel on November 15 – in the joint sting with the Department of Homeland Security’s Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation unit.
Hovanic was charged with pandering, which is misdemeanor solicitation of sex.
He worked for the Department of Defense Education Activity for over two decades – and was in charge of the schools educating children of US military servicemen and women on bases across the world.
Stephen Hovanic, 64, of Sharpsburg, Georgia , entered the room with the woman, placed his sunglasses by a condom, and asked her if they could ‘do a half hour,’ before police officers came barging through the door
![Hovanic was charged with pandering, which is misdemeanor solicitation of sex](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/11/28/06/78309133-12798545-Hovanic_was_charged_with_pandering_which_is_misdemeanor_solicita-m-29_1701151726180.jpg)
Hovanic was charged with pandering, which is misdemeanor solicitation of sex
For the last 13 years, Hovanic was also a chief of staff for Department of Defense schools in the US.
Hovanic’s interaction with the woman – including giving her money – was captured on video.
He can be heard introducing himself to the undercover cop, shaking ‘Katie’s’ hand and saying: ‘Nice to meet you. You’re beautiful.
‘I told you I would shower before I got here.’
The video then reveals Hovanic telling the woman: ‘Can we do a half-hour?’
At this point, the undercover agent tells him that she does not ‘play for he pays,’ meaning he would have to give her money before any salacious activity were to begin.
He says: ‘I understand. That’s fair.’
![Hovanic’s interaction with the woman - including giving her money - was captured on video. His sunglasses sit next to a condom on the desk (far right of the frame)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/11/28/06/78309125-12798545-image-a-23_1701151476244.jpg)
Hovanic’s interaction with the woman – including giving her money – was captured on video. His sunglasses sit next to a condom on the desk (far right of the frame)
![He shakes hands with 'Katie' - who is an undercover cop - and makes small talk before handing her cash](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/11/28/06/78309155-12798545-image-a-24_1701151481379.jpg)
He shakes hands with ‘Katie’ – who is an undercover cop – and makes small talk before handing her cash
![Two officers then suddenly walk into the room and arrest the DOD administrator](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/11/28/06/78309153-12798545-image-a-25_1701151486880.jpg)
Two officers then suddenly walk into the room and arrest the DOD administrator
Hovanic then hands her cash, before she moves into another part of the motel room. Soon after, two police officers rush into the room and handcuff him.
He shouts out that he was only there to get a massage – which deputies have since said they doubt.
The two-day operation also resulted in the rescue of six human trafficking victims, whose names were not released, Haralson County’s sheriff said.
In total, the sting led to 26 arrests, including eight prostitution arrests.
The charges included prostitution, pandering, and pimping. Three individuals are currently under investigation for human trafficking and drug charges.
One agent told FOX 5: ‘This kind of operation is really important to us, because, number one, sex buyers are a huge problem in the industry.
‘Without sex buyers, there wouldn’t be a market for the females to continue to be victimized.
‘Second, and probably most importantly for all of us, is the victimization of these females.
‘There’s not a good scenario for them in this lifestyle, so the goal is to get them out of this lifestyle.’
The DoDEA, Department of Defense Education Activity, said it is ‘aware of an alleged incident involving a DoDEA employee in the Americas Region.’
‘As there are ongoing legal processes, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time. Any questions regarding the incident should be directed to the local law enforcement agency involved.’
Earlier in November in a separate operation, prosecutors charged three people with running a high-end brothel network in Boston and northern Virginia, whose customers included elected officials.
![For the last 13 years, Hovanic was also a chief of staff for Department of Defense schools in the US](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/11/28/06/78309117-12798545-image-a-26_1701151647426.jpg)
For the last 13 years, Hovanic was also a chief of staff for Department of Defense schools in the US
![The video reveals Hovanic telling the woman: 'Can we do a half-hour?'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/11/28/06/78309123-12798545-image-a-27_1701151652394.jpg)
The video reveals Hovanic telling the woman: ‘Can we do a half-hour?’
![The two-day operation also resulted in the rescue of six human trafficking victims, whose names were not released, Haralson County's sheriff said](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/11/28/06/78309131-12798545-image-a-28_1701151656324.jpg)
The two-day operation also resulted in the rescue of six human trafficking victims, whose names were not released, Haralson County’s sheriff said
Other clientele included tech and pharmaceutical executives, lawyers, professors and military officers, though federal prosecutors did not identify any of them.
Prosecutors say they paid up to $600 per hour for sexual encounters with predominately Asian women who were being exploited through sex trafficking.
Acting U.S. Attorney Josh Levy announced charges against the brothels’ alleged operators, Han Lee, 41, and Junmyung Lee, 30, of Massachusetts and James Lee, 68, of California.
As well as locations in Massachusetts, Virginia and California being raided, the government have also seized two websites tied to the ring.
Speaking at a press conference, Levy said: ‘This commercial sex ring was built on secrecy and exclusivity, catering to wealthy and well-connected clientele.
‘They are doctors, they are lawyers, they’re accountants, they are executives at high-tech companies, pharmaceutical companies, they’re military officers, government contractors, professors, scientists.
‘Pick a profession, they’re probably represented in this case. Business is booming, until today.’
Levy continued: ‘We’re committed to working closely with our federal, state and local partners to hold accountable the people who both ran this ring and the people who fueled the demand for this ring.’
According to charging documents, the defendants, led by Han Lee, used high-end apartment complexes as brothels in Cambridge and Watertown, Massachusetts, and Fairfax and Tysons, Virginia.
In an affidavit, it says that the women were advertised for commercial sex via two websites, under the guise of professional nude photo shoots.
The affidavit also shows a text message sent from a phone related to the operation in Massachusetts which includes a ‘menu’.
According to the document, the ‘menu’ listed sexual services available, the hourly rate and the women available.
The affidavit states that the term ‘BB’ is a term used in the prostitution industry to refer to unsafe sex, and that ‘GFE’ relates to a ‘Girlfriend Experience’.
The document states that this involves a service that ‘blurs the boundaries between a financial transaction and a romantic relationship’.
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