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ST. PAUL 鈥� The last of nearly 40 defendants in a nationwide sex trafficking ring has pleaded guilty to two conspiracy charges, bringing the years-long case to a close, federal prosecutors in Minnesota announced.

On Tuesday, Nov. 29, 61-year-old Sumalee Intarathong entered a guilty plea before Senior U.S. Judge Donovan W. Frank in St. Paul to one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking and one count of conspiracy to engage in money laundering.

Federal prosecutors in Minnesota say Intarathong worked 鈥渄irectly with others at the highest level鈥� of an international criminal organization to transport hundreds of women from Bangkok to cities across the United States on promises of a better life.

After arriving in America, the women were 鈥渙wned鈥� by Intarathong or other traffickers until the victim could repay what court documents refer to as an 鈥渆xorbitant bondage debt,鈥� which could range between $40,000 and $60,000. Intarathong and other co-conspirators would arrange housing for the victims in a 鈥渉ouse of prostitution,鈥� where they could earn money by engaging in 鈥渃ommercial sex acts鈥� across the country.

As part of the scheme, federal prosecutors say Intarathong and other co-conspirators engaged in widespread visa fraud to facilitate the international transportation of the victims. Information on the victims鈥� families would be gathered by the criminal organization and used as a threat if a victim became noncompliant.

The criminal organization is said to have operated primarily with cash which was laundered in a 鈥渟ophisticated鈥� manner. Investigators estimated that more than $10 million had been moved from the United States to bank accounts in Thailand and other countries.

鈥淔or more than seven years, Ms. Intarathong had been responsible for sex trafficking across the nation,鈥� said Justin Campbell, special agent in charge of the Internal Revenue Service鈥檚 Criminal Investigations Unit in Chicago. 鈥淎nd like many criminals she tried to hide her ill-gotten gains through legitimate purchases 鈥� such as vehicles and real estate. Fortunately for American taxpayers, IRS Criminal Investigation special agents are uniquely qualified to follow complex financial transactions and uncover the source of the illegal funds.鈥�

After federal authorities first sought Intarathong鈥檚 arrest more than eight years ago, she was arrested in Belgium in August 2016. She was later extradited back to the United States in January 2021.

Now, nearly two years after she was returned stateside, U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger said her guilty plea makes her the last of 37 convictions that stem from the international sex trafficking ring.

The nearly 40 investigations involved authorities from Homeland Security, IRS, Diplomatic Security Service, St. Paul Police Department, Anoka County Sheriff鈥檚 Office and Cook County (Ill.) Sheriff鈥檚 Office with the support of the International Organized Crime Intelligence and Operations Center and the Justice Department.

A sentencing hearing has yet to be scheduled for Intarathong, though she could be sentenced to serve life in federal prison.