CAMBRIDGE — Ten additional men were publicly named Friday in connection with a high-end commercial sex operation that authorities say ran out of luxury apartments in Cambridge, Watertown, and the Washington, D.C., area.
The men are part of the third and final group to be identified during a series of probable cause hearings held this month in Cambridge District Court. None of the accused nor their attorneys appeared in court Friday. In previous hearings, only two men attended in person, while several others sent legal representation.
According to authorities, the defendants were among the most frequent customers of the brothel network, which was shut down in late 2023 after federal agents arrested its three operators. All three have since pleaded guilty.
The network, which catered to what federal prosecutors described as a “wealthy and well-connected clientele,” allegedly included politicians, business executives, and military officers.
During Friday’s hearing, Cambridge Police Lt. Jarred Cabral read from police reports detailing text exchanges between the alleged buyers and the brothel’s operators. The communications included logistical instructions — such as waiting near the elevator if others were present — and prohibited negotiating with the women directly.
The show-cause hearings are held to determine whether there is enough evidence to issue a criminal complaint. The men named Friday are expected to be arraigned in the coming weeks.
Initial efforts by the defendants to keep the proceedings private were unsuccessful. The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court upheld a decision by Clerk-Magistrate Sharon Shelfer Casey to open the hearings following requests from local media outlets.
Authorities estimate more than 2,800 individuals were verified customers of the brothel network, but prosecutors are focusing on cases involving those who allegedly sent over 400 text messages to the operators.
The following individuals were identified during Friday’s hearing:
- Amrit Chaudhuri, 39, of Brookline
- Mitchell H. Rubenstein, 74, of Chestnut Hill
- Marshall Berenson, 62, of Cambridge
- Harmanpreet Singh, 38, of Woburn
- Kenneth Posco, 69, of Fitchburg
- George Wu, 58, of Needham
- Patrick C. Enright, 63, of Wakefield
- Suren Chelian, 47, of Lexington
- Sankara Swarup Asapu, 40, of Malden
- John Cascarano, 61, of Hingham
If any of the accused fails to appear for arraignment, a warrant could be issued for their arrest.
