Man jailed for 8 years over organised prostitution in Dublin

RTÉ News​

6 days ago

A man who organised prostitution across Dublin by leasing out eight properties to be used as brothels has been jailed for eight years.
Stelian Ciuciu, 32, posed as part of a couple with another woman, who was working as an escort, to rent properties from unsuspecting landlords, which he then advertised to escorts for their use. He laundered about €320,000 in the process Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard.
Ciuciu used a WhatsApp group containing about 450 members to advertise the properties to escorts and was heavily engaged in the day-to-day upkeep of the premises, as well as regularly advising the escorts to maintain discretion and not draw attention to themselves, Detective Garda Colm Grogan of the Organised Prostitution Investigation Unit said.
Ciuciu, of Brookdale Walk, Swords, Co Dublin, pleaded guilty to 20 counts including enhancing the ability of a criminal organisation, organising prostitution, brothel-keeping, using false instruments and money laundering. The offences took place in various locations within the state on dates between January 2020 and November 2023.
The most serious of these offences -enhancing the ability of a criminal organisation - carries a maximum sentence of 15 years, while the remaining offences carry maximum terms of between five and 14 years, the court heard. Ciuciu has no previous convictions.
Sentencing Ciuciu today, Judge Martin Nolan said he was involved in this organised and "pretty sophisticated" prostitution scheme and his principal role was to rent out the properties, which the prostitutes then used "for their occupation".
Judge Nolan acknowledged that Ciuciu entered a plea late in the prosecution of the case but said this was a "very valuable plea" as the trial would have a complicated and lengthy trial involving many witnesses.
The judge remarked that substantial profits would have been made from the operation and acknowledged that the gardaí are doing their best to track that money, but he said either Ciuciu "or someone else" profited from the scheme.
Judge Nolan set a global headline sentence of 13 years before he considered the various mitigation in the case.
He noted that Ciuciu has no previous convictions, has family responsibilities and that his wife and three children are in "pretty impoverished circumstances" since his remand in custody. He acknowledged that Ciuciu has done well in custody since his remand and accepted letters that were handed into the court on his behalf.
Judge Nolan imposed a sentence of eight years which was backdated to when Ciuciu first went into custody last November. Ciuciu forfeited the cash which had been seized during the course of the investigation to the State.
Similar rental documents
Det Gda Grogan told Mark Lynam SC, prosecuting, at a sentence hearing yesterday, that Ciuciu's offences came to light when some landlords came forward with suspicions about what their rented properties were being used for.
Gardaí noticed that similar rental documents with Ciuciu's photo, but different names had been used to rent out the properties and Ciuciu was identified and followed. Gardaí followed him to a number of properties that were being used as brothels and some banks where he was lodging cash.
When gardaí entered the premises and carried out welfare checks, they found prostitution was taking place in each property, with two or more escorts working there, the court heard. A total of €320,000 was found to be going through Ciuciu's accounts.
Det Gda Grogan said this money, which was mostly lodged in cash by Ciuciu, was used to pay the rent for the properties and these accounts did not contain any profits. When he was arrested in November 2023 and his home was searched, a total of €11,000 in cash was seized.
When asked by Judge Nolan if gardaí had established what profits Ciuciu made from the enterprise, Det Gda Grogan said in his experience, escorts would pay up to €1,000 a week per property. Investigations are continuing into the whereabouts of the profits Ciuciu would have made, the court heard.
The court heard Ciuciu provided fake documents, including fake Romanian identity documents and fake employer references to rent out the properties, which were the subject of the false instrument charges.
He and the escort who was posing as his partner provided employer references for a garage and a beauty salon. People in these businesses who were "complicit" in the offending provided fake references when contacted, the court heard. No charges have been made in relation to these people to date.
Ciuciu's accomplice, referred to in court as Ms N, has since fled the country, the court heard.
In his plea of mitigation, Michael Lynn SC, defending, said Ciuciu, who has lived in Ireland for a number of years, has been in custody since his arrest. His wife and three young children have had difficulties as a result, the court heard.
Ciuciu was described in court as a stateless person of Roma origin, who was born in Germany but whose family renounced that citizenship. He has been residing in Ireland legally on the basis that he has a stateless application before the authorities, defence counsel said.
He is extremely concerned about his future residence as a consequence of these convictions, Mr Lynn said.
Letters of apology from Ciuciu and his wife were handed into court. The court heard he has experienced racism and discrimination and struggled to find work as a result. He is doing well in custody and has engaged in educational courses.