logo
Man jailed for eight years for organising prostitution across Dublin

Man jailed for eight years for organising prostitution across Dublin

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 been a complicated and lengthy one 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 sentenced 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.
The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week
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.
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.
Sign up to the Irish Mirror's Courts and Crime newsletter here and get breaking crime updates and news from the courts direct to your inbox.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Boss of gun-running ring offered to ‘throw in' 10 pipe-bombs to seal deal with buyer
Boss of gun-running ring offered to ‘throw in' 10 pipe-bombs to seal deal with buyer

Sunday World

time3 hours ago

  • Sunday World

Boss of gun-running ring offered to ‘throw in' 10 pipe-bombs to seal deal with buyer

Mark McCourt (34) appeared before the Special Criminal Court today A plumber identified as the boss of a gun-running ring told a prospective customer he would throw in 10 pipe bombs as a free gift to seal a €75,000 cash deal to supply guns and ammunition smuggled by air from America, a sentencing court has heard. Mark McCourt (34), of Edenrieve, Newry, Co Down, appeared before the Special Criminal Court today, after pleading guilty last week to firearms offences and participating in a criminal organisation's efforts to import restricted weapons. A senior garda said in evidence to the three-judge court that he was 'fully satisfied' that there was a criminal organisation in existence under the 'control and direction' of McCourt 'whose function was the importation of firearms components from the USA to Ireland, and the reassembly of these restricted firearms for onward distribution to other criminal organisations'. Detective Inspector Shane McCartan of the Garda Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, who led an investigation into the gang's activities last year, said a firearms technician had been able to assemble 82 gun parts seized in a raid on a property in Co Louth last year into six assault rifles and a dozen pistols. Det. Insp. McCartan said McCourt had already been identified in connection with the suspected importation of firearms when the defendant was arrested for something else on 24 May 2024 and had his phone seized. Gardaí were able to extract data from the phone shedding light on the activities of the smuggling ring in the preceding year, along with conversations with prospective customers in messages on Signal, WhatsApp and Snapchat, the witness said. Seized weapons Det. Insp. McCartan said McCourt and his co-accused both flew to Las Vegas, Nevada on three occasions in April and May 2023. On April that year, following their return from the trip, McCourt told one prospective customer -- who used the alias 'The Keeler' – 'we got sorted this evening' and that it would take a few hours to 'stick them all together', the court was told. 'So get the cash ready lol,' McCourt added, before telling The Keeler to 'get another phone' as a 'burner'. In further text exchanges with The Keeler, McCourt wrote: '€75k cash is [the] best price' and that he had 'another man there for them today'. He said the receiver of the firearms would need 'a dry place like a hot press or that' as a 'stash spot'. 'If they get damp, they won't fire, that's why you see bots there and they're misfiring, because the powder is damp,' McCourt wrote. He then added: 'Tell them 75k and I'll throw in the 10 pipes for free.' Det. Insp. McCartan said: 'It's my belief that refers to pipe bombs.' He said one of a number of videos found on Mr McCourts phone, which were screened in court today, had captured a serial number on an AR-15 rifle made by Anderson Defence traced to a sale on 10 February 2023 at a shop called Parumph Guns and Ammo near Las Vegas. 'It was purchased by the co-accused on 10 February 2023,' the witness said. As the videos were screened for the court, Det Insp McCartan said that what was being shown were 'AR-15 assault rifles, military grade' and their magazines, including one 'drum magazine' which could hold upwards of 50 bullets. A 'significant quantity' of loose rounds was also to be observed, he said. Mark McCourt When a detective held up an example of one of the seized rifles in court, the detective inspector said: 'Judge, it should be noted that all of the firearms had their serial numbers bored off.' Prosecuting counsel Simon Matthews BL, said that after another trip to Las Vegas in May 2023, a text from McCourt's phone to a prospective buyer under the alias 'Vladimir Putin' said: 'I can get an AR-15… she'll drop a deer at 900 yards, no problem.' 'Vladimir Putin' then asked about buying a '7.62 sniper' – and about the source of the weapons. 'We ram raid the place across the water,' McCourt replied, adding: 'Yeah mate, don't know, but I can get a price. In another exchange stored on the seized phone, another prospective customer under the alias 'Duff' asked: 'Sweet bro, and if I need another AR [assault rifle] how soon can I get it?' 'That'll be next month… but they're definitely there to be got,' came the reply by voice note, which was played to the court. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC said that while the videos and pictures 'were seized from his phone' the prosecution was not able to state that Mr McCourt had recorded them. Det Gda McCartan said he and his team had 'a serious concern' in late June and early July 2024 that the gang would import another load of weapons and sell them on. The court heard gardaí commenced a surveillance operation and obtained warrants for a shed and lands at Blackstaff, Ardee Co Louth. McCourt and another member of the gang were arrested when Bureau detectives and armed officers from the Garda Emergency Response Unit (ERU) raided the premises on 19 July 2024. The 82 firearms parts were found 'all in the one suitcase' in the shed, along with nearly 900 rounds of pistol and rifle ammunition found in a Dunnes Stores bag on a sofa there, the witness said. Det Insp McCartan told the court the defendant has some 42 previous convictions including assault causing harm, theft, and dangerous driving 'on the high end'. He said McCourt and was jailed for three years, with 18 months suspended, on foot of a conviction for a criminal damage incident in which he had gone to the home address of an off-duty garda at 2.55am and 'rammed' her car. He agreed with Mr Grehan that this period of offending was when the McCourt was aged between 19 and 22. Mr Grehan presented the court with letters from local businesses which had used his client as a plumbing subcontractor and stated that they found him 'courteous and professional'. He said his client was the father of two children, and that his fiancée and her mother were 'standing by him'. Asking for 'the maximum mitigation allowable', Mr Grehan said he had been 'asked to tender an apology on his behalf to the court and the State for getting involved in these matters, and also to his family and the shame he's brought to them for this'. The State is to make further submissions on the gravity of the offending when the case is heard again on Thursday. However, Ms Justice Karen O'Connor, presiding, said the court would not be in a position to finalise sentence until a later date.

Plumber who led gun-running ring offered to 'throw in' free pipe-bombs in €75k rifle deal
Plumber who led gun-running ring offered to 'throw in' free pipe-bombs in €75k rifle deal

The Journal

time4 hours ago

  • The Journal

Plumber who led gun-running ring offered to 'throw in' free pipe-bombs in €75k rifle deal

A PLUMBER IDENTIFIED as the boss of a gun-running ring told a prospective customer he would throw in ten pipe bombs as a free gift to seal a €75,000 cash deal to supply guns and ammunition smuggled by air from America, a sentencing court has heard. Mark McCourt (34), of Edenrieve, Newry, Co Down, appeared before the Special Criminal Court today, after pleading guilty last week to firearms offences and participating in a criminal organisation's efforts to import restricted weapons. A senior garda said in evidence to the three-judge court that he was 'fully satisfied' that there was a criminal organisation in existence under the 'control and direction' of McCourt. The garda added McCourt's 'function was the importation of firearms components from the USA to Ireland, and the reassembly of these restricted firearms for onward distribution to other criminal organisations'. Detective Inspector Shane McCartan of the Garda Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, who led an investigation into the gang's activities last year, said a firearms technician had been able to assemble 82 gun parts seized in a raid on a property in Co Louth last year into six assault rifles and a dozen pistols. McCartan said McCourt had already been identified in connection with the suspected importation of firearms when the defendant was arrested for something else on 24 May 2024 and had his phone seized. Gardaí were able to extract data from the phone shedding light on the activities of the smuggling ring in the preceding year, along with conversations with prospective customers in messages on Signal, WhatsApp and Snapchat, the witness said. McCartan said McCourt and his co-accused both flew to Las Vegas, Nevada on three occasions in April and May 2023. On April that year, following their return from the trip, McCourt told one prospective customer – who used the alias 'The Keeler' – 'we got sorted this evening' and that it would take a few hours to 'stick them all together', the court was told. 'So get the cash ready lol,' McCourt added, before telling The Keeler to 'get another phone' as a 'burner'. In further text exchanges with The Keeler, McCourt wrote: '€75k cash is [the] best price' and that he had 'another man there for them today'. He said the receiver of the firearms would need 'a dry place like a hot press or that' as a 'stash spot'. 'If they get damp, they won't fire, that's why you see boys there and they're misfiring, because the powder is damp,' McCourt wrote. He then added: 'Tell them 75k, and I'll throw in the 10 pipes for free.' McCartan said: 'It's my belief that refers to pipe bombs.' He said one of a number of videos found on McCourt's phone, which were screened in court today, had captured a serial number on an AR-15 rifle made by Anderson Defence traced to a sale on 10 February 2023 at a shop called Parumph Guns and Ammo near Las Vegas. 'It was purchased by the co-accused on 10 February 2023,' the witness said. Advertisement As the videos were screened for the court, McCartan said that what was being shown were 'AR-15 assault rifles, military grade' and their magazines, including one 'drum magazine' which could hold upwards of 50 bullets. A 'significant quantity' of loose rounds was also to be observed, he said. When a detective held up an example of one of the seized rifles in court, the detective inspector said: 'Judge, it should be noted that all of the firearms had their serial numbers bored off.' Prosecuting counsel Simon Matthews BL, said that after another trip to Las Vegas in May 2023, a text from McCourt's phone to a prospective buyer under the alias 'Vladimir Putin' said: 'I can get an AR-15 […] she'll drop a deer at 900 yards, no problem.' 'Vladimir Putin' then asked about buying a '7.62 sniper' – and about the source of the weapons. 'We ram raid the place across the water,' McCourt replied, adding: 'Yeah mate, don't know, but I can get a price.' In another exchange stored on the seized phone, another prospective customer under the alias 'Duff' asked: 'Sweet bro, and if I need another AR [assault rifle] how soon can I get it?' 'That'll be next month […] but they're definitely there to be got,' came the reply by voice note, which was played to the court. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC said that while the videos and pictures 'were seized from his phone' the prosecution was not able to state that Mr McCourt had recorded them. McCartan said he and his team had 'a serious concern' in late June and early July 2024 that the gang would import another load of weapons and sell them on. The court heard gardaí commenced a surveillance operation and obtained warrants for a shed and lands at Blackstaff, Ardee Co Louth. McCourt and another member of the gang were arrested when Bureau detectives and armed officers from the Garda Emergency Response Unit raided the premises on 19 July 2024. The 82 firearms parts were found 'all in the one suitcase' in the shed, along with nearly 900 rounds of pistol and rifle ammunition found in a Dunnes Stores bag on a sofa there, the witness said. McCartan told the court the defendant has some 42 previous convictions including assault causing harm, theft, and dangerous driving 'on the high end'. He said McCourt and was jailed for three years, with 18 months suspended, on foot of a conviction for a criminal damage incident in which he had gone to the home address of an off-duty garda at 2.55am and 'rammed' her car. He agreed with Grehan that this period of offending was when the McCourt was aged between 19 and 22. Grehan presented the court with letters from local businesses which had used his client as a plumbing subcontractor and stated that they found him 'courteous and professional'. He said his client was the father of two children, and that his fiancée and her mother were 'standing by him'. Asking for 'the maximum mitigation allowable', Grehan said he had been 'asked to tender an apology on his behalf to the court and the State for getting involved in these matters, and also to his family and the shame he's brought to them for this'. The State is to make further submissions on the gravity of the offending when the case is heard again on Thursday. However, Ms Justice Karen O'Connor, presiding, said the court would not be in a position to finalise sentence until a later date. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal

Senior Garda officers set to probe Danny Healy-Rae 'push' as TD makes u-turn
Senior Garda officers set to probe Danny Healy-Rae 'push' as TD makes u-turn

Irish Daily Mirror

time9 hours ago

  • Irish Daily Mirror

Senior Garda officers set to probe Danny Healy-Rae 'push' as TD makes u-turn

Kerry TD Danny Healy-Rae has said he won't be complaining about the Garda who allegedly pushed him on a Dublin street - because the officer's superiors are now examining the issue themselves. Healy-Rae had originally vowed to make a complaint over the incident that happened in central Dublin as he made his way to Croke Park for Sunday's All-Ireland final - but has now changed his mind. He told The Irish Mirror on Monday evening that Garda management was looking at the issue - and he was happy with that. Danny Healy-Rae was allegedly pushed by a garda before Sunday's All-Ireland final 'The Gardaí have a way of dealing with that and they will deal with it. I have enough to do beside doing any more,' he told The Irish Mirror. Sources have confirmed to us that local Garda management are examining the incident - but they stressed that there was no disciplinary process. 'There is no disciplinary process, but it is being assessed locally,' a source told us. The incident, on Cathedral Street beside O'Connell Street in central Dublin, was caught on camera - and put up online within minutes of it happening. It quickly went viral and, as of Monday night, had been viewed at least 1.5 million times. The incident started when hundreds of Kerry fans were lining the street ahead of the Croke Park showdown with Donegal for Sam Maguire. Several fans noticed Deputy Healy-Rae walking along the street and began cheering. He acknowledged the cheers and waved to the fans before walking a few yards. He stopped to wave to fans again, before turning to walk down the street - which is when the incident with the Garda happened. In the footage, the two men walk close to each other and then the Garda appears to stick out a hand to move the deputy out of his way. The Garda then walks on, but a clearly upset Deputy Healy-Rae goes back to approach the officer. The incident happened beside Dublin's O'Connell Street The two men talk to each other for a few seconds before they go their separate ways - while the crowd starts booing. Deputy Healy-Rae told the Irish Mirror on Sunday night he was going to make a complaint over the incident, which appears to show a uniformed Garda using one hand to move him away from him. But, speaking to The Irish Mirror on Monday evening, he confirmed he was happy for Gardaí to examine it internally. He said: 'It is up to the powers that be to deal with him. 'I know that they will deal with him appropriately. I am not going to add to his woes.' But he added: 'There was no call or need for what he did to me. 'He is only one person and I have the utmost regard and respect for the Gardaí. 'It is out there in the public - I believe over a million people have seen it, sure that is enough for me. 'The most important thing (is) Kerry won the match. We have the best team and we have the best supporters and we are the best county in the country.' Kerry's Paudie Clifford lifts The Sam Maguire Cup with David Clifford and his son Ogie. Deputy Healy-Rae says the most important thing is that the Kingdom won on Sunday (Image: ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne) The deputy stressed the matter was now in the hands of the Garda's bosses. And he said: 'It's up to the Gardaí themselves to deal with it as they see fit. 'I really appreciate the Gardaí and I know that at many times they have to deal with very tricky situations where they have to de-escalate problems rather than trying to make them worse. 'I know that they will deal with the matter efficiently and effectively and I rely on them to do that. I appreciate the Gardaí and they are doing a wonderful job. 'There were wonderful Gardaí around there at that specific place at that particular time and they were all doing their job and they were visible and they were present.' But he did say that he would like an apology from the uniformed officer. He said: 'He will have to explain himself to the people who are his superiors. 'I am not saying anything in the world about him, only I would like that he would apologise.' A Garda spokeswoman declined to comment when contacted by The Irish Mirror. She said: 'An Garda Síochána does not comment on internal matters of employee relations while under assessment. 'Anyone who wishes to report the conduct of a member of An Garda Síochána is entitled to make a complaint to the independent policing ombudsman, Fiosrú.' Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here. The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store