Thursday 29 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 8827Organising prostitution · Co. Dublin

Man jailed for eight years over organised prostitution across Dublin

Between January 2020 and November 2023, Stelian Ciuciu, a 32-year-old man, leased eight properties in Dublin for use as brothels, posing as part of a couple with an escort to rent them from landlords. He was arrested in November 2023, when €11,000 in cash was seized from his home, and later pleaded guilty to 20 counts including organising prostitution and money-laundering. On 23 July 2025, Judge Martin Nolan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jailed him for eight years, backdated to November 2023, after setting a global headline sentence of 13 years before mitigation.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced23 Jul
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Stelian Ciuciu leased eight properties in Dublin to be used as brothels.
  • He posed as part of a couple with another woman working as an escort to rent properties from landlords, and used fake Romanian identity documents and fake employer references.
  • He used a WhatsApp group with about 450 members to advertise the properties to escorts.
  • He laundered approximately €320,000.
  • Escorts paid up to €1,000 a week per property, with two or more escorts working in each property.
When
The offences took place between January 2020 and November 2023.
Investigation
  • The offences came to light when landlords came forward with suspicions about their rented properties, and gardaí followed him to properties used as brothels and to banks where he was lodging cash.
  • €11,000 in cash was seized from his home when he was arrested in November 2023.
Charges
He pleaded guilty to 20 counts including enhancing the ability of a criminal organisation, organising prostitution, brothel-keeping, using false instruments and money-laundering.
In court
Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Sentence
  • Judge Nolan set a global headline sentence of 13 years before mitigation, which included no previous convictions and family circumstances.
  • He was jailed for eight years, backdated to when he first went into custody in November 2023, and the seized cash was forfeited to the State.
Other details
  • His accomplice, referred to as Ms N, has fled the country.
  • He is a stateless person of Roma origin, born in Germany.
20 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatHe leased eight properties to be used as brothels. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatHe posed as part of a couple with another woman working as an escort to rent properties from landlords. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatHe used a WhatsApp group with about 450 members to advertise properties to escorts. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatHe laundered approximately €320,000. (irishmirror.ie)
  • what€11,000 in cash was seized from his home when he was arrested in November 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatHe used fake Romanian identity documents and fake employer references to rent the properties. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatEscorts would pay up to €1,000 a week per property. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatTwo or more escorts were working in each property. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe offences took place between January 2020 and November 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe offences came to light when landlords came forward with suspicions about their rented properties. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí followed him to properties used as brothels and banks where he was lodging cash. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeHe pleaded guilty to 20 counts including enhancing the ability of a criminal organisation, organising prostitution, brothel-keeping, using false instruments, and money-laundering. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtJudge Martin Nolan sentenced him at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceStelian Ciuciu was jailed for eight years for organising prostitution across Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Nolan set a global headline sentence of 13 years before considering mitigation. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceThe final sentence of eight years was backdated to when Ciuciu first went into custody in November 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceCiuciu forfeited the cash seized during the investigation to the State. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherHis accomplice, referred to as Ms N, has fled the country. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherHe is a stateless person of Roma origin, born in Germany. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherHe has no previous convictions. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 23 Jul2025
    Sentencedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Man jailed for eight years for organising prostitution across Dublin

    Sentencing hearing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court; Judge Martin Nolan imposed eight years (backdated to November 2023 custody) after a global headline of 13 years, with mitigation for no previous convictions and family circumstances. Ciuciu forfeited seized cash to the State.

    convicted, Stelian Ciuciu, 32, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Stelian Ciuciuaccused, female