A London restaurateur, Jose Reis, has been sentenced to three years and 10 months in jail for his role in a £1million Brazilian brothel network operating in the city. Reis, who managed Brazilian restaurants in Clapham and Croydon, was described as a key figure in running five brothels where up to 68 women, mainly from Brazil, worked and generated over £13,000 a week.
The criminal enterprise was led by an elusive man named Patrick, with Reis acting as the banker responsible for identifying, renting, and maintaining properties used as brothels, as well as laundering the profits. Another man, Itallo Mendonca De Oliverira, operated further down the hierarchy by collecting cash from sex workers, purchasing supplies, and providing security.
Mendonca De Oliverira was sentenced to 19 months in prison, although he had already served almost one year. Judge Richard Marks KC acknowledged that there was no evidence of the sex workers being forced to come to the UK, but they were expected to work long hours and follow house rules. Police discovered large sums of cash in possession of Mendonca De Oliverira, indicating weekly takings of around £13,000 from the brothels.
Reis was involved in the operation from August 2021 to August 2023, during which an estimated £1,000,000 was made. He received £204,000 in his personal bank account, with a significant portion spent on renting properties for the brothels. In contrast, Mendonca De Oliverira received a more modest wage of £5,000 during his nine months of involvement.
The court proceedings revealed the extent of the criminal operation and the financial gains made by those involved. The case serves as a reminder of the exploitation that can occur within the sex industry and the importance of cracking down on such illegal activities to protect vulnerable individuals.
