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Alleged brothel keeper faces 93 new charges including organising prostitution
The 93 further charges brought against Ms Cucoranu today were for offences in Cos Dublin, Louth, Meath, Kildare and Waterford between 2016 and 2023.
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A WOMAN accused of brothel-keeping has had 93 new charges brought against her over alleged prostitution activities in five counties over an eight-year period.
Lenuta Andreea Cucoranu (29) who was arrested after “vulnerable” sex workers were discovered in multiple garda raids last year, now faces trial on more than 100 charges, Dublin District Court heard.
She was remanded in custody today after a judge was told the fresh counts included an organised crime charge on which bail cannot be granted at district court level.
Judge Deirdre Gearty adjourned the case for the preparation of a book of evidence.
The 93 further charges brought against Ms Cucoranu today were for offences in Cos Dublin, Louth, Meath, Kildare and Waterford between 2016 and 2023. She is accused of 17 counts of organisation of prostitution, 17 brothel keeping, 11 money laundering, 47 theft-related offences including using false documents and one count of participating in organised crime.
This was in addition to 16 prostitution, money laundering and theft-related charges already brought against her last year.
Detective Garda Michelle Woods of the Organised Prostitution Investigation Unit told Judge Gearty she met the accused before the court this morning when she was further charged on the directions of the DPP.
She was cautioned and made no comment to any of the new counts. Detective Sergeant Andrew Lambe handed the written schedule of charges in to court.
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Ms Cucoranu was already on bail and her solicitor Claire Finnegan said this could be extended to all the existing charges except for the organised crime count which the court did not have jurisdiction to deal with.
Det Gda Woods said there was no objection to bail being extended to the other charges. She said the DPP directed trial on indictment on all counts.
The accused, who has not yet entered pleas, was remanded in custody to appear in court again next week.
In a contested bail hearing last April, Det Sgt Lambe said it was alleged the accused leased properties “for the purpose of organising prostitution and operating them as brothels.”
They were allegedly leased using “specific false documents.”
According to gardai, cash was lodged by the accused and subsequently transferred to three landlords.
It was alleged that habitual prostitution was occurring at the properties, with more than one person operating as a prostitute at each address.
The money laundering charges related to €12,000 in alleged crime proceeds.
The accused, from Romania, was not married, had no children, came to Ireland in 2012 and had no employment history, Det Sgt Lambe said.
He said it was a “complex and protracted investigation,” and there would be a significant number of witnesses – in excess of 45 “vulnerable individuals working in the sex trade.”
Bail was granted. Under conditions, the accused was not to be involved in organised prostitution or brothel keeping and to have no contact with any sex worker subject of the charges or the wider investigation, or any landlord allegedly involved.
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