A restaurateur who helped run a £1million network of Brazilian brothels in London has been jailed.
Jose Reis, who previously ran Brazilian restaurants in Clapham and Croydon, was described as a “main player” in operating five brothels across the city.
Up to 68 women, mostly from Brazil, worked in the brothels which took upwards of £13,000 a week.
An elusive man named Patrick headed the criminal enterprise while Reis was described as the banker of the operation responsible for identifying, renting and maintaining properties used as brothels and laundering the profits.
Reis, 55, of Walpole Road in Colliers Wood, admitted conspiracy to control prostitution for gain and conspiracy to transfer criminal property.
He was jailed for three years and 10 months at Southwark Crown Court on Wednesday (August 21).
A second man - Itallo Mendonca De Oliverira, 27, of Wolsley Road in Mitcham – operated further down the hierarchy.
His job was to collect cash from sex workers, buy supplies such as condoms and cleaning products and acting as a security guard.
Mendonca De Oliverira admitted keeping or managing criminal property and conspiracy to transfer criminal property and was jailed for 19 months, though he had already served almost one year in prison.
Common Serjeant of London, Judge Richard Marks KC, said: “This will almost certainly result in your immediate release today, and that is my intention.”
The court heard that there was no evidence that the sex workers came to the UK by anything but their own volition and none made complaints about how they were treated.
But Judge Marks said: “They were expected to and did work long hours and were expected to comply with so-called house rules.”
Mendonca De Oliverira was stopped by police in June 2022 and was found to be in possession of £11,000.
When police searched his home they found a further £13,000 in cash and 68 envelopes with women’s names on.
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Analysis of WhatsApp messages showed cash would be collected each week so police believe £13,000 was the weekly takings.
Reis was involved from August 2021 to August 2023 and police estimated that £1,000,000 was made during that period.
£204,000 was paid into Reis’ personal bank account during that time, though he spent £112,000 on renting properties used as brothels.
Judge Marks said Mendonca De Oliverira worked for a more “modest” wage as police only found evidence of £5,000 paid to him during his nine months of involvement in the brothels.
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