12:25pm Monday 17th October 2011

http://www.harrowtimes.co.uk/news/9309814.Father_of_four_given_suspended_sentence_for_brothel_running_and_money_laundering/

A FATHER-of-four has been spared prison after pleading guilty to running three brothels and money laundering the proceeds.

Braz Alvez-Junior, 41, of Brondesbury Road, Kilburn, pleaded guilty to the charges on April 20 and was handed a suspended sentence at Harrow Crown Court, on Friday.

He pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering and transferring of criminal property and to three counts of keeping a brothel.

The brothels were based in Teignmouth Close and Turner Road, Edgware, and Honeypot Lane, in Stanmore.

Prosecutor Nicolas Ball said: “In 2010, police received information in relation to two addresses, firstly in Teignmouth Close and secondly, in Honeypot Lane. The information was that they were being used as brothels.

“Phones were discovered at properties directly linking those properties with the defendant. Further investigation of the defendant uncovered a large number of cash transactions going through his bank accounts.”

Defence Dajan Mladenovic told the court Alvez-Junior was receiving medical treatment after being attacked recently.

He said: “Mr Alvez was attacked when he was with his young daughter. He didn’t know who his attackers were. He was simply attacked in the street.”

Mr Mladenovic advised Judge John Anderson that given Alvez-Junior’s “good character” and his early guilty pleas, he should be given a suspended sentence.

He added: “Entirely unrelated to these proceedings, he has suffered quite a horrendous injury subsequent to the commission of these offences for which he will have to undergo substantial surgery.”

Judge Anderson told Alvez-Junior: “You have pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering and transferring of criminal property and also pleaded guilty to three summary offences of keeping a brothel over a period of months between 2009 and 2010.

“These were properties of which you were the proprietor and it went on for least some 12 months. The women who were working there were it seems all over the age of 16.”

Adding that he gave him “full credit” for the early guilty pleas, he said: “I take fully into account the following circumstances. Firstly, that there is no evidence of threats, coercion, fear, intimidation or exploitation of those working at the houses that you kept.

“In fact, I would go as so far as to say there is positive evidence that those working there were doing so willingly and were content.

"I take the view that given your lack of previous convictions and taking all of those matters into consideration, that it brings down the total sentence I would pass upon you of 12 months imprisonment.

“Given your current circumstances and particularly the careful medical evidence I have read concerning some very alarming injuries you have sustained, I can suspend the sentence.”

Judge Anderson passed the sentence of 12 months in prison for the transferring of criminal property and three months for the three counts of brothel-keeping to run concurrently.

The sentence was suspended for two years. Alvez-Junior is also under a curfew order for four months where he will be electronically tagged from 7pm to 7am.