The Daily Star Ireland
A 54-year-old man who orchestrated a widespread scheme to rent out properties under false identities and turn them into brothels across rural Ireland has been sentenced to nine years in prison. Ilamar Rodrigues Ribeiro, a Brazilian national, was arrested upon returning to Ireland in November 2023 after spending time abroad. His arrest followed a lengthy investigation by the Garda Human Trafficking and Co-ordination Unit.
The investigation linked Ribeiro to at least ten rental properties that had been converted into brothels between 2018 and 2023. The locations included Longford, Kildare, Ballyconnell, Enniscorthy, Ballymahon, Ballaghaderreen, Carrick-on-Shannon, Tullow, and two additional properties in Roscommon town. Ribeiro used fake documentation, including a counterfeit Italian passport and utility bills, to rent these homes from unsuspecting landlords and agents.
The properties were connected to Ribeiro through his phone number and email address. In some cases, when gardaí visited the homes, they were answered by women who openly identified themselves as sex workers. Gardaí also linked Ribeiro to approximately €788,982 held in various Irish bank accounts, believed to be proceeds of his criminal activities.
Child Abuse Material and Prior Convictions
In addition to brothel-keeping and money laundering, Ribeiro was charged with possession of child sexual abuse material. Upon his arrest at Dublin Airport, authorities found nine images and 16 videos on his phone, most depicting serious abuse involving pre-pubescent children. The court confirmed all material fell into the most severe legal classification for child exploitation content.
Judge Patricia Ryan handed down a sentence of ten-and-a-half years, with the final 18 months suspended under strict conditions for a period of three years. The sentence was backdated to the time of Ribeiro’s arrest. She acknowledged Ribeiro’s prior fraud convictions in the UK and France and noted the calculated nature of his offences. The judge also highlighted the gravity of the financial crimes and the severity of the abuse material found.
Victims, Investigation and Further Details
The court heard that the case unfolded after two women came forward with claims of being trafficked, which led gardaí to several properties used as brothels. Ribeiro’s use of forged identities allowed him to deceive landlords who stated they would not have rented the properties had they known the intended use.
Ribeiro, who has resided in Ireland since 2009, was said to have two teenage children in Brazil. His defence argued that there was no evidence to indicate Ribeiro was a ringleader within the broader criminal network, suggesting he may have played a limited role. However, the volume of evidence, including financial records and direct links to property rentals, demonstrated a sustained and organized operation.
Ribeiro remains in custody as his sentence continues, marking the end of a significant investigation into brothel-keeping and human trafficking in rural Ireland.
