LEADER OF PROSTITUTION RING PLEADS GUILTY TO FEDERAL PROSTITUTION AND MONEY LAUNDERING OFFENSES

MICHAEL J. GARCIA, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that MARK BRENER, a/k/a “Michael,” 62, of Cliffside Park, New Jersey, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy charges stemming from his leadership of the international prostitution and money-laundering ring Emperors Club VIP (the “Emperors Club”). BRENER entered the guilty plea before United States District Judge JOHN E. SPRIZZO in Manhattan federal court. According to the Information and other documents filed in this case, as well as statements made during BRENER’s guilty plea proceeding:

BRENER participated, from December 2004 until March 2008, in a conspiracy to promote, manage, and carry on an illegal prostitution business, to transport women, and to induce women to travel, in interstate commerce with the intent that the women engage in unlawful prostitution. BRENER also conspired to conceal illegal payments for prostitution services by opening and controlling bank accounts in the names of “QAT Consulting, Inc.,” and “QAT International, Inc.,” which were used to receive payments from customers. At the time of BRENER’s arrest, law enforcement officials seized over $1 million in cash proceeds found in BRENER’s apartment.

BRENER faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison on the prostitution conspiracy count and twenty years in prison on the money laundering conspiracy count. Sentencing is scheduled for September 16, 2008 at 3 p.m. before Judge SPRIZZO.

Mr. GARCIA praised the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigative Division.

Assistant United States Attorneys BOYD M. JOHNSON III, DANIEL L. STEIN and RITA GLAVIN are in charge of the prosecution.

###