LAWFUEL – 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.
08-141 ###
