After 24 years of operating an unlawful escort service, mother-son crime duo Margareta von Lambert and Christopher Jelavic have been busted for utilizing von Lambert’s actual property and artwork companies to launder their earnings. Von Lambert, 70, and Jelavic, 48, have been arrested on Sept. 11, a number of days after making an attempt to constitution a flight to Brazil.
Whether or not it’s refining your enterprise mannequin, mastering new applied sciences, or discovering methods to capitalize on the following market surge, Inman Join New York will put together you to take daring steps ahead. The Subsequent Chapter is about to start. Be a part of it. Be a part of us and 1000’s of actual property leaders Jan. 22-24, 2025.
After 24 years of operating an unlawful escort service, mother-son crime duo Margareta von Lambert and Christopher Jelavic have been busted for utilizing von Lambert’s actual property and artwork companies to launder their earnings. Von Lambert, 70, and Jelavic, 48, have been arrested on Sept. 11, a number of days after making an attempt to constitution a flight to Brazil.
“Many investigations have been initiated on [Pretty Woman Escorts] however none have been successful at disrupting or dismantling [it],” Broward Sheriff’s Workplace Detective Jairo Barrera wrote in a 100-page arrest warrant, in line with The Impartial. “Based on… intelligence gathered, and evidence obtained from records, there is reason to believe that Margareta von Lambert is using her Florida Realtor’s License to facilitate the laundering of illicit proceeds for her son, Christopher Jelavic.”
Jelavic owned and operated Fairly Girl Escort Providers, the place he offered the providers of European and South American intercourse staff for $300 to $400 per hour. The ladies labored 12-hour shifts from 6 pm to five am, the warrant stated, and have been beneath contracts the place they gave 45 % of their earnings to Jelavic.
Von Lambert helped Jelavic launder these earnings by saying the ladies labored for her at Boca Artwork Studios, which allegedly provided residence design, residence reworking, and residential gross sales providers. Von Lambert helped the escorts get actual property licenses, so their earnings could possibly be deposited into Von Lambert’s checking account for obscure actual estate-related providers.
Von Lambert additionally brokered a number of luxurious actual property purchases for her son, totaling within the hundreds of thousands. Nonetheless, Von Lambert’s financial institution accounts solely confirmed fee earnings of $3,000 per quarter.
“What is noticeable when examining Margareta von Lambert’s bank accounts is the lack of financial transactions of real estate activity for an account associated with a real estate business and the lack of financial transactions of art studio activity for an account associated with an art studio business,” the warrant learn.
Jelavic’s try to buy an property in Croatia hastened authorities’ arrest efforts, as texts between the mother-son duo confirmed paranoia about police surveillance. In one of many texts, Jelavic stated he was experiencing “frustration and feelings of being overwhelmed” and feared he’d quickly be going “to prison for money laundering, organized crime, and other serious offenses.”
“The desire to purchase property in Croatia hints at plans to move or hide assets internationally,” the warrant learn.
Von Lambert, Jelavic and his spouse tried to depart the nation on Sept. 7; nonetheless, authorities stopped them from boarding the flight. The mom and son have been arrested 5 days later and charged with two counts of cash laundering of greater than $100,000 in a 12-month interval and deriving help from the proceeds of prostitution.
Each expenses carry a $500,000 bond.
