The Alexander brothers were once regulars in the Miami and Manhattan party circles, using their power, wealth and fame to meet women. Now, they are on trial in New York, accused of a wide-ranging sex trafficking conspiracy that prosecutors say started almost two decades ago.
Prosecutors say that from 2008 to 2021, the brothers lured victims with social events as well as domestic and international travel and then later raped or sexually assaulted them. Sometimes, prosecutors say, the women would be drugged before the attacks.
The trial, in which opening statements were given on Jan. 27, is expected to last for at least a month. Prosecutors are expected to call accusers, federal agents, and experts on drugs and memory loss to the witness stand.
The brothers, Tal Alexander, 39, and twins Oren and Alon Alexander, 38, have denied all allegations and have pleaded not guilty. If convicted, they could face life in prison.
Here’s what we know about the brothers and the trial.
Who are the Alexander Brothers?
The three brothers grew up in Miami, moving in elite circles from a young age because of their parents, Orly and Shlomo Alexander, who became millionaires after immigrating to the United States.
Oren and Tal went into real estate, working together at the brokerage Douglas Elliman. In 2019, they made headlines after selling a $240 million penthouse, the most expensive sale in New York history at the time. Later, in 2022, they founded a boutique luxury brokerage called Official.
Their brother Alon worked as an executive with his family’s private security company. Together, the three brothers were a fixture on the nightlife circuit and built a reputation as jet-setting bachelors.
But rumors about the brothers followed them for years dating back to their time in high school. Allegations became public when two women filed lawsuits against the twins, accusing them of sexual assault in the early 2010s. The Real Deal, a real estate trade publication, first reported on the lawsuits.
Since then, at least two dozen more civil lawsuits have been filed.
What criminal charges do they face?
In December 2024, the brothers were arrested on federal charges at their homes in and near Miami Beach and have been held without bail in a federal detention center ever since.
The brothers are charged in a 12-count indictment that includes conspiracy to commit sex trafficking; sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion; and inducement to travel to engage in unlawful sexual activity.
Prosecutors argued in their opening statement that the brothers “used things of value, — trips, big houses and exclusive parties — to get women to places where they could rape them using force or using drugs.”
The indictment lists eight victims, including two underage girls, though additional women are also expected to testify. Prosecutors have previously stated that they interviewed more than 60 women who had reported being raped or sexually assaulted by at least one of the brothers.
What is the defense strategy?
Attorneys for the three brothers have argued in and outside court that any relationships with women were always consensual, and any accusations are part of an orchestrated campaign to tarnish their reputations and get money from them.
The brothers are represented by high-profile defense lawyers from New York and Florida, including Teny Geragos and Marc Agnifilo, who both represented Sean Combs in his federal sex trafficking trial last year. The brothers have also retained Juda Engelmayer, a high-stakes public relations strategist who previously represented Harvey Weinstein.
Mr. Engelmayer has argued that the brothers were “mischarged.”
“I’m not going to say they’re the kindest, sweetest, gentlest people,” he said. “But I think the charge is not the right charge. They’re not guilty of trafficking.”
Kate Christobek is a reporter covering breaking news for The Times.
The post What to Know About the Alexander Brothers Sex Trafficking Trial appeared first on New York Times.
