Romanian Prosecutors Indict Tate Brothers on New Charges of Minor Trafficking

The Directorate for Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorism formally indicted the brothers in the new case, which includes accusations that Andrew Tate trafficked a minor and engaged in sexual acts with her while Tristan provided complicity. Prosecutors allege the pair exploited the girl after recruiting her at age 15 in the United Kingdom in 2012 by feigning romantic interest. They reportedly moved her to Romania where she was coerced into producing pornographic content for online platforms, with the brothers retaining the majority of the proceeds. According to DIICOT the revenue generated from the victim’s webcam activities exceeded 1.25 million dollars, equivalent to roughly 80 percent of her total earnings from the work. The agency further claims the brothers laundered those funds by purchasing luxury vehicles now targeted for confiscation under the indictment. Andrew Tate additionally faces charges of repeated sexual intercourse with another minor in Romania between late 2020 and mid-2021. The latest indictment follows an expansion of the Romanian probe that began with the brothers’ arrest in December 2022 along with two Romanian women. A previous 2023 indictment on similar charges was returned by a court in late 2024 due to procedural errors, prompting prosecutors to separate certain allegations into this new case to prevent them from becoming time-barred. The new filing was sent to the Bucharest Tribunal after completion on August 31. Romanian prosecutors accuse the brothers of using the loverboy method to recruit vulnerable women and girls by promising relationships before subjecting them to control through violence, surveillance and emotional manipulation. The indictment also alleges attempts to influence victims and witnesses through offers of money or intimidation. Court documents detail that the exploitation spanned several years and involved properties in the Bucharest area including Voluntari and Pipera. The development coincides with the Tate brothers’ detention in Miami since July after their arrest on a British extradition warrant. The UK Crown Prosecution Service has brought a total of 59 charges against the pair related to seven alleged victims for offences committed between 2010 and 2017. Andrew Tate faces 42 of those counts while Tristan faces 17, including multiple allegations of rape, sexual assault and facilitating trafficking for exploitation. A lawyer for the Tates stated that the defence would scrutinise every aspect of the Romanian indictment. Eugen Vidineac said “We will examine every aspect of the indictment with the same level of scrutiny and we will challenge any evidential procedural or legal deficiencies through the appropriate judicial process.” The brothers have consistently denied all allegations across both the Romanian and British cases maintaining that the proceedings represent a politically motivated effort to silence them. The influencers who gained prominence through online content promoting masculine ideals and wealth built a business empire reportedly centred on webcam operations. Romanian authorities have linked their financial activities to the alleged criminal enterprise seeking to seize assets acquired during the period in question. The cases continue to draw international attention given the brothers’ significant online following and the cross-border nature of the proceedings.