Romanian prosecutors indict Andrew and Tristan Tate on multiple charges

Romanian prosecutors have filed an indictment against social-media influencer Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan, accusing them of trafficking minors, money laundering, sexual activity with a minor and witness tampering. The charges stem from an investigation that began in December 2022 and focus on alleged recruitment of victims under false pretences of relationships or marriage, followed by coercion to produce pornographic content for a webcam business.

The brothers, who hold dual U.S. and British citizenship and were arrested in Miami after a British extradition request, are currently held in a U.S. jail while a judge considers their extradition to Britain, where they also face rape allegations. Romanian anti-organized crime prosecutors said it is not yet clear whether they will seek extradition from the United States.

"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," said Eugen Vidineac, a lawyer for the Tate brothers, adding that his clients continue to reject the allegations.

According to the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT), one victim was 15 years old when she was allegedly seduced in Britain in 2012, then moved to Bucharest where she was forced to create pornographic material under physical and psychological pressure. Prosecutors claim Tristan Tate acted as an accessory, using physical aggression to coerce the victim, and that the brothers retained about $1.25 million from the video-chat earnings, roughly 80 % of the victim’s proceeds, which they attempted to launder by purchasing four luxury cars.

The indictment will be reviewed by a preliminary court chamber, which under Romanian law has 60 days to assess its legality, though such reviews often take longer. The brothers could be tried in absentia in Romania, but no trial date has been set.