Romanian prosecutors charge Tate brothers with trafficking and money laundering

Romanian prosecutors have filed a new indictment against former kickboxers Andrew Tate, 39, and Tristan Tate, 38, accusing them of trafficking minors, laundering money and sexual exploitation. The charges stem from an alleged scheme that generated more than $1.2 million by coercing a young woman to perform sexual acts during video chats. Investigators say the woman was first recruited by Tristan when she was 15 and later confined in a property in Luton, England, where Andrew allegedly controlled her through surveillance and physical intimidation before moving her to Romania to continue the exploitation.

Both brothers, who hold dual U.S. and British citizenship, are currently detained in a Miami jail while fighting extradition to the United Kingdom on separate matters. Prosecutors have also requested the seizure of four luxury vehicles valued at about £710,000, alleging they were purchased with laundered funds.

"Today's decision by DIICOT does not determine guilt and it should not be presented as though it does. It represents the prosecution's latest attempt to bring this case before a court following the failure of its previous indictment to proceed to trial," said their lawyer Eugen Constantin Vidineac.

"The history of these proceedings matters. The previous indictment was subjected to judicial scrutiny and the court identified significant irregularities which prevented the case from moving forward to trial. DIICOT has now chosen to file a new indictment. We will examine every aspect of it with the same level of scrutiny and we will challenge any evidential, procedural or legal deficiencies through the appropriate judicial process. Our clients continue to reject the allegations against them. They have the right to the presumption of innocence, the right to properly examine the evidence relied upon against them and the right to mount an effective defence."