Alexander brothers are convicted of sex trafficking : NPR

Alexander Brothers Convicted of Sex Trafficking in Manhattan Federal Court NEW YORK – Three brothers, including two of the country's most successful luxury real estate brokers, were convicted Monday of sex trafficking after a five-week trial over allegations that they drugged and raped dozens of women they had dazzled with their wealth and opulent lifestyle. The verdict came after 11 women testified in Manhattan federal court that they were sexually assaulted by one or more of the brothers: twins Oren and Alon Alexander, 38, and Tal Alexander, 39. All three shook their heads when the jury foreman said "guilty" 19 times in a row, a powerful calculation that could put them behind bars for the rest of their lives. Tal Alexander dropped his head into his crossed arms. Their stunned parents were sitting on the gallery behind them. Alon Alexander's wife covered her face with her hand and appeared to hold back tears. Judge Valerie E. Caproni set sentencing for August 6. The brothers, imprisoned since their arrests in 2024, will appeal the verdict, their lawyers said. "We believe in the innocence of our clients and we are not going to stop fighting until we prevail, and we believe that one day we will prevail," defense attorney Marc Agnifilo said outside court. U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton praised the verdict as vindication for victims of crimes that often go unreported and unpunished. "The truth is that sex trafficking and other federal sex crimes are present in many areas of life and we have not done enough to eradicate them," Clayton said in a statement. Dozens of women say they were drugged and assaulted The verdict represented a spectacular fall for Oren and Tal Alexander, once known as real estate's "A-Team" for their high-priced sales and celebrity clientele. After breaking sales records at industry powerhouse Douglas Elliman, the brothers founded their own company. Alon Alexander ran his family's private security company. The victims testified that they met the brothers at nightclubs, parties, and dating apps, and were attacked after accepting their invitations to all-expenses-paid getaways to the Hamptons; Aspen, Colorado; and a cruise through the Caribbean. According to prosecutors, more than 60 women say they were raped by one or more of the brothers. Defense attorneys suggested the accusers had poor memories or hoped to profit from the brothers' fortune. The brothers were womanizers, their lawyers admitted. But they insisted that any sex was consensual. In addition to the main charges, Alon and Tal Alexander were also convicted of sex trafficking of a minor, while Alon and Oren Alexander were convicted of sexual abuse aggravated by force or narcotics and sexual abuse of a physically incapacitated person. Oren Alexander was also convicted of sexually exploiting a minor after prosecutors showed jurors a video he recorded of him assaulting a drugged 17-year-old. Lawsuits expose an open secret in the real estate world In addition to the criminal case, the brothers have faced about two dozen lawsuits over the past two years, including one filed last week in which Tracy Tutor, a star of Bravo's "Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles," alleges Oren Alexander drugged and assaulted her while she was in New York City for a real estate event. When the first of the lawsuits was filed, several women came forward stating that they too had been assaulted and that the brothers' misconduct had been an open secret in the real estate world. The government took notice and opened a criminal case. During the trial, many women who testified said they believed the brothers had put alcohol in their drinks. Some described feeling like they had lost control of their bodies. A woman testified that she met the brothers in 2012 at a party at actor Zac Efron's Manhattan apartment. She said she had almost no