Romanian prosecutors have issued a new indictment against controversial social media influencer Andrew Tate, charging him with the trafficking of minors, having sex with a minor, and money laundering. His brother, Tristan Tate, has also been indicted on charges of complicity in the case, according to Romania's anti-organized crime agency, DIICOT.
The new charges stem from an ongoing investigation that initially led to the brothers' arrest in Bucharest in late 2022 and a subsequent formal indictment in 2023. However, a Romanian court returned that original case to DIICOT in 2024, citing multiple legal and procedural irregularities committed by prosecutors. While that case remained open, the brothers also faced a separate legal case in Romania in 2024.
According to DIICOT, the Tate brothers coerced a victim by feigning a loving relationship to force her into producing pornographic material for an online webcam business. The agency alleges that in 2012, the brothers recruited a 15-year-old girl in Luton, England, the town where they are from. After repeatedly transporting her to Romania, they allegedly generated more than $1.2 million from her webcam activities.
Prosecutors claim Tristan Tate was fully aware of the victim's age and her recruitment by Andrew. Between 2014 and 2021, Tristan allegedly deceived the teenager regarding his brother's feelings and intentions, facilitating her sexual exploitation. Furthermore, DIICOT alleges that between December 2020 and mid-2021, Andrew Tate repeatedly engaged in sexual intercourse and sexual acts with another minor victim, who was also 15 years old.
The indictment also includes money laundering allegations. DIICOT claims that between December 2023 and July 2024, the Tates sought to hide or disguise the illicit origin of their human trafficking profits by purchasing four luxury cars valued at approximately 825,000 euros (about $957,000). Prosecutors have requested that these vehicles be confiscated. Additionally, the agency alleges that victims were paid or intimidated in attempts to influence them not to make statements or to provide false statements to authorities.
Both Andrew, 39, and Tristan, 38, are dual U.S.-British citizens who have built a massive, polarizing social media empire promoting wealth, male dominance, and misogyny. They have repeatedly denied all allegations of wrongdoing, with Andrew Tate claiming the legal actions are part of a political conspiracy designed to silence them. A Romanian lawyer representing the brothers did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the new indictment.
The brothers were originally arrested in late 2022 on allegations of participating in a criminal ring that lured women to Romania for sexual exploitation, with Andrew Tate also facing a rape charge. While Romanian officials had allowed the brothers to remain free with certain restrictions—including reporting to a Bucharest police station—they are currently being held in Miami, Florida.
The detention in the United States follows a July request from prosecutors in the United Kingdom for their extradition over separate sex crimes allegations. Last week, the Tates took the witness stand in a Miami federal court, testifying that they cannot adequately defend themselves against the criminal charges if they remain jailed in Florida while fighting extradition. Their legal team argued in court filings that the U.K. extradition request is out of line because their criminal proceedings in Romania must take precedence.
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