Romanian prosecutors indicted social media influencer Andrew Tate on Friday on charges of trafficking minors, having sex with a minor, money laundering, and witness tampering.
His brother, Tristan Tate, was indicted for allegedly assisting him.
Both brothers deny the accusations, which have not been proven in court. They remain jailed in Miami while fighting extradition to the United Kingdom in a separate criminal case.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, U.S. authorities arrested the dual U.S.-British citizens in July pursuant to a British extradition request involving allegations of rape, assault, and sex trafficking.
Prosecutors Detail Alleged Exploitation Of 15-Year-Old
Romania’s Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism, known as DIICOT, alleges that Andrew Tate recruited a 15-year-old girl in Britain in 2012 by falsely claiming that he wanted a romantic relationship with her.
Prosecutors claim Tate subsequently brought the girl to Bucharest and used physical violence and psychological intimidation to force her to create pornographic content for an online webcam business.
Tristan Tate allegedly assisted his brother and used physical aggression to coerce the girl, according to prosecutors.
Authorities claim the brothers retained approximately $1.25 million generated by the girl’s online activity, representing roughly 80% of her earnings. They allegedly attempted to launder the proceeds by purchasing four luxury vehicles.
Andrew Tate is separately accused of having sexual relations with another 15-year-old girl in Romania between 2020 and 2021, according to The Associated Press.
Romanian authorities have not publicly identified the alleged victims.
Tate Brothers Deny Accusations
Eugen Vidineac, a Romanian attorney representing the brothers, said the defense would scrutinize the new indictment and challenge any evidentiary, procedural, or legal deficiencies.
“Our clients continue to reject the allegations against them,” Vidineac said.
The brothers have repeatedly denied engaging in human trafficking or sexual abuse and have portrayed the investigations against them as politically motivated.
Andrew Tate, a former professional kickboxer, developed a massive international following through online content about wealth, relationships, masculinity, and personal success.
Separate Cases Span Three Countries
Friday’s Romanian indictment is legally separate from the British case that led to the brothers’ arrests in Florida.
British authorities are seeking to prosecute the men for alleged offenses involving multiple women between 2010 and 2017. The brothers are contesting extradition and have not entered pleas in a British court.
It remains unclear whether Romanian prosecutors will submit their own request for the brothers’ extradition from the United States. A DIICOT spokesperson told Reuters that the men could be tried in absentia under Romanian law.
A Romanian trial will not begin immediately. The indictment must first be reviewed in a preliminary chamber, where a judge will determine whether the case and its evidence were handled legally.
Romanian law generally gives a preliminary chamber judge 60 days to complete that review, although Reuters reported that the process routinely takes longer.
Earlier Romanian Case Encountered Problems
The brothers were previously indicted in Romania in 2023 on allegations of human trafficking and forming an organized criminal group.
In late 2024, the Bucharest Court of Appeals returned that case to prosecutors after determining that some evidence was inadmissible and identifying problems with the indictment. That ruling did not acquit the brothers or end the broader investigations surrounding them.
Friday’s indictment adds another proceeding to an increasingly complicated international legal fight. Even if the brothers defeat or resolve Britain’s extradition request, the newly filed Romanian charges could continue moving through the courts independently.
Provided by Dallas Express
