NEW YORK — A federal judge in New York City ruled on Wednesday that three brothers, two of whom are luxury real estate brokers, will remain incarcerated as they await trial on serious sex trafficking charges. The ruling comes after Judge Valerie E. Caproni reviewed bail arguments and concurred with earlier decisions by two federal magistrates in Florida, who deemed the men a potential threat to the community and a flight risk.
The three brothers, Oren Alexander, 37, Tal Alexander, 38, and Alon Alexander, 37, all natives of Miami, are currently in custody in Florida and did not appear in Manhattan federal court. They have entered not guilty pleas to the accusations against them. In her ruling, Judge Caproni pointed to the substantial evidence presented against the brothers, significant possible penalties—including a minimum of 15 years and a maximum of life imprisonment—and emphasized that the alleged offenses spanned two decades, suggesting a long-term pattern rather than isolated incidents.
The details outlined in the indictment, unsealed last month, reveal that the brothers are accused of sexually assaulting numerous women from 2002 until 2021. Prosecutors noted that some of these victims were minors. Using their positions of influence acquired through lucrative property deals in major cities like New York, Miami, and Los Angeles, the men are alleged to have employed “deception, fraud, and coercion” to lure victims into situations where they could be attacked. Additionally, the court documents indicated instances of “opportunistic rapes” conducted on victims they encountered randomly.
According to prosecutors, law enforcement has spoken to over 40 women making allegations of forcible rape or sexual assault against at least one of the brothers, with indications that some victims had been drugged prior to being assaulted. Each brother faces allegations of forcible rape from at least ten different women.
During the hearing, attorneys representing the brothers contended that the evidence presented by the government is lacking and highlighted that their clients have not faced any criminal allegations in the last four years. One attorney mentioned that his client successfully passed a lie detector test, claiming it demonstrated his innocence. Milton L. Williams Jr., the attorney for Tal Alexander but speaking on behalf of all defendants, argued that the men have families and are active members of their communities, asserting they present no danger.
Williams argued for a $115 million bail proposal, suggesting that the Alexander family was prepared to sacrifice nearly all their assets should any defendants attempt to flee. As he spoke, the defendants’ parents were seated behind him in the courtroom.
Prosecutors, however, described a raid on Tal Alexander’s apartment in December, where they uncovered numerous photographs and videos showing the brothers and others engaging with women in compromising and intoxicated situations. The authorities pointed out that the presence of such materials indicated that the defendants had not renounced their alleged criminal behavior.
Court documents detailed the chilling accounts of victims, some of whom reported begging for mercy while the defendants ignored their distress. Many victims recounted experiences that left them terrified for their safety, fearing physical harm or even death at the hands of the Alexander brothers.
As the trial progresses, prosecutors have indicated that multiple victims are prepared to testify about the severe sexual violence they endured, with their accounts bolstered by corroborative evidence, including testimony from non-victims, electronic records, and documentation. The prosecutors also mentioned that the testimonies reveal consistent patterns across different situations, locations, and even times, reinforcing the credibility of the allegations.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Jones informed the judge that threats were made toward victims to ensure their silence regarding the attacks. He noted that one of the brothers allegedly threatened various women with ruin if they came forward with allegations.
