Romanian prosecutors have officially charged social media influencer Andrew Tate with trafficking minors, money laundering, engaging in sexual activities with a minor, and tampering with witnesses. His brother Tristan has been indicted for complicity in the crimes. The Tate brothers, who are former professional kickboxers holding dual citizenship in the U.S. and Britain, were apprehended in Miami in late July following a request for extradition from the UK.

Having been primarily located in Romania since 2017, the Tate brothers have been under investigation in the country since December 2022 for various offenses, including human trafficking. They have consistently refuted any allegations of wrongdoing. According to Romanian prosecutors, the brothers enticed their victims by pretending to seek romantic relationships or marriages, only to coerce them into producing pornographic content for a webcam enterprise.

In response to the indictment, a Romanian lawyer representing the Tates, Eugen Vidineac, stated that they would meticulously review the charges and challenge any shortcomings in evidence or legal procedures through the appropriate legal channels. The Tates continue to deny the accusations leveled against them.

Currently detained in the United States, the Tate brothers await a decision on their extradition to the UK, where they are facing rape charges. The Romanian anti-organized crime unit DIICOT, responsible for investigating the Tates, has not confirmed whether they will pursue extradition from the U.S. The brothers could potentially be tried in absentia in Romania; however, the trial is not expected to commence immediately. Per Romanian law, the indictment will be reviewed by a preliminary court chamber judge to ensure its legality, a process that typically extends beyond the stipulated 60-day period.

One of Andrew Tate’s victims, whom he allegedly seduced in the UK at the age of 15 and later brought to Bucharest, Romania, was subjected to physical violence and mental coercion to produce pornographic content for social media platforms. According to DIICOT, Tristan was complicit in the exploitation, using physical force to intimidate the victim. Prosecutors revealed that the brothers retained approximately $1.25 million from the victim’s videochat earnings, amounting to around 80% of her total income, and attempted to conceal the illicit funds by purchasing luxury vehicles.

While previously accused of human trafficking in Romania, the Tate brothers had their case returned to prosecutors by the Bucharest court of appeals in late 2024 due to the exclusion of certain evidence. Andrew Tate, known for his controversial views on women, had justified his move to Romania by citing the leniency of law enforcement in the country. Both brothers have cultivated a sizable following, predominantly comprising young men, by projecting a glamorous and hyper-masculine persona involving fast cars and relationships with attractive women.