The Tate brothers are accused of sexually exploiting dozens of victims, some of whom are minors, all recruited through the Loverboy method.
They are accused of making millions of dollars from pornography and the sexual exploitation of their victims, some of whom were minors.
Prosecutors have seized 16 luxury cars and a motorcycle belonging to them.
Prosecutors have also found large sums of money at their home and are requesting the pre-trial detention of the two brothers.
34 victims and millions of dollars from pornography
Here are the accusations: "From the criminal investigations carried out, it has emerged that, in the course of 2015, three defendants (two of them foreigners - the Tate brothers - editor's note) established an organized criminal group on Romanian territory, to which a suspect (a foreign citizen) joined in 2016 and another defendant (a Romanian citizen) joined in September 2021, acting with the purpose of committing the crime of human trafficking both on Romanian territory and in other states."
According to the prosecutors, the Tate brothers used the Loverboy method and took advantage of the obvious vulnerability of the 34 victims they recruited.
With the help of other gang members, they transported and housed them in various locations, where they supervised and coordinated them.
The victims were forced to produce pornographic materials, which the group later distributed for a fee on specialized platforms. This is how they obtained nearly 3 million dollars.
"The benefits obtained by the defendants from the sexual exploitation of the victims were estimated at over 2,800,000 US dollars and 887,000 tokens," add the investigators.
In particular, the investigators mention a minor victim, a 17-year-old (foreign citizen), who was exploited in various locations in Romania and the United Kingdom from 2014 to December 2021. The girl was recruited by one of the brothers, through deception (also the Loverboy method).
The young woman was forced "to engage in sexual activities for the purpose of producing pornographic materials and distributing them on various websites."
Thus, over 1.5 million dollars were obtained, "which the defendant fully appropriated."
The same Tate brother maintained repeated relationships and sexual acts with a minor victim, a 15-year-old.
"In order to conceal or disguise the illicit origin of the money resulting from the commission of the crime of human trafficking, from December 2023 until July 2024, the two defendants purchased and registered four luxury cars in the name of close persons".
Bought witnesses and seizure of luxury goods
In addition, the two are accused of intimidating and paying off victims and witnesses to prevent them from giving statements or to provide false statements, so that the truth does not come to light.
During yesterday's searches, investigators confiscated:
- 26,000 euros,
- 81,000 lei,
- 5,800 British pounds,
- 6,400 dollars,
- two luxury watches,
- laptops, data storage units,
- documents, as well as other evidence.
- In addition, they placed a precautionary seizure on 16 luxury cars and a motorcycle.
Andrew and Tristan Tate were detained Wednesday night by prosecutors in a case where they are accused of forming a criminal organization, trafficking minors, human trafficking, sexual acts with a minor, influencing statements, and money laundering.