Three brothers, including two of the most successful luxury real estate brokers in the United States, have been convicted of sex trafficking charges following a five-week trial in New York. The verdict, delivered on Monday, stems from accusations that Oren, Alon, and Tal Alexander used drugs and force to rape dozens of women they had impressed with their wealth and lavish lifestyle.
During the trial, 11 women testified that they were sexually assaulted by one or more of the brothers. Prosecutors say more than 60 women have alleged rape by the trio. The attacks reportedly occurred after the women were invited to exclusive locations such as the Hamptons, a Caribbean cruise, and a ski trip in Aspen, Colorado. Defence lawyers argued that the accusers had faulty memories or were seeking financial gain, insisting that any sexual encounters were consensual.
Oren and Tal Alexander were brokers at Douglas Elliman before founding their own firm, Official. Alon Alexander worked at the family's private security firm. In addition to the criminal case, the brothers face around two dozen lawsuits, including one from Tracy Tutor, a star of Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles, who alleges Oren Alexander drugged and assaulted her in a restaurant bathroom.
Prosecutors presented evidence including text messages and emails in which the brothers boasted about their sexual exploits and knowledge of drugs' effects on women's inhibitions. A blog post titled “It’s not rape if … ” was also cited. The brothers were accused of sneaking drugs onto a cruise ship, recording assaults on video, and sharing photos of victims.
One woman, who testified she was raped by Alon Alexander in Aspen in 2017 when she was 17, said she did not want the brothers' money. “I don’t want their money. I just don’t want them to have it,” she told jurors. Another witness, Lindsey Acree, said she sued Tal Alexander because the brothers “kept calling us gold diggers, shake down artists, con artists”. She added, “If there’s a kid with a stick who keeps hitting people, you take their stick away. Money is their stick, so you take it away so they can’t hurt people anymore.”
