Tate Brothers Face New Romanian Charges
Romanian prosecutors have charged former kickboxers Andrew and Tristan Tate with trafficking, money‑laundering and sex crimes.
They are alleged to have earned more than $1.2 million (£888,000) by coercing a girl to perform sex acts on video calls, according to the Directorate for Investigating Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT).
Andrew, 39, faces charges of trafficking minors, money‑laundering and “sex with a minor”. Tristan, 38, is charged with complicity in trafficking and money‑laundering.
The brothers are currently jailed in Miami while fighting extradition to the UK but deny all allegations. Their lawyer, Eugen Constantin Vidineac, stated the indictment “does not determine guilt” and highlighted earlier procedural irregularities that halted the first indictment.
Prosecutors’ latest claim revolves around a vulnerable 15‑year‑old girl who was allegedly recruited by Tristan, physically controlled by Andrew, and forced to perform sexual acts on video chats for financial gain. She is said to have been sheltered in a Luton, Bedfordshire building and later moved to Romania where exploitation continued in two of Andrew’s homes.
Andrew is additionally charged with having sex with a minor in Romania. DIICOT is requesting the confiscation of four luxury cars owned by the brothers worth £710,000, arguing the vehicles were used to launder the illicit proceeds.
It is not yet clear whether DIICOT will seek the brothers’ extradition from the United States, and the indictment must be examined by a judge before any trial can open.
The brothers maintain that their online personas are not their real personalities and that they have the right to the presumption of innocence and a fair examination of evidence.
Captions: The Tate brothers, photographed in April 2026 at the Kaseya Center, Miami, have built massive audiences via misogynistic content while residing in Romania.
The case underscores the growing scrutiny of social media influencers who traffic minors and launder profits, as authorities worldwide intensify investigations into online exploitation.
