Federal Prosecutors Charge Real Estate Brokers in Sex Trafficking Scheme
Two prominent real estate brokers, Tal and Oren Alexander, and their brother Alon, have been charged with involvement in a sex trafficking scheme. The brothers, who worked at real estate company Douglas Elliman, allegedly used their wealth and status to lure women into sexual encounters, sometimes within hours of meeting them. The scheme, which spanned over 20 years, involved drugging and sexually assaulting multiple women.
According to the indictment, the brothers and their co-conspirators would use social media and dating apps to find victims, often targeting those they found attractive. They would then offer them luxurious experiences, such as travel and hotel stays, in exchange for sexual favors. The brothers would also work with party promoters to find women to attend events, and during these events, they would surreptitiously drug the women’s drinks to incapacitate them.
The indictment alleges that the brothers would often hold down their victims during the assaults and ignore their screams and pleas to stop. Authorities have interviewed dozens of women who claim to have been victims of the brothers, including some who were raped in high school.
The brothers face 15 years to life in prison if convicted of the federal charges. Prosecutors are seeking to have them imprisoned ahead of trial, citing their connections to international destinations and easy access to private jets and yachts. The brothers have denied any wrongdoing, with their attorneys claiming that the evidence will show they did not commit any crimes.
The charges are the latest blow to the Alexander family, following a series of civil lawsuits alleging they sexually assaulted numerous women. The family’s reputation has been tarnished, and their real estate company, Douglas Elliman, has seen a decline in its stock value. The CEO of the company, Howard Lorber, recently retired following scrutiny over how the company handled the allegations.