Andrew and Tristan Tate are facing a series of new charges in Romania, including money laundering, witness intimidation, and complicity in the trafficking of minors, according to the country's directorate for investigating organised crime and terrorism (DIICOT).
Prosecutors allege that the brothers made approximately $1.53 million (£1.14 million) from prostituting a teenager through their webcam sex business. Andrew Tate, 39, is accused of manipulating a 17-year-old girl into working for their pornography business between November 2014 and December 2021. She was allegedly placed under the control of Tristan Tate, 37, who is accused of sexually exploiting her by managing her online webcam account and setting financial targets.
DIICOT also stated that Tristan Tate recruited three victims between 2018 and 2021 using the "lover boy method," a tactic involving showering individuals with gifts to emotionally blackmail them into sex work. Tristan is further accused of intimidating 11 witnesses to provide false statements or refrain from cooperating with prosecutors.
Andrew Tate is also alleged to have threatened two alleged victims and two alleged witnesses with lawsuits to dissuade them from cooperating with the police. Both brothers are also accused of illegally selling luxury vehicles, with five of their luxury cars having been seized by authorities.
In addition to the charges in Romania, the Tate brothers face 21 criminal charges in the United Kingdom, including rape, actual bodily harm, and human trafficking. They deny all allegations and await extradition to the UK upon the conclusion of legal proceedings in Romania.
Last week, the UK's High Court dismissed a bid by the siblings to disclose the names of their alleged victims. Lawyers for the brothers argued that the Crown Prosecution Service's decision not to disclose names until a British court appearance was wrongly based on the alleged vulnerability of the complainants and the notoriety of the claimants. However, Mr. Justice Chamberlain upheld the CPS's position, citing a risk of alleged victim identities being leaked on social media if disclosed. He stated that the Tates' human rights had not been breached.
Andrew Tate is also subject to a separate civil trial in the UK concerning allegations of rape and sexual violence against four British women between 2013 and 2015. He has denied these civil allegations.
A spokesperson for the Tate brothers stated that they "categorically deny every allegation contained within a potential Romanian indictment, including any new allegations." The spokesperson emphasized that these are the prosecution's allegations, not convictions, and will be vigorously contested in the Romanian courts.