High-Profile Real Estate 'A Team' Brothers Face Sex Trafficking Trial in New York
Three brothers, including two once celebrated as "The A Team" for their prowess in selling luxury real estate, are set to face opening statements in a high-stakes federal trial in Manhattan. Tal, Oren, and Alon Alexander stand accused of drugging, sexually assaulting, and trafficking numerous women over a period spanning from 2008 to 2021.
Glamorous Facade and Alleged Predatory Behaviour
The brothers operated within the glitzy worlds of the Hamptons and South Beach, frequenting nightclubs, cruising on yachts, and travelling via private jets. Tal Alexander, 39, resided among celebrities and corporate titans on Manhattan's exclusive Billionaires' Row, while twins Oren and Alon, 38, owned multimillion-dollar waterfront mansions in Miami. Behind this posh and peripatetic lifestyle, federal prosecutors allege the Alexanders were predators who systematically targeted women.
According to court documents, the brothers met victims at nightclubs, parties, and through dating applications. They allegedly recruited women for trips to luxurious destinations, covering flights and accommodation at high-end hotels or luxury vacation rentals, only to drug and rape them. Prosecutors claim the brothers sometimes recorded these assaults on video. In total, dozens of women have come forward with accusations of sexual misconduct against the trio.
Legal Proceedings and Defence Arguments
Opening statements are scheduled for Tuesday in federal court in Manhattan, following a one-day delay due to heavy snowfall over the weekend. The brothers have been held without bail since their arrests in December 2024, with indictments coming months after several women filed civil lawsuits alleging sexual abuse.
The Alexander Brothers have pleaded not guilty to all charges. Their spokesperson, Juda Engelmayer, stated they "categorically deny that anyone was drugged, assaulted, or coerced," arguing the government has presented no physical evidence, medical records, or objective proof. Engelmayer further contended the case highlights concerns about the application of federal sex-trafficking statutes, suggesting it attempts to retroactively criminalise consensual adult relationships.
Defence attorneys have promised to demonstrate that prosecutors have transformed innocent romantic and sexual encounters into criminal activity through legal manoeuvring. Oren Alexander's lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, indicated the defence plans to prove witnesses have lied and their testimony is unreliable. Agnifilo, who previously represented Sean "Diddy" Combs, stated the jury will hear evidence of group sex and promiscuity, framing the case as one fundamentally "about sex and sexuality."
Judicial Rulings and Prosecution's Case
Judge Valerie E. Caproni, presiding over the trial, has rejected defence motions to dismiss the charges or transfer the case to state court. The Alexanders' lawyers argued the allegations resemble "date rape" crimes typically prosecuted at the state level, but Caproni disagreed, writing that such a characterisation "badly misrepresents the nature of the charges."
Prosecutors assert their evidence will show the brothers "have acted with apparent impunity — forcibly raping women whenever they wanted to do so." If convicted, the brothers face potential life imprisonment. The trial, featuring a jury of six men and six women, represents a reckoning that authorities say has been over a decade in the making, bringing serious allegations against figures once celebrated in elite real estate circles into the stark light of a federal courtroom.
