Romania Indicts Andrew Tate on Minor Trafficking, Money Laundering and Witness Tampering

Romanian prosecutors have formally indicted social media influencer Andrew Tate on charges including trafficking minors, money laundering, sexual acts with a minor and witness tampering, while his brother Tristan Tate faces complicity charges in the same case.
Romania’s anti-organized crime unit DIICOT says Andrew Tate, 39, is charged with trafficking of minors, continuous money laundering, repeated sexual acts with a minor and attempting to influence witness statements.  Tristan Tate, 38, is indicted for complicity in trafficking minors, continuous money laundering and witness tampering.
Prosecutors allege the brothers recruited women and girls by luring them with promises of romantic relationships or marriage, then forced them to produce pornographic content for a webcam business.  One alleged victim was 15 when she was recruited in Britain in 2012, then taken to Bucharest where she was exploited through physical violence and psychological threats.
DIICOT says the brothers retained about $1.25 million — roughly 80% of the victim’s video chat earnings — and attempted to launder the proceeds by purchasing four luxury cars through third parties.
The Tates’ Romanian lawyer, Eugen Constantin Vidineac, said the defense will challenge the indictment on all fronts, scrutinizing every aspect with equal rigor and contesting any evidence, procedural flaws or legal deficiencies through proper judicial process.  He reiterated that his clients deny all allegations.
The Tate brothers remain in U.S. custody while a judge considers Britain’s extradition request related to rape allegations.  It is not immediately clear whether Romanian prosecutors will seek their extradition from the United States.  Although Romania allows trials in absentia, proceedings will not begin immediately.
An initial judicial chamber must first review the indictment and determine whether the evidence and procedures comply with the law.  Previously, the brothers were indicted in Romania on human trafficking charges, but in late 2024 an appeals court returned the case to prosecutors after ruling some evidence inadmissible.
Andrew Tate, who describes himself as a misogynist, built a large online following among young men by promoting a lavish, hyper-masculine persona.  The former kickboxers, who hold dual U.S. and British citizenship, were arrested in Miami in late July after Britain requested their extradition.