Romanian prosecutors officially indicted social media influencer Andrew Tate on September 4, 2026, for trafficking minors, money laundering, sex with a minor, and witness tampering. His brother Tristan Tate has also been indicted for complicity in these charges, which follow years of investigation. The Tate brothers, who have dual US and British citizenship and were arrested in Miami in July after a British extradition request, have been living in Romania since 2017 and have faced criminal investigations there since December 2022. They deny all allegations.
According to Romanian prosecutors, the Tates recruited victims by seducing them and falsely claiming to want relationships or marriage, subsequently forcing them to produce pornographic content for a webcam business. Eugen Vidineac, a lawyer for the Tates, stated they would challenge the indictment through the judicial process and continue to reject the allegations.
The Romanian anti-organised crime prosecuting unit DIICOT indicated it is unclear whether they will seek extradition from the US. The indictment alleges that in 2012, the brothers recruited a 15-year-old girl from Luton, England, and made over $1.2 million (£890,000) from her webcam activity after transporting her to Romania multiple times. DIICOT claims that Tristan Tate was aware of the victim's age and that he knowingly deceived her about Andrew's intentions, facilitating her sexual exploitation.
Additionally, the indictment alleges that Andrew Tate had sexual intercourse and other sexual acts with another minor victim, also aged 15, between December 2020 and mid-2021. The Tates are accused of attempting to conceal the illicit origin of their earnings by purchasing luxury cars worth approximately 825,000 euros (£709,000) and have requested these vehicles be confiscated.
The Tates can be tried in absentia in Romania, but the trial will not commence immediately as the indictment must first be reviewed by a preliminary court chamber. Although the law stipulates that the judge has 60 days to finalize the report, such processes often take longer. The Tate brothers remain in federal prison while awaiting a decision on their extradition to the UK, where they face rape charges. Last week, they requested release from jail to fight the extradition.
Andrew Tate, 39, stated he has never committed the crimes he is accused of, while Tristan Tate, 38, described poor prison conditions, claiming he has lost 14 pounds (6.3 kg) and has limited access to exercise and sunlight. No date has been set for an extradition hearing, and the UK has until mid-September to provide evidence to the US State Department.
The Tates have gained notoriety as polarizing figures on social media, promoting themes of wealth and male dominance. Andrew has made controversial statements regarding sexual assault, while the brothers assert their statements have been misinterpreted. Their lawyer, Howard Srebnick, compared Andrew Tate's social media persona to a character created by comedian Sacha Baron Cohen, suggesting it does not reflect his true self. The Tates' attorneys argue that their claims of wealth and ownership of luxury items have been exaggerated for social media appeal.