Romanian prosecutors have indicted controversial British-American social media influencer Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan on charges including trafficking a minor, sexual acts with a minor, money laundering and attempting to influence witnesses.
The indictment was issued on August 31 by Romania’s Directorate for Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT), which announced the case on September 4. The file has been sent to the Bucharest Tribunal, Agerpres reported.
DIICOT’s statement did not name the defendants, describing them as two British citizens aged 39 and 38 from the same family; judicial sources identified them as the Tate brothers, Agerpres said. The case was registered at the court on September 3, HotNews reported.
Andrew Tate, 39, is accused of trafficking of minors, continuous money laundering, repeated sexual acts with a minor and attempting to influence statements.
His 38-year-old brother Tristan faces charges of complicity in trafficking of minors, continuous money laundering and attempting to influence statements.
Both men deny wrongdoing. The brothers’ Romanian lawyer Eugen Vidineac said the indictment “does not determine guilt and it should not be presented as though it does”, Romania Insider reported.
He said the defence would challenge any deficiencies in the case, adding that “our clients continue to reject the allegations against them”, according to Reuters.
According to the indictment, the main trafficking allegations concern a girl who was 15 when she was recruited.
DIICOT alleges that Andrew Tate began a relationship with the girl in 2012 and exploited her vulnerability by misleading her about his intention to establish a genuine romantic relationship. The alleged exploitation continued until December 2021, DIICOT said.
Prosecutors say he subsequently housed her at a property in Luton, north of London, with the intention of sexually exploiting her.
Prosecutors allege that, after gaining the girl’s trust, Andrew Tate used what they describe as emotional blackmail, threats of abandonment or replacing her with another girl, surveillance and physical aggression to make her comply with his instructions.
The indictment alleges that she was then made to produce pornographic material and work on webcam platforms for Andrew Tate’s financial benefit.
DIICOT says Andrew Tate subsequently transported the girl repeatedly between Britain and Romania, where she was housed at several properties, including his home in Voluntari, a house in Tunari and a flat in the Pipera area on the northern edge of Bucharest.
Prosecutors allege that the arrangements enabled the webcam activity and continued sexual exploitation in Romania.
Tristan Tate is accused of knowing the girl’s age and the circumstances in which she had been recruited, and of helping his brother exploit her between November 2014 and December 2021.
Prosecutors allege that he helped maintain the deception surrounding Andrew Tate’s relationship with the girl, administered her webcam accounts, monitored her activity and provided instructions intended to increase her earnings.
He is also accused of collecting and managing the money generated by the webcam activity and checking compliance with working hours and financial targets allegedly imposed by his brother.
DIICOT further alleges that Tristan used physical violence against the victim.
According to DIICOT, the brothers obtained approximately $1.25 million (€1.08 million) from exploiting the victim.
Prosecutors say the sum represented around 80 per cent of the income generated through her webcam activities.
The indictment alleges that the brothers subsequently sought to conceal the origin of money obtained through human trafficking.
DIICOT alleges that between December 2023 and July 2024 four luxury cars were purchased and registered for tax purposes in the names of trusted individuals.
The vehicles had purchase prices of approximately 1.25 million Romanian lei (€238,000), 1.1 million lei (€209,000), 650,000 lei (€124,000) and €225,000 respectively.
Prosecutors are seeking the confiscation of the four cars, which they value at approximately €825,000, as well as the equivalent of the $1.25 million allegedly obtained through the exploitation of the minor.
They are also seeking extended confiscation of other assets allegedly owned or controlled by the brothers.
The indictment also contains a separate allegation concerning another girl who was 15.
DIICOT alleges that Andrew Tate repeatedly had sexual relations and other sexual acts with the second minor between December 2020 and mid-2021, at his home and another property in Ilfov County, near Bucharest.
The prosecutors’ allegations do not amount to a judicial finding of guilt. The case will first pass through Romania’s preliminary proceedings before a trial on the merits can take place.
A preliminary chamber judge must first check the legality of the case file, a review the law sets at 60 days but which routinely takes longer, Reuters reported.
The new indictment also contains allegations that the brothers attempted to interfere with witnesses or victims.
Prosecutors allege that Andrew Tate offered €5,000, of which €2,500 was actually paid, as well as a mobile phone and legal assistance through his own lawyers to persuade a victim either not to give evidence or to give false testimony between December 2023 and January 2024.
Tristan Tate is separately accused of attempting to influence a witness in October 2023 through intimidation and inducements, including money, a phone, €3,000 for travel and accommodation in Bucharest and legal assistance.
The latest indictment follows years of investigation and a setback for Romanian prosecutors.
DIICOT’s original indictment, filed on June 20, 2023, accused the brothers and two Romanian women of human trafficking and forming an organised criminal group to sexually exploit women. Andrew Tate was also charged with rape.
On November 19, 2024 the Bucharest Court of Appeal found irregularities in that indictment and excluded several pieces of evidence and statements. On December 19, 2024 the court returned the case to DIICOT for the investigation to be redone.
Romanian prosecutors subsequently expanded their investigation. In April 2026 the Bucharest Tribunal lifted the last judicial control measures on the brothers and in July DIICOT said it had extended the inquiry, Reuters and HotNews reported.
The Romanian proceedings come as both brothers are being held in the United States while they challenge extradition to Britain.
The pair were arrested in Miami on July 18 on provisional warrants requested by Britain and are held at a federal detention centre there, Reuters reported. A magistrate judge heard their bail request on August 27 but has yet to rule, and Britain has until September 16 to submit its full extradition request, according to US court records cited by Reuters.
British authorities are seeking their extradition over a separate set of allegations, including rape and human trafficking. Those allegations are distinct from the Romanian proceedings.
