‘A Team’ of real estate brokers faces sex crimes trial in New York

Behind the facade of wealth and luxury, three brothers face serious federal sex-trafficking charges in what prosecutors describe as a years-long pattern of predatory behavior. Opening statements are set to begin Tuesday in Manhattan federal court for Tal Alexander, 39, and his 38-year-old twin brothers, Alon and Oren, following a one-day delay caused by weekend snowfall.

The Alexander brothers cultivated a high-profile lifestyle in exclusive enclaves like the Hamptons and South Beach. Tal and Oren gained prominence as “The A Team,” high-end real estate brokers catering to ultra-wealthy clients in Miami, New York, and Los Angeles. Alon, a New York Law School graduate, headed the family’s private security firm serving celebrities and heads of state.

Their lives were marked by extreme privilege—one brother resided on Manhattan’s prestigious Billionaires’ Row, while the others owned multimillion-dollar waterfront properties in Miami. They traveled by private jet, sailed on yachts, and were fixtures at exclusive nightclubs.

But prosecutors allege this glamorous facade concealed systematic criminal behavior spanning from 2008 to 2021. According to federal charges, the brothers sexually assaulted, trafficked, and raped dozens of women, often after administering incapacitating drugs. Some assaults were allegedly recorded on video.

Court documents describe a pattern where the brothers would meet potential victims at nightclubs, parties, or through dating apps. They allegedly recruited women for trips to upscale destinations, covering flights and luxury accommodations before drugging and assaulting them. Prosecutors claim dozens of women have come forward with allegations.

All three brothers have pleaded not guilty to the charges. They’ve been held without bail since their December 2024 arrests, which followed multiple civil lawsuits accusing them of sexual misconduct.

Their spokesperson, Juda Engelmayer, issued a statement asserting their innocence: “The Alexander brothers categorically deny that anyone was drugged, assaulted, or coerced, and the government has presented no physical evidence, medical records, contemporaneous complaints, or objective proof to establish those claims.”

The defense also challenged the application of federal sex-trafficking laws in this case. “Congress enacted that law to address force, coercion, and exploitation; not to retroactively criminalize consensual adult relationships through inference or narrative,” Engelmayer stated.

Defense attorneys plan to argue that prosecutors have mischaracterized consensual sexual encounters as criminal activity. Oren Alexander’s attorney, Marc Agnifilo—who previously represented Sean “Diddy” Combs in a similar case—said they intend to demonstrate that witness testimony against the brothers is unreliable and that some witnesses have provided false information to authorities.

“The case is about sex and sexuality,” Agnifilo told the court during jury selection, where prospective jurors faced questions about sexual activity and sex crimes. The defense has indicated they will present evidence of consensual group sex, threesomes, and what they characterize as promiscuous behavior.

Judge Valerie E. Caproni has rejected defense motions to dismiss the charges or transfer the case to state court. Defense attorneys had argued the allegations resembled “date rape” crimes typically handled at the state level, but Judge Caproni disagreed, stating this “badly misrepresents the nature of the charges.”

The trial will be heard by a jury of six men and six women. In court filings, defense attorneys claimed to have evidence “that undermines nearly every aspect of the alleged victims’ narratives,” while prosecutors maintain the brothers “acted with apparent impunity—forcibly raping women whenever they wanted to do so.”

If convicted, the Alexander brothers could face life imprisonment. The case highlights ongoing concerns about sexual exploitation among the ultra-wealthy and powerful, and the challenges of prosecuting such allegations.