Romanian Prosecutors Indict Andrew Tate on Charges of Trafficking Minors and Money Laundering.

Romanian Prosecutors Indict Andrew Tate on Charges of Trafficking Minors and Money Laundering.

Romanian prosecutors have officially indicted controversial social media influencer Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan on severe charges, including trafficking minors and money laundering, marking a major escalation in a years-long criminal investigation. — BUCHAREST, Romania, Sept. 4, 2026

According to details made available to Shemnews on Friday, the Romanian anti-organized crime prosecuting unit (DIICOT) has formally charged Andrew Tate with trafficking minors, money laundering, sex with a minor, and witness tampering. His brother, Tristan, is facing charges of complicity. The brothers former kickboxers who hold dual US and British citizenship and have resided primarily in Romania since 2017 were recently arrested in Miami following an extradition request from the United Kingdom.

Prosecutors outlined a disturbing pattern of abuse and financial exploitation, emphasizing that the brothers recruited victims by falsely promising romantic relationships or marriage before forcing them into sex work. Key details from the indictment include:

* Exploitation of a Minor: DIICOT highlighted a specific case where Andrew allegedly seduced a 15-year-old victim in Britain in 2012. He then moved her to Bucharest, using physical violence and mental intimidation to force her to produce pornographic content for social media sites. Tristan is accused of acting as an accessory and using physical aggression to coerce the victim.

* Financial Crimes: The brothers reportedly confiscated $1.25 million—roughly 80% of the minor's videochat earnings—and attempted to launder the illicit funds by purchasing four luxury cars.

* Legal Proceedings in Absentia: While the Tates remain jailed in the US awaiting a decision on their extradition to Britain for separate rape charges, Romanian law permits them to be tried in absentia. The indictment will now move to a preliminary court chamber for a legality review, a process that can take several months.

The Tate brothers have consistently denied all wrongdoing. Eugen Vidineac, a Romanian lawyer representing the duo, maintained his clients' innocence in a public statement following the indictment.

“We will examine every aspect of the indictment with the same level of scrutiny and we will challenge any evidential, procedural, or legal deficiencies through the appropriate judicial process,” Vidineac stated, affirming that the brothers categorically reject the allegations against them.

This latest legal development follows a previous setback for Romanian prosecutors in late 2024, when a Bucharest appeals court deemed certain evidence inadmissible and returned an earlier human trafficking case to investigators.

Andrew Tate, a self-described misogynist who built a massive online following by promoting a lavish, hyper-masculine lifestyle, has previously admitted on record that he relocated to Romania because he believed law enforcement there would be more lenient. By Reuters | Shemnews