Andrew and Tristan Tate have been sent to trial by Romania's Directorate for Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) on several charges, including trafficking of minors, money laundering, sexual activity with a minor and influencing statements.

DIICOT prosecutors have sought the confiscation of four luxury cars with a total estimated value of 825,000 euros, as well as the equivalent of 1,251,833.30 US dollars.

'In an indictment dated August 31, 2026, prosecutors with the Central Structure of the Directorate for Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorism ordered two defendants, both British citizens aged 39 and 38 and members of the same family, to stand trial for trafficking of minors, continued money laundering, continued sexual activity with a minor and influencing statements, and, respectively, complicity in trafficking of minors, continued money laundering and influencing statements,' DIICOT said in a statement.

The two British citizens referred to in the DIICOT statement are the Tate brothers, according to judicial sources.

Investigators found that between 2012 and December 2021, the 39-year-old defendant allegedly took advantage of the evident vulnerability of a victim who was 15 when she was recruited and deceived her about his intention to enter into a relationship with her and about having genuine feelings of love for her. He allegedly recruited her and housed her at a property in Luton, Britain, for the purpose of sexual exploitation.

According to DIICOT, after gaining the girl's trust and causing her to fall in love with him, the defendant allegedly used coercion and emotional blackmail, including threats to abandon her or replace her with another girl, to secure her compliance. Prosecutors say he made their relationship conditional on her following his instructions, subjected her to constant control and surveillance and also used physical violence.

He allegedly induced the minor to engage in pornographic acts for the production and distribution of pornographic material and to perform videochat activities on several platforms for his financial benefit.

'During the period of sexual exploitation, the defendant also repeatedly transported the victim from the United Kingdom to Romania, where he provided accommodation at several locations [his home in Voluntari, a house in Tunari and an apartment in the Pipera area], as well as all the logistics necessary for her videochat activity and for the continuation of her sexual exploitation in Romania,' prosecutors said.

DIICOT said the 38-year-old defendant, who knew the victim's age and that she had been recruited by his brother, allegedly assisted the other defendant in sexually exploiting her in Britain and Romania between November 2014 and December 2021, taking advantage of her vulnerability and continuing to deceive her.

According to prosecutors, he maintained the victim's false belief regarding the other defendant's feelings and intentions, managed her videochat accounts, monitored her activity and provided instructions aimed at increasing revenue.

He also allegedly collected and managed the proceeds from the videochat activity and checked that the victim complied with the working schedule and financial targets imposed on her by the 39-year-old defendant. Prosecutors said the 38-year-old man also physically assaulted the victim.

DIICOT said the defendants obtained a total of 1,251,833.30 US dollars from the exploitation of the victim, representing approximately 80% of the revenue generated by her videochat activity.

The investigation also found that between December 2020 and mid-2021, the 39-year-old defendant allegedly repeatedly engaged in sexual intercourse and other sexual acts with another minor victim, who was 15, both at his home and at another location in Ilfov County.

Prosecutors also allege attempts to influence a victim and a witness in the case.

'The evidence showed that between December 2023 and January 2024, through acts of corruption, namely the promise of 5,000 euros, of which he actually handed over 2,500 euros, the promise of a mobile phone and an offer to provide legal assistance through his own lawyers, the 39-year-old defendant attempted to persuade a victim not to make statements or to make false statements in the present case,' DIICOT said.

Prosecutors said that in October 2023 the 38-year-old defendant had similarly attempted to persuade a witness not to make statements or to give false testimony through acts with an 'obviously intimidating effect' and offers including money, a mobile phone, 3,000 euros to cover travel and accommodation expenses in Bucharest and legal assistance.

DIICOT further alleges that between December 2023 and July 2024 the defendants sought to conceal or disguise the illicit origin of money obtained from human trafficking by purchasing four cars and registering them with the authorities in the names of trusted individuals.

The vehicles had purchase prices of 1,249,924 lei, 1,099,924 lei, 649,924 lei and 225,000 euros, respectively.

In the indictment, DIICOT prosecutors requested the confiscation of the four luxury vehicles, with a total estimated value of 825,000 euros, which they say were involved in the alleged continued money-laundering offence.

They also sought the confiscation of the equivalent of 1,251,833.30 US dollars allegedly obtained by the defendants from the sexual exploitation of the minor victim, as well as the extended confiscation of other assets owned or effectively possessed by the defendants for which prosecutors have requested precautionary seizure measures.

Prosecutors also asked that the defendants be ordered to pay 122,168.51 lei in legal costs incurred by the state.

The case has been referred to the Bucharest Tribunal. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Mihai Stoica; EN - writing by: Simona Iacob)