Bucharest, Romania, September 4, 2026 — Romanian prosecutors have formally indicted social media influencer Andrew Tate on charges including trafficking a minor, money laundering, sex with a minor and witness tampering, while his brother Tristan Tate has been indicted for alleged complicity, years after authorities began investigating the pair.
The Tate brothers, former professional kickboxers who hold both US and British citizenship, were arrested in Miami in late July after Britain requested their extradition. They have been mainly based in Romania since 2017 and have faced criminal investigations there since December 2022, including allegations of human trafficking.
According to Romania’s Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT), the brothers allegedly recruited women and girls by seducing them and falsely presenting themselves as interested in a relationship or marriage. Prosecutors allege that the victims were subsequently subjected to physical and psychological coercion and forced to produce pornographic material for webcam and social media businesses.
The Tates have denied the allegations. Their Romanian lawyer, Eugen Vidineac, said the defense would examine the indictment and challenge any alleged evidentiary, procedural or legal deficiencies through the appropriate judicial process.
“Our clients continue to reject the allegations against them,” Vidineac said.
