Tate brothers sent for trial by DIICOT: child trafficking, sexual acts and money laundering
Andrew and Tristan Tate have been charged by DIICOT with child trafficking, sexual acts with a minor and money laundering. Prosecutors are seeking the confiscation of four luxury cars and over 1.25 million dollars.
Andrew and Tristan Tate sent for trial for sexual exploitation of two minors and money laundering
DIICOT ordered the indictment of brothers Andrew and Tristan Tate through a bill of indictment dated 31 August 2026, according to an official statement from the institution cited by Google News RO — Crime (ro). The two British citizens, aged 39 and 38 respectively, are accused of child trafficking, money laundering in continuous form, sexual acts with a minor in continuous form, and influencing statements.
Prosecutors from the Directorate for Investigation of Organised Crime and Terrorism offences — Central Structure have also requested the special confiscation of four luxury vehicles, valued at a total of 825,000 euros, and the equivalent sum of 1,251,833.30 US dollars, representing proceeds obtained from the exploitation of the victims.
Recruitment of a 15-year-old minor in the United Kingdom
According to DIICOT's investigation, from 2012 until December 2021, the 39-year-old defendant recruited a 15-year-old minor from the town of Luton, United Kingdom. The method used was deception regarding the intention to establish a romantic relationship and the existence of genuine feelings.
After winning the victim's trust, she was subjected to emotional blackmail through threats of abandonment or replacement with another person, control and permanent surveillance, as well as physical aggression. The defendant compelled her to engage in webcam chat activities on multiple platforms for his financial benefit, and to participate in the production and distribution of pornographic material.
The victim was transported repeatedly from the United Kingdom to Romania, where she was housed in multiple locations: the defendant's residence in Voluntari, a house in Tunari and an apartment in the Pipera area. All of these, DIICOT notes, served to continue the sexual exploitation on Romanian territory.
The role of the 38-year-old defendant
The 38-year-old defendant, knowing both the victim's age and the fact that she had been recruited by his brother, acted as active support in the exploitation during the period November 2014 — December 2021, both in the United Kingdom and in Romania.
According to the bill of indictment, he administered the victim's webcam chat accounts, monitored her activity and provided guidance for increasing revenue. He managed the sums collected, verified compliance with the work schedule and the financial targets imposed by the co-defendant. He also resorted to acts of physical aggression against the victim, prosecutors state.
In total, the two defendants obtained financial proceeds of 1,251,833.30 US dollars, representing approximately 80 per cent of the revenue generated by the victim's webcam activity.
A second minor victim and the charge of sexual acts with a minor
From the criminal investigation documents it emerged that, between December 2020 and mid-2021, the 39-year-old defendant repeatedly engaged in sexual relations and acts with a second minor victim, aged 15, at his residence and at another location in Ilfov county.
Attempts to influence witnesses and victims
DIICOT prosecutors also describe a campaign to corrupt the participants in the case. During the period December 2023 — January 2024, the 39-year-old defendant allegedly offered a harmed person the sum of 2,500 euros from a total promised of 5,000 euros, a mobile telephone and the provision of legal assistance through his own lawyers, in order to compel them not to give statements or to give false statements.
In October 2023, the 38-year-old defendant allegedly attempted to influence a witness through acts with an intimidating effect and by offering 3,000 euros for transport and accommodation expenses in Bucharest, a telephone and the covering of legal costs, all for the purpose of obtaining false statements or silence.
Money laundering through the purchase of luxury vehicles
During the period December 2023 — July 2024, the two defendants allegedly purchased, registered and registered for tax purposes, in the names of trusted persons, four luxury vehicles. The sums paid were 1,249,924 lei, 1,099,924 lei, 649,924 lei and 225,000 euros.
Prosecutors have requested the court to order the special confiscation of the four vehicles, with a total estimated value of 825,000 euros, as the object of the money laundering offence in continuous form, along with the equivalent sum of 1,251,833.30 US dollars derived from the victim's exploitation.
The case is to be tried by the competent court following the official referral made through the DIICOT bill of indictment — Central Structure.
Source: Google News RO — Crime (ro)