Romanian anti-organised crime prosecutors have filed a new indictment against British-American brothers Andrew and Tristan Tate, charging them with trafficking of minors, sexual intercourse with a minor, money laundering, and witness tampering. Two Romanian nationals have also been charged in connection with the case. The indictment, filed by Romania's specialised anti-organised crime agency DIICOT, marks the latest development in a long-running criminal investigation that began with the brothers' initial arrest in Bucharest in December 2022.
Several of the new charges centre on a vulnerable woman who, investigators allege, was recruited by Tristan when she was 15. Andrew is accused of sheltering her in Luton, in eastern England, for the purpose of sexual exploitation, controlling her through surveillance and physical aggression, and coercing her into performing sex acts over video chat for financial gain. He is further alleged to have moved her to Romania, where the exploitation continued. Andrew also faces a separate charge of having sexual intercourse with another minor, aged 15, in Romania. Prosecutors have additionally requested the confiscation of four luxury cars worth approximately £710,000, which they believe were purchased using laundered money. According to judicial sources, some charges were separated from the broader investigation to avoid the risk of statutory limitation — a legal mechanism that bars prosecution once a set period has elapsed.
The new indictment follows a turbulent legal history. A Bucharest Court of Appeal returned the original case file to prosecutors in December 2024, ruling it was procedurally flawed and preventing the case from advancing to trial. DIICOT subsequently expanded its investigation before filing the current charges. Despite the ongoing proceedings, prosecutors allowed the brothers to leave Romania in February 2025; they are currently in the United States, where they are contesting a British extradition request. UK authorities have filed nearly 60 charges against both men, including rape, human trafficking, and sexual exploitation, relating to seven alleged victims.
The Tate brothers, former kickboxers who have built vast social media followings — predominantly among young men — by promoting a luxury lifestyle and openly misogynistic views on gender and relationships, deny all allegations. Their Romanian lawyer, Eugen Constantin Vidineac, stressed that the indictment does not constitute a finding of guilt and said the defence would scrutinise every aspect of the charges, challenging any legal or procedural deficiencies. Andrew Tate has previously dismissed the accusations as lies and fabrications, while both brothers have described the various legal proceedings against them as politically motivated.
The case carries broader significance beyond the courtroom. Research has linked the brothers' online content — part of a wider ecosystem sometimes referred to as the "manosphere," which promotes extreme versions of masculinity alongside anti-women messaging — to growing misogynistic attitudes among young men in Europe and beyond. The indictment must now be examined by a judge before any trial can open, and it remains unclear whether DIICOT will seek the brothers' extradition from the United States.