Oren Alexander, a former high-end broker, and his twin brother Aron Alexander, a former security company executive, have been indicted on new charges of sexual abuse by incapacitation ahead of a sex trafficking trial scheduled for January 26.
Oren and Aron Alexander, who are facing federal sex trafficking charges along with their brother Tal Alexander, have been charged with a new count of sexual abuse by incapacitation, according to a superseding indictment filed in court.
The indictment alleges that around January 2012, Oren and Aron engaged in sexual activity with a woman “who was physically unable to refuse” on a Bahamian-flagged cruise ship departing from the United States.
The three brothers also face 11 charges for conspiring to drug, sexually assault and rape dozens of women in Miami, New York City, the Hamptons and elsewhere.
The three brothers have pleaded not guilty to all charges, including the new charges Oren and Aron now face.
Oren and Tal Alexander were luxury goods brokers at Douglas Elliman for many years before starting their own firm (now closed) with partner Official. Aron Alexander worked as a security officer at a family-run company.
In a statement Tuesday, the brothers’ parents, Shlomi Alexander and Ollie Alexander, maintained their sons’ innocence.
“Our family has endured this ordeal since these allegations first came to light in a civil case and were widely publicized long before any criminal charges were filed. The cost is extremely painful. We believe our sons are innocent and want them to be judged solely on the basis of the evidence presented in court, free from speculation and public discourse.”
Tuesday’s hearing was primarily about how to proceed with the impending trial scheduled for January 26th. The court decided on jury questionnaires and whether to allow some alleged victims to testify under false names.
Tennie Geragos, one of the brothers’ attorneys, also expressed frustration with prosecutors’ failure to turn over evidence such as videos and photos from witnesses and co-conspirators in a timely manner. After acknowledging that prosecutors were doing the best they could with the FBI agents provided, Judge Valerie Caproni said the Justice Department should be able to reallocate resources from other high-profile cases, such as the Jeffrey Epstein case.
Aron Alexander also asked in court this week to dismiss one complaint against him based on his marriage and claims that he has embraced a monogamous lifestyle since getting engaged in 2019.
According to Monday’s filing, Judge Caproni rejected a request to use such evidence at trial, arguing that Aron’s engagement and marriage were “unrelated to the accused conspiracy” and did not prove that Aron intended to cease participating in the sex-trafficking conspiracy or to cease cooperating with Oren or Tull in such activities.
The three brothers and their attorneys are accused of conducting a “campaign of harassment” in retaliation for one of the victims’ participation in the incident, according to a lawsuit filed in early January.
The woman claimed that after her identity was revealed to the defense, three of her friends were contacted by a man who claimed to be an investigator and that the man began characterizing her as a “‘willing’ victim.” The alleged victim’s friend was also contacted by a member of the defense team who claimed to be a reporter.
An opinion piece purportedly published by a spokesperson for the Alexanders also attempted to portray the woman’s testimony as inconsistent and unreliable.
The brothers remain held at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center while awaiting trial.
Email Lillian Dickerson
