Brothers Accused of Sex Trafficking Faced Harrowing Testimony in Manhattan Trial
The federal sex trafficking trial of three brothers – two high-end real estate brokers – began Tuesday with deeply disturbing testimony in a Manhattan courtroom. The first witness, identified in court as Katie Moore, recounted how a night that began with attending a party at actor Zac Efron’s apartment devolved into a horrific ordeal involving repeated sexual assault and taunting at the hands of one of the accused.
Moore is one of several alleged victims expected to testify against Tal, Oren, and Alon Alexander, who stand accused of conspiring to drug and rape women and girls over a period of years. While defense attorneys claim any sexual encounters were consensual, prosecutors allege the Alexander brothers leveraged their connections to wealth and celebrity to lure victims.
The witness testified she was a 20-year-old anthropology student when she met two of the brothers at a party hosted at Efron’s New York apartment in 2012. She accompanied a friend who had recently connected with Tal Alexander and was invited to watch the final game of the 2012 NBA Finals. Moore stated she had minimal interaction with Efron himself, who is not implicated in any wrongdoing.
At the party, Moore testified she was offered alcohol and, along with Tal Alexander and her friend, consumed the drug Molly for the first time. She described experiencing “jitteriness” after taking the substance.
Following the game, the group attended an afterparty at a Manhattan nightclub. Moore recalled little after being given a drink, and subsequently awoke naked in another apartment with Alon Alexander also naked, standing over her. She stated she repeatedly attempted to get up, but he forcibly restrained her. “I don’t want to have sex with you,” she recalled telling him. According to Moore, Alexander responded with a chilling, “Haha, you already did,” while laughing at her. She testified he then proceeded to rape her. During the assault, Tal Alexander briefly entered the room but did not intervene, appearing “super nonchalant,” Moore told the jury.
In her opening statement, Assistant U.S. Attorney Madison Smyser characterized the Alexander brothers as “masquerading as party boys when really they were predators,” and described them as “partners in crime.” Smyser asserted that the brothers engaged in a pattern of abuse, stating, “Woman after woman, rape after rape.” She alleged they utilized “whatever means necessary” – including luxury travel, accommodations, drugs, alcohol, and physical force – to create situations conducive to sexual assault.
Defense attorney Teny Geragos, representing Oren Alexander, urged the jury to dismiss the prosecution’s case as a “monstrous story.” She argued that the brothers, having graduated college in 2008, were simply successful and ambitious young men navigating “hookup culture” in nightclubs, bars, and online, seeking consensual sexual encounters. “That it is not trafficking, that is dating,” Geragos stated. She further suggested that some accusers may be motivated by financial gain through lawsuits and expressed regret over past drug use or extramarital sexual activity.
Deanna Paul, representing Tal Alexander, cautioned jurors that the trial’s subject matter would be disturbing and likened it to an “R-rated movie,” particularly given the prosecution’s portrayal of the brothers as “monsters.” Paul emphasized that in their early 20s, Tal and his brothers were “party boys” and “womanizers” who engaged in numerous consensual relationships. She implored the jury to reject the charges if they found the accusers’ testimony unreliable.
Oren and Tal Alexander are established real estate dealers specializing in high-end properties in Miami, New York, and Los Angeles. Their brother, Alon, holds a law degree from New York Law School and manages the family’s private security firm. Tal is currently 39 years old, while Alon and Oren, twins, are 38. An indictment alleges the brothers conspired to attract women to destinations like the Hamptons with promises of flights and luxury hotel stays.
The brothers have been detained without bail since their arrest in Miami in December 2024, where they currently reside.
During her testimony, the first witness stated she escaped the room after Alon Alexander fell asleep. Throughout much of her testimony, the woman maintained composure, though she became visibly emotional at times. She recounted reaching out to friends years after the attack, seeking reassurance and a reminder of their support.
Image of Katie Moore crying on the witness stand
Elizabeth Williams via AP
The trial is expected to continue with further testimony from additional alleged victims, promising a harrowing and closely watched legal battle.
