Two former luxury real estate agents and their brother are scheduled to be sentenced in a New York City court on Tuesday, seven months after they were convicted of drugging and raping women in a sex trafficking ring.
Federal prosecutors are seeking life sentences against Oren and Aaron Alexander, a pair of former powerful real estate agents, and their brother, Tarr.
Lawyers for the brothers maintain their innocence and are seeking 15 years in prison for each defendant.
The men were found guilty in March of 10 charges, including sex trafficking conspiracy and sex trafficking by force, in a trial that included testimony from 11 women who described being seduced, drugged and sexually assaulted over the years.
Six of the women were part of the indictment.
In a sentencing memorandum, prosecutors for the Southern District of New York said more than 70 women had come forward with abuse allegations and accused the brothers of using their wealth, influence and connections to target victims.
At trial, prosecutors said the brothers raped the women after promising them parties and trips. A woman testified that she lost control of her body after drinking with Aaron Alexander at a New York City club.
She testified that when she woke up, they were naked in bed. She said she kept trying to stand up and he kept pushing her down.
She testified that when she told him she didn’t want to have sex with him, he responded, “‘You already did that.'”
In a sentencing statement, the brothers’ lawyers acknowledged that they sometimes behaved insensitively toward women but flatly denied that either of them raped or sexually assaulted anyone.
At trial, lawyers said the sex was consensual and said the women were motivated in part by financial gain.
“All the stories were rehearsed,” Tal Alexander’s attorney, Deanna Paul, said in closing arguments. “They’re looking for money.”