TRUE CRIME NEWSRomania Indicts Andrew and Tristan Tate on Multiple Serious Charges Including Trafficking and Money Laundering, Lawyer Says They Will Challenge Case
Andrew and Tristan Tate face a massive indictment in Romania.
Sept. 4 2026, Published 12:28 p.m. ET
Controversial man-o-sphere influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate have been indicted on money laundering and trafficking charges in Romania.
On September 4, Romania's Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) announced the indictment of two British men from the same family, aged 38 and 39. Local media identified that the men were Tristan and Andrew, respectively.
The Tates' Heinous Alleged Scheme
Andrew and Tristan accused of multiple shocking crimes.
Andrew, who is prominent online for preaching toxic masculinity platitudes, is charged with trafficking minors, money laundering, sexual activity with a minor and witness tampering. Tristan is indicted for complicity with Andrew's alleged crimes.
Prosecutors say the Tates ran a scheme where they would recruit underage girls with promises of marriage or a relationship before forcing them to make explicit content for their webcam business. One of the victims says Andrew used physical coercion to traffic her from the U.K. to Romania and become part of his scheme. Andrew is also accused of having intercourse with another 15-year-old victim.
Prosecutors go on to allege that the Tates made $1 million off content the victim produced and laundered the money by purchasing four luxury cars.
The Tates Already Face Charges In the U.K.
The Tates face charges in the U.K. and Romania.
The Tates' lawyer, Eugene Vidineac, said in a statement, "We will examine every aspect of [the indictment] with the same level of scrutiny and we will challenge any evidential, procedural or legal deficiencies through the appropriate judicial process."
The Tates already face dozens of charges in the United Kingdom. They are currently in a Miami jail fighting extradition to the U.K. to stand trial.
However, they can be tried in absentia in Romania if a judge signs off on the case.
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The History of Romanian Prosecutors' Efforts to Indict Them
Romania has been trying to convict the Tates for four years.
The Tates were first arrested in Romania in 2022. The new indictment stems from discoveries made from the investigation that led to that arrest and their first indictment in 2023. That case was returned to DIICOT in 2024 over prosecutor irregularities and the case was never closed.
The new indictment adds a new charge that Andrew attempted to pay off and intimidate witnesses to not testify or give false statements to investigators.
The pair have repeatedly denied all allegations against them.
Andrew Tate Gives a Cryptic Statement
Andrew said he and his brothers were 'heroes' in a cryptic X post.
As news of the charges dropped, Andrew made a cryptic X post of dialogue between himself and his brother.
In the post, Tristan said, "WE ARE HEROES. Nobody can do what we do! They can do ONE or the OTHER. We do BOTH. I would HATE to be free, I wanna suffer sometimes. THIS IS WAR. We are innocent and we must suffer to balance our perfect lives. WE WILL WIN."
Andrew signed off the post with, "I'M A PRISONER!!!"
