Feds ask for life in prison for Alexander brothers in NYC sex trafficking case

Federal prosecutors are seeking life sentences for Oren Alexander, Alon Alexander, and their brother Tal on Tuesday in a New York City courtroom. The sentencing hearing takes place seven months after a jury found the three men guilty of a decade-long crime ring that exploited victims through promises of luxury.

The government’s request contrasts sharply with the defense’s position. The brothers have maintained their innocence throughout the legal process. Their lawyers are asking the judge to impose a 15-year term for each defendant, arguing that the evidence does not support a life sentence.

In March, a jury returned guilty verdicts on 10 counts against the three men. The charges included conspiracy to commit sex trafficking and sex trafficking by force. The trial relied heavily on the testimony of 11 women who described being lured, drugged, and sexually assaulted over a period of years. Six of those women were named directly in the formal indictment.

A sentencing memorandum from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York states that more than 70 women came forward with complaints of abuse. The prosecutors argued that the defendants used their wealth and social connections to target specific victims. During the trial, the government presented evidence that the men promised parties and trips to secure the women's compliance.

One victim testified that she lost control of her body after drinking a beverage provided by Alon Alexander at a club in New York. She said she woke up in a bed with both Oren and Alon, naked. The woman described trying to get up repeatedly, only for Alon to push her back down. When she told him she did not want to have sex, he replied, "Ya lo hiciste."

The defense team acknowledged that the men sometimes behaved insensitively toward the women but denied that any of them committed rape or sexual assault. They characterized the sexual encounters as consensual, suggesting the women were motivated by financial gain. Deanna Paul, the attorney representing Tal Alexander, told the jury that the accounts were rehearsed and that the women were looking for money.