What to Expect at Alexander Brothers Trial

After more than a year of indictments and pre-trial motions, the Alexander brothers’ federal sex trafficking case is heading to trial.

Former star brokers Oren and Tal Alexander, along with their brother Alon, are set to face a jury in the Southern District of New York beginning Monday. Prosecutors allege the brothers participated in a years-long conspiracy between 2008 and 2021 that involved luring women to luxury destinations and drugging and sexually assaulting them. All three have pleaded not guilty and have repeatedly denied the allegations.

Jury selection began this week, offering an early glimpse of how closely the case may brush up against the brothers’ professional lives. Judge Valerie Caproni questioned dozens of potential jurors about their familiarity with a long list of names, companies and properties that could surface during testimony, including Douglas Elliman, Official Partners, luxury addresses in New York, Miami and the Hamptons, and several high-profile real estate figures not accused of wrongdoing but who may be referenced in court.

That overlap is part of what has made the trial so closely watched within the industry. Oren and Tal built their careers selling trophy homes to billionaires and celebrities, and prosecutors say their cultivated networks provide important context for the government’s case. Several allegations tied to Hamptons trips and luxury travel are expected to feature prominently as prosecutors attempt to show a consistent pattern of conduct across multiple victims rather than isolated encounters.

The legal stakes have continued to climb leading up to trial. Earlier this month, prosecutors unveiled a fifth superseding indictment, bringing the total number of charges against one or more of the brothers to 12. The newest count accuses Oren and Alon of sexual abuse by physical incapacitation stemming from a 2012 cruise ship incident already tied to an aggravated sexual abuse charge. Defense attorneys argued the added count reflected uncertainty about what occurred and sought to dismiss it, but Caproni rejected that request.

Beyond the conspiracy allegation, the brothers face a mix of sex trafficking charges, inducement to travel to engage in unlawful sexual activity and aggravated sexual abuse counts. Oren is also charged with sexual exploitation of a minor, while Tal and Alon face sex trafficking charges involving a minor victim.

Caproni has also denied several other defense bids to narrow the case before it reaches a jury. Among them was Alon Alexander’s argument that his 2019 engagement marked his withdrawal from the alleged conspiracy and placed him outside the statute of limitations. The judge found that plans to get married did not amount to a clear break from the conduct prosecutors allege.

The court has largely sided with prosecutors on witness protections as well. Several alleged victims will be allowed to testify under pseudonyms, a move Caproni said was necessary to protect their identities while still preserving fairness to the defense. Jurors will be told when witnesses are using assumed names, and defense attorneys will know their true identities.

Outside the courtroom, the defense’s broader strategy has drawn scrutiny. One alleged victim recently accused the brothers of orchestrating a harassment campaign through investigators and publicists. The Alexander family has also retained crisis communications consultant Juda Engelmayer, whose client roster has included Harvey Weinstein and Sean “Diddy” Combs, as they prepare for the public attention surrounding the trial.

Adding to the weight of the moment, news broke earlier this month that Kate Whiteman, one of the first women to accuse Oren and Alon of rape in a civil lawsuit, was found dead in Australia last year. Authorities said her death was non-suspicious, but the timing has cast a shadow over the proceedings.

After more than a year of legal maneuvering, the trial now promises to put years of allegations and disputed narratives in front of a jury.

There was plenty of other real estate news this week. Some of real estate’s biggest names attended the REBNY gala, Grant Cardone was sued for defamation and Charles Cohen’s 750 Lex was returned to the lender.

At REBNY gala, Mamdani skips while Hochul pledges to continue as industry ally

Mayor Zohran Mamdani was noticeably absent from the Real Estate Board of New York’s annual gala, which attracts the biggest names in real estate, on Thursday. However, members of the Mamdani administration, including Leila Bozorg, deputy mayor of housing and planning, along with Department of Buildings Commissioner Ahmed Tigani, were in attendance. Gov. Kathy Hochul took the stage during dinner to address the crowd, touting her State of the State priorities, including a proposal to reform environmental review.

Grant Cardone sued for defamation by evicted former Miss Canada

Grant Cardone is facing a defamation lawsuit from former Miss Canada Chealse Sophia Howell, who claims the dispute spiraled from an eviction fight into an online smear campaign broadcast to his 10 million-plus followers. Howell alleges Cardone falsely accused her on social media of ties to a clandestine or illegal Middle East operation and implied her talent agency was a front for criminal activity.

Trump commutes sentence of Brooklyn developer behind $50M Hartford mortgage fraud

Donald Trump commuted the federal sentence of Brooklyn developer Jacob Deutsch, who was convicted of orchestrating a $50 million mortgage fraud spree across Hartford’s multifamily market. Deutsch’s five-year prison term, fines and related penalties were wiped away by executive clemency signed last week, with no explanation offered for the decision.

Charles Cohen’s 750 Lex auctioned off, returns to lender

Charles Cohen’s grip on 750 Lexington Avenue officially slipped Wednesday after the Midtown office tower failed to attract a single bid at foreclosure auction and reverted back to the lender. The loss stings for Cohen Brothers. The 30-story building, also known as 1 International Plaza, was developed by Cohen’s father in the 1980s and long housed the firm’s own offices.

Ron Burkle rescues Soho House $2.7B privatization plan

The plan to take Soho House private for $2.7 billion appeared on the verge of collapse last week after lead equity partner MCR Hotels said it could no longer provide the $200 million closing commitment it had previously pledged. But the deal revived when controlling shareholder Yucaipa Companies, managed by billionaire Ron Burkle, secured alternative funding, according to a new SEC filing.

Jon Venetos’ legal trouble intensifies with five more Fannie Mae foreclosures

Fannie Mae has filed five new foreclosure lawsuits against Jon Venetos’ Lurin Capital, escalating the collapse of the firm’s multifamily portfolio. The lender claims Lurin defaulted on $59.4 million in loans tied to five apartment complexes in Pensacola, Florida, after borrowing nearly $60 million in January 2024 and stopping payments last October.

Blackstone weighs Willis Tower sale

Blackstone is exploring a potential exit from Willis Tower, the 110-story, 4.5-million-square-foot skyscraper it has owned for a decade. In recent months, the world’s largest private real estate firm has quietly approached a small group of investors willing to assume the building’s $1.3 billion securitized mortgage.

Daniel de la Vega named CEO of One Sotheby’s in firm’s succession plan

Daniel de la Vega was named CEO of One Sotheby’s International Realty, the Miami-based brokerage firm his mother Mayi founded in 2008. Mayi de la Vega handed off the role as part of a succession plan that’s been a long time in the making, the de la Vegas told The Real Deal. The mother-and-son duo will continue to work together, as she takes the role of executive chair.

Trump still cashing in on real estate during second term

One year in, Donald Trump’s return to the White House has come with a familiar side hustle: real estate deals that keep churning out cash, even as he occupies the most powerful office in the country. An analysis pegs the president’s gains from his second term at at least $1.4 billion, with overseas property projects making up a meaningful slice of that haul.

Real estate, tech investment manager Fifth Wall cuts staff

Fifth Wall, one of the most prominent investors in proptech, has cut staff and paused active fundraising as market pressures hit the sector. CEO Brendan Wallace confirmed the moves, telling Axios Pro that high interest rates and shifting federal climate policies have chilled investment and increased regulatory uncertainty.