Alexander Brothers’ Sex Trafficking Trial: What to Watch

Dear reader,

The Alexander brothers’ sex trafficking trial is slated to resume on Tuesday, and we’ll be back in the courtroom as prosecutors present the remainder of their case.

After three weeks of proceedings, Oren, Alon and Tal Alexander are about midway through their trial on 12 federal charges over what prosecutors have described as a long-running scheme to drug and rape dozens of women after luring them to luxury travel destinations or exclusive events. The brothers have denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to the charges, which carry a minimum of 10 to 15 years if convicted.

Here’s what you need to know:

Before the weeklong break, the Alexanders’ defense team concluded their cross-examination of a woman testifying under the pseudonym Isa Brooks, who alleged she was raped by Tal, Alon and two other men while in the Hamptons for Memorial Day Weekend in 2009.
Brooks is one of nine alleged victims who have taken the stand since the trial began on Jan. 27.
Prosecutors have relied heavily on testimony to build their case, though they’ve also introduced troves of texts, emails and social media messages between the brothers and other men discussing procuring drugs such as MDMA, cocaine and GHB. Some of those exchanges are tied to at least one account from an alleged victim, using the pseudonym Rhonda Stone, who claims she was raped by Oren and Alon while on a cruise from Miami to the Bahamas.
Prosecutors said they expect to wrap their case by the end of next week and pass the baton to the Alexanders’ defense team. Attorneys for the brothers have largely made their case through the cross-examination of alleged victims and witnesses, though they’ve indicated they plan to call at least one expert witness.

What we’re watching

We expect to hear from more alleged victims. Leading up to the trial, prosecutors indicated they were prepared to call more than a dozen others, though Judge Valerie Caproni previously said she would not allow all of them to testify.
We’re keeping an eye on who else prosecutors will identify as co-conspirators in the alleged sex trafficking conspiracy, as well as other evidence tied to the real estate industry
Attorneys for the Alexanders are expected to call Dr. Deryn Strange to testify as an expert on how external factors such as media and therapy affect memory. Strange’s testimony will likely occur in the second week of March when the defense is expected to present their case.