MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – Facing sex trafficking charges alongside his twin brothers, real estate mogul Tal Alexander has hired Howard Srebnick, a high-profile Miami defense attorney, to lead his defense, according to court documents obtained by Local 10 News on Tuesday.
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Srebnick is known for representing prominent clients, including Jeffrey Epstein and Justin Bieber, and his involvement signals an aggressive strategy as Alexander’s legal team challenges his detention.
Srebnick wasted no time filing a motion to reopen Alexander’s “detention hearing and stay removal,” challenging the government’s assertion that Alexander poses a flight risk if granted bond. The motion presents several arguments:
- The government failed to produce evidence required under the Jencks Act, which mandates disclosure of statements made by witnesses.
- Alexander was not afforded a meaningful opportunity to address concerns about his family’s financial resources.
- The claim that Alexander is not extraditable from Israel is “unequivocally false.”
“Mr. Alexander seeks the opportunity to present evidence and argument to refute it,” Srebnick wrote. “As an initial matter, Israel has an extradition treaty with the United States. Accordingly, Israel will grant extradition where an individual has been charged or convicted of a felony and where — like here — the conduct at issue is a criminal offense in both the requesting country and Israel.”
Citing multiple legal precedents, including cases involving Israeli citizens extradited for drug trafficking, conspiracy to defraud, and other offenses, Srebnick pointed out that Israel’s extradition policies are aligned with its treaty obligations to the United States.
The government has argued that Alexander’s Jewish heritage, financial resources, and family ties to Israel make him a flight risk. Srebnick dismissed these claims as baseless.
“This argument is patently biased and not grounded in reality or the law,” he said. “Mr. Alexander is a United States citizen who has substantial family ties in the United States and who has no history of flight or intentions to flee.”
Srebnick emphasized that Alexander has not traveled to Israel in at least three years, does not hold citizenship in any other country, and has not made any attempts to leave the U.S., even after news reports surfaced about the investigation in July.
“Special Agent Atwood testified that she did not uncover any information suggesting Mr. Alexander planned or prepared to leave the country,” the motion states.
Alexander’s legal team plans to present additional evidence to counter the government’s claims and argue for his release on bond.
The motion further argues that while Israel’s Law of Return allows Jewish individuals to apply for citizenship, Alexander’s current status does not align with the government’s portrayal of him as a flight risk. Srebnick also said that Alexander does not hold an Israeli passport.
Alexander, 38, remains in custody following a federal judge’s decision last week to deny him bond. Magistrate Judge Lisette Reid rejected a defense proposal that included $115 million in pledged real estate assets, citing the severity of the allegations.
The Alexander brothers, including Oren and Alon, both 37, face federal charges of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking and sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion. The alleged crimes date back to 2010 and involve evidence such as text messages, videos, photos, and testimony from about 40 women, according to FBI Special Agent Justine Atwood.
Miami-Dade prosecutors have also filed state charges against the twins for sexual assaults allegedly committed in 2016, 2017, and 2021. These include an alleged gang rape involving a family friend and co-defendant, Ohad Fisherman, who is reportedly on his honeymoon in Japan and is expected to surrender this week.
On Thursday, Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Mindy Glazer denied bond for the twins. However, the next day, Judge Lody Jean granted pre-trial release agreements requiring a $3 million personal surety for Oren Alexander and $2 million for Alon Alexander, though both remained in custody pending federal proceedings.
Oren Alexander, who pleaded to be with his wife as she prepares to give birth, and Alon Alexander are both married to professional models. The family has faced intense public scrutiny, with Oren’s wife, Brazilian model Kamila Hansen, deleting her social media accounts following the arrests.
Federal prosecutors maintain that the brothers targeted dozens of victims, some of whom have filed civil lawsuits.
“This investigation is far from over,” said U.S. Attorney Damian Williams in court last week. “If you have been a victim of these crimes or have information, we urge you to come forward.”
Meanwhile, Srebnick’s involvement underscores a formidable legal defense.
Known for representing high-profile clients like Gustavo Falcon, the last of the “Cocaine Cowboys,” Srebnick brings extensive experience in high-stakes litigation. His partner, attorney Roy Black, has a reputation for defending individuals facing serious charges, with Black notably serving as Jeffrey Epstein’s longtime attorney.
The court has not yet scheduled a hearing on the motion to reopen Alexander’s detention, but the filing is expected to intensify legal debates surrounding the case.
Oren and Alon Alexander remain in custody at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center as their state court hearing, originally scheduled for Monday, was postponed to Thursday, their attorney Joel Denaro confirmed to Local 10 News.
The Alexander brothers’ first federal court appearance has not yet been scheduled, but they will be transported by U.S. Marshals for a pre-trial detention hearing.
“The Court should reopen the detention hearing because (i) the Government failed to produce required Jencks Act material, (ii) Mr. Alexander did not have a meaningful opportunity to address concerns raised sua sponte in the Court’s decision with respect to his family’s financial resources; and (iii) Mr. Alexander wants to correct the government’s representation that he is not extraditable from Israel, which is inaccurate,” the document stated.
Former state and federal prosecutor David Weinstein told Local 10 News that “the points raised in (ii) and (iii) can be corrected in written submissions and would not in and of themselves require a full rehearing.”
He added, “As for the issue raised in point one, they could have asked for that before they cross-examined the agent, and if the government had the reports of the agent who testified, they would have received them. Since no other witnesses testified, they would not have received any reports summarizing the statements of any victims. In addition, that argument would have applied more to danger to the community than risk of flight.”
Read the motion to reopen Tal Alexander’s detention hearing in the document below.
Local 10 viewers can also view a notice of appearance confirming that Srebnick will serve as counsel for Tal Alexander.
