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Retired Wall Street financier Howard Rubin was arrested on September 26, 2025, on federal charges of sex trafficking for allegedly running a national operation out of a Manhattan penthouse known as a "sex dungeon". His personal assistant, Jennifer Powers, was also indicted in connection with the decade-long operation.
Federal charges
According to prosecutors, between 2009 and 2019, Rubin and Powers:
Ran a national network to recruit women, including former models, for paid sex acts.
Coerced victims into non-consensual and often violent BDSM acts through force and fraud, including torture that caused physical and emotional trauma.
Transported victims across state lines for commercial sex acts, and housed them in a soundproofed Midtown penthouse that was equipped with BDSM equipment.
Spent more than $1 million to fund the trafficking ring.
Used Rubin's wealth and status to exploit his victims.
Civil lawsuits and prior proceedings
The federal charges follow several civil lawsuits filed against Rubin:
Civil judgment: In 2022, a Brooklyn jury found Rubin liable for sex trafficking and battery in a civil case and ordered him to pay $3.85 million to six women who alleged they were lured to his Manhattan penthouse for abusive sexual encounters.
Lawsuits alleging abuse: As early as 2017, several women filed lawsuits alleging they were assaulted and raped by Rubin in his "sex dungeon" after being recruited under the pretense of private photo shoots.
Defense strategy: In past civil litigation, Rubin's lawyers have claimed the women were "professional escorts" and that the encounters were consensual.
Additional details
Ties to George Soros: Rubin, a retired money manager, once had ties to investor George Soros and was known as a high roller on Wall Street.
Possible life sentence: If convicted on the federal sex trafficking charges, Rubin faces amandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum sentence of life in prison.