(Bloomberg) -- Luxury real estate broker Tal Alexander asked a federal judge in Florida to reconsider denying him bail on sex-trafficking charges, saying he would increase his original offer of a $115 million bond and that his parents were willing to sign off on “any amount.”
In a Monday court filing, lawyers for Alexander, 38, requested a new hearing where he could present evidence that he wasn’t a flight risk, as well as financial information showing that an increased proposed bond would be a sufficient “disincentive” for him to flee. He also asked that US Magistrate Judge Lisette M. Reid halt the process of transporting him to New York.
“Mr. Alexander’s parents are willing to sign a bond in any amount secured by the entirety of their assets,” his lawyers said.
Reid ordered the government to respond to Alexander’s filing by Wednesday.
Alexander and his younger twin brothers Oren and Alon, both 37, were charged last week by Manhattan federal prosecutors with using their wealth and positions to rape and sexually assault dozens of women. All three were arrested in Miami last week, but Oren and Alon are also facing state charges in Florida and have yet to appear in federal court.
The brothers face up to life in prison if convicted on the federal charges. Lawyers for all three brothers have indicated they will plead not guilty.
Tal made his first appearance before Reid on Friday. At the hearing, she expressed concern that his family might be wealthy enough that even a $115 million bond wouldn’t prevent him from fleeing. On Monday, his lawyers said the judge had ruled “without the benefit of any evidence of Mr. Alexander’s family’s full financial picture” and based on “broad assertions” of their wealth by prosecutors.
They also pushed back on the idea that Tal might flee to Israel, based on family ties, noting that he hasn’t visited there in three years, doesn’t hold Israeli citizenship and would be subject to extradition from that country in any case.
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