A United Nations official testified this week that she witnessed a sexual assault involving two of the Alexander brothers at a Hamptons pool party in 2009, with other guests present but failing to intervene. The testimony came during the third week of the federal sex trafficking trial of Tal Alexander, Oren Alexander, and Alon Alexander, former luxury real estate brokers.
Avishan Bodjnoud, an information management executive at the United Nations, told jurors she observed Tal Alexander and one of his twin brothers – she could not identify which – sexually assaulting a woman in a hot tub. The woman, described as intoxicated, repeatedly pleaded with them to stop, according to Bodjnoud’s account. “She was over and over and over asking them to stop,” Bodjnoud testified. “It seemed nobody was taking action.”
Bodjnoud recounted asking those around her to help, but receiving no response. Overwhelmed by fear and a sense of isolation, she left the party and, in a defiant act, scrawled “Rapists” and “You demand to apologize” in eyeliner on the front door and wall of the Southampton rental property. Photographs of the graffiti, recovered from Tal Alexander’s hard drive, were presented as evidence in court. “I hoped that someday this could be used as evidence,” Bodjnoud said, becoming emotional on the stand.
The alleged assault stands out as the only incident described thus far in the trial to have occurred in public view. To date, nine women have testified, detailing allegations of sexual assault by one or more of the brothers in locations including a cruise ship, other Hamptons rentals, and an Aspen ski resort. Prosecutors have not indicated whether the woman involved in the hot tub incident will be called to testify.
Defense attorneys challenged Bodjnoud’s testimony, questioning her decision to remain silent at the time. Milton Williams, representing Tal Alexander, suggested the brothers were simply young men at the time – Tal Alexander was 21 in 2009 and working as a copy machine salesman – and questioned the basis for her fear of their influence.
Another witness, identified only as “Isa Brooks,” testified under pseudonym about a separate alleged assault that occurred earlier the same day. Brooks, who was days shy of her 17th birthday, described being violently assaulted on a bed by Tal Alexander, Alon Alexander, and two other men. She recalled hearing “degrading words” during the attack and feeling as though the men “hated” her. Brooks testified that she later attended a birthday party with friends and even stayed overnight at another Hamptons home where Tal Alexander was present, explaining her reluctance to come forward as a fear of “rocking the boat” and getting into trouble.
The Alexander brothers face up to life in prison if convicted on the most serious charge of sex trafficking conspiracy. The trial is ongoing.
