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IAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – Tal Alexander, one of three wealthy brothers accused of operating a sex trafficking scheme, was denied bond in federal court Friday after a judge ruled he posed a significant flight risk.

    Prosecutors painted a chilling portrait of the Alexander brothers' violent crimes and international ties during a heated pretrial detention hearing. The brothers face federal charges for allegedly drugging and raping dozens of women over 10 years, according to a federal indictment filed in New York.

    The alleged assaults date back to when the brothers attended high school in Miami, with prosecutors referencing a yearbook comment they believe alludes to gang rape. Evidence includes text messages and social media posts that reveal the brothers' methods, including a group chat where they discussed "fees per bang" and referred to women as "fresh" acquisitions.

    Prosecutors said the brothers used promoters, dating apps, and chance encounters to lure victims, who were then restrained, drugged, and sexually assaulted. Multiple women reported being attacked in various locations, including the Hamptons, with one victim claiming she was filmed by a camcorder after being incapacitated.

    The brothers' defense team argued that Alexander's family was willing to put up $115 million in equity as part of a bail package, but the judge ultimately decided that Alexander posed a flight risk due to his considerable financial resources and international ties. "His wealth is his weapon," Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Astigarraga argued.

    Tal Alexander's defense attorney disputed the severity of the charges, claiming the allegations were untrue, while also challenging the characterization of Alexander as a flight risk. Despite these assurances, the judge ruled that the strength of the evidence against Alexander outweighed the defense's arguments.

    Meanwhile, Alon and Oren Alexander appeared in a separate state court for charges related to sexual battery stemming from incidents in Miami Beach. Their defense attorney reached a bail agreement with state prosecutors, allowing them to be placed under house arrest with GPS monitoring until their next hearing on Monday.