A retired New York financier identified as Howard Rubin, 70, and his former personal assistant Jennifer Powers, 45, were indicted in late September in the Eastern District of New York on ten criminal counts related to sex trafficking, interstate transportation for prostitution, and bank fraud. The indictment stems from allegations that the pair ran a decade long operation exploiting women for commercial sex acts, many involving bondage, discipline, dominance, submission and sadomasochism. Prosecutors also allege the sexual abuse was especially brutal. According to court filings, Rubin “used his wealth to mislead and recruit women to engage in commercial sex acts … where Rubin then tortured women beyond their consent, causing lasting physical and/or psychological pain, and in some cases physical injuries.” U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella said in a statement. The indictment alleges that Rubin tortured women beyond their consent, detailing injuries like breast implants flipping upside down.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, the scheme operated from at least 2009 through 2019. Rubin and Powers allegedly recruited dozens of women, including former Playboy models, by offering money and luxury travel, then transported them to hotel rooms and a Midtown Manhattan penthouse transformed into a sound proofed “sex dungeon” equipped with electrocution devices and restraints, painted all red.