A Wall Street elite and his personal assistant have been federally indicted for allegedly running a decade-long sex trafficking operation that exploited dozens of women while the assistant lived lavishly on her boss’s money.
Story Snapshot
- Howard Rubin, a former Wall Street financier, and his personal assistant, Jennifer Powers, have been federally indicted on sex trafficking and related charges.
- Powers allegedly managed the logistics and recruitment for an operation that abused dozens of women over a decade.
- The alleged activity occurred between 2009 and 2019, utilizing Rubin’s Manhattan penthouse and luxury hotels.
- The indictment highlights the use of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) and financial threats to coerce victims into silence.
Indictment Alleges Decade-Long Trafficking Operation
Howard Rubin, a former Wall Street executive with a career that included roles at Salomon Brothers, Bear Stearns, Merrill Lynch, and Soros Fund Management, was indicted on federal sex trafficking charges. Also indicted was his former personal assistant, Jennifer Powers. Prosecutors allege that Rubin leveraged his wealth and professional stature to orchestrate a systematic trafficking operation between 2009 and 2019.
The operation allegedly involved recruiting dozens of women, some reportedly under the guise of legitimate opportunities. Victims were allegedly transported to Rubin’s Manhattan residence and luxury hotels, where they were subjected to violent and non-consensual acts. Federal prosecutors described the operation as highly organized, exploiting Rubin’s financial resources and social network.
EDNY today charging retired NY-based financier, Howard Rubin & his personal assistant, Jennifer Powers, with sex trafficking and transporting women in interstate commerce for sex acts with Rubin and
misrepresentations in financing Powers’s Texas mortgage pic.twitter.com/c2muxeHjqT— Inner City Press (@innercitypress) September 26, 2025
Assistant’s Role and Parallel Charges
Jennifer Powers is accused of serving as a key facilitator of the alleged criminal enterprise. Federal prosecutors allege that Powers managed operational logistics, including victim recruitment and travel coordination to various locations. Furthermore, she reportedly engaged in damage control aimed at coercing survivors into silence through non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) and threats of financial retaliation.
Prosecutors revealed that Powers reportedly benefited financially from her role, enjoying a luxury lifestyle funded by Rubin. Powers was arrested in Texas on parallel charges, including bank fraud, which were tied to the purchase of a luxury residence. The indictment suggests Powers was an active participant in maintaining the infrastructure that enabled the alleged systematic abuse.
Federal Justice Delivered
The federal indictment, secured in 2024 by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, represents a significant legal action against the defendants. Rubin has been denied bail by the presiding judge due to concerns that he poses both a flight risk and a danger to the community.
The prosecution underscores the importance of federal law enforcement intervention in cases involving alleged criminal networks that operate across state lines and utilize financial and legal leverage to exploit vulnerable individuals. The case is expected to proceed to trial, challenging the defense’s efforts to minimize the charges. The charges carry the potential for significant prison sentences upon conviction.
Sources:
Howie Rubin, prominent investment banker, charged with sex trafficking
Howard Rubin Civil Sexual Abuse and Trafficking Lawsuits
Retired New York Financier and his Personal Assistant Charged with Sex Trafficking
