Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), author of the landmark Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA) (PL 106-386), issued the following statement after Alon, Oren, and Tal Alexander were each sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for their roles in a decade-long sex trafficking and sexual abuse scheme:

                “These sentences send a powerful message: wealth, privilege, and social status do not put anyone above the law. The Alexander brothers used their resources and influence to lure women and minors into situations where they were drugged, sexually assaulted, and raped. Their victims deserve justice, and I commend the courage of the survivors who came forward to help secure these convictions.

                “When I authored the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, we established a landmark federal framework to investigate and prosecute human traffickers, impose serious criminal and civil penalties, and protect victims. The federal sex trafficking statutes at the heart of this case reflect that framework, as well as the critical role that Congress has played in strengthening our Nation’s response to these horrific crimes.

                “Despite this progress, we must continue to strengthen our laws, support survivors, and prevent exploitation before it happens. That is precisely why Congress must pass my new, bipartisan anti-human trafficking law, the Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act of 2025 (HR 1144).

                “This legislation would reauthorize and strengthen critical anti-trafficking programs and funding across the federal government, support robust investigations and prosecutions, and help survivors rebuild their lives through a number of support services.

                “HR 1144 would also strengthen prevention efforts to protect children from human trafficking and sexual abuse, including by tightening the torniquet on the child sex tourism industry.

                “The Alexander brothers’ sentences are another reminder of why we must remain steadfast in our mission to end human trafficking. The United States must continue to champion this critical issue by holding perpetrators accountable, protecting the vulnerable, and ensuring that both law enforcement and survivors have the resources they need.

                “I urge my colleagues to immediately advance HR 1144 and renew our Nation’s commitment to preventing trafficking, protecting victims, and prosecuting traffickers.”

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