The Alexander brothers spent years surrounded by wealth, luxury and powerful connections. Their next social circle may be considerably less welcoming.
Tal, Oren and Alon Alexander, the once-prominent brothers convicted of sex trafficking and other federal sex offenses, were each sentenced Tuesday to 30 years in prison. With their prison destinations still unknown, a former federal prison official warns that their punishment could extend past the loss of freedom.
Dr. DeWayne Hendrix, former Associate Warden at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center, told Los Angeles Magazine that inmates convicted of sexual offenses often occupy one of the lowest positions in the prison social hierarchy.
“I can tell you that the [Alexander] brothers may find that the most difficult part of their sentences is not simply the loss of freedom, but the daily reality of living in a prison environment where individuals convicted of sex offenses are often among the most ostracized inmates,” Hendrix said.
The chilling warning comes one day after U.S. District Judge Valerie Caproni handed down identical 30-year sentences following a marathon hearing in Manhattan federal court. The brothers were convicted in March after a six-week trial involving testimony from 11 women who described being drugged and sexually assaulted.
Caproni also revealed during sentencing that Tal and Alon were once assaulted during their stay at the MDC, but did not expand on the details.
As Los Angeles Magazine previously reported, Caproni called the brothers’ conduct “monstrous” and questioned whether they could be rehabilitated without first accepting responsibility for their crimes. Federal prosecutors had requested life sentences, while defense attorneys argued for the mandatory minimum of 15 years.
But the brothers’ next battle may involve something much more basic than sentencing guidelines: where they sleep, where they eat and whom they can trust. “In many institutions, sex offenders are socially segregated by the inmate population,” Hendrix explained.
According to Hendrix, the brothers could struggle to find cellmates willing to live with them, face intimidation in common areas and even encounter unwritten rules about where they can sit during meals.
“They may be discouraged or intimidated from watching television with other inmates, sitting in certain television rooms, or even sharing a table during meals,” he said.
That treatment is not guaranteed, and conditions vary among federal prisons. But even the Federal Bureau of Prisons acknowledges that sex offenders are a vulnerable population and considers their needs when making housing and treatment decisions.
For the Alexanders, who once moved comfortably through exclusive social circles in New York, Miami and beyond, Hendrix believes their financial resources could present another problem.
“Beyond the social isolation, the brothers could become targets of bullying, intimidation, threats, and extortion,” he said. Other inmates, he explained, may see wealthy prisoners as opportunities to obtain money or commissary goods. And paying for protection could backfire.
“Once an inmate begins paying for protection, the demands can escalate, and there is no guarantee of safety,” Hendrix warned.
The brothers have also made clear that they want to remain together while serving their sentences, something Caproni has expressed serious reservations about.
During an Oct. 19 hearing, the judge questioned whether the three men, who prosecutors argued encouraged one another’s criminal behavior, would benefit from being housed in the same federal institution. As LA Mag reported, Caproni suggested that society might be better served if the brothers were separated, but also conceded she is not an expert and it’s ultimately up to the BOP.
Defense attorneys argued that keeping the siblings apart could harm their mental health and emotional well-being.
Oren and Alon, both 39, are fraternal twins, while their older brother, Tal, is 40. During the October hearing, the defense clarified that the twins are not identical, an issue raised during discussions about their detention arrangements. At Tuesday’s sentencing, Caproni again questioned whether the brothers could make meaningful progress toward rehabilitation if they remained together.
The judge indicated she would communicate her concerns to the BOP, which has final authority over their institutional assignments. She also indicated she would recommend that the brothers be placed in Florida, closer to their families, although such recommendations are not binding.
Hendrix believes separation is a real possibility.
“First, there is a strong possibility the brothers will be assigned to separate federal institutions, meaning they may not have each other for emotional support or protection,” he said.
The judge also declined a defense request to keep the brothers at Brooklyn’s MDC while they pursue appeals.
The risks faced by high-profile inmates convicted of sexual violence are not merely theoretical, although attacks are far from inevitable.
One of the most notorious examples is serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, who was beaten to death by fellow inmate Christopher Scarver in November 1994 while performing cleaning duties at Wisconsin’s Columbia Correctional Institution. Dahmer was serving multiple life sentences for murdering and sexually abusing young men and boys. His killing occurred in a state prison, not a federal institution, and the circumstances were extremely different from the Alexander brothers’ case. Still, his death remains is a terrifying example of the violence that can occur behind bars.
The brothers have continued to maintain their innocence despite their convictions, and their attorneys have indicated plans to appeal. Their money once helped open doors to some of the most exclusive rooms in the country. In federal prison, Hendrix warns, it could make them stand out for all the wrong reasons.
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