Prosecutors Claim New York Financier Howard Rubin Arranged for Women to Travel To His Penthouse Sex Dungeon
Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn have indicted retired New York financier Howard Rubin his personal assistant, Jennifer Powers.
Prosecutors have charged retired the New York-based financier Howard Rubin with 10 counts with sex trafficking. In addition, they charged him with transporting women in interstate commerce for sex acts. Prosecutors have also charged Rubin with bank fraud. Prosecutors allege Rubin made misrepresentations to a bank in the financing Powers’ mortgage for her Texas home.
Police arrested Rubin and arraigned on September 26, 2025 in Fairfield, Connecticut.
Authorities arrested Powers in Texas this morning. The court has scheduled her to make her initial appearance on Monday. A judge in Brooklyn will arraign Powers at a later date.
Court records show Rubin’s wealth to mislead and recruit women to engage in commercial sex acts. Rubin then tortured women beyond their consent causing lasting physical and/or psychological pain.
US Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. told the media:
Prosecutors say Rubin and Powers spent at least one million dollars to finance the commercial sexual torture enterprise. The duo found multiple women via a national trafficking network. Rubin and Powers allegedly exploited Rubin’s wealth to ensnare their prospective victims. They then forced them to endure unthinkable physical trauma. In addition, Rubin silenced their outcries with threats of legal recourse.
The indictment also alleges Rubin directed a sex trafficking enterprise. He exploited women who were transported from across the country to his Manhattan sex dungeon.
The sex dungeon was equipped with a soundproof room filled with BDSM equipment. The room was also including a device used to shock the women.
Authorities claim Powers ran the day-to-day operations of the enterprise and got paid generously for her efforts.
Rubin Developed Fascination For Dungeon Sex While Building His Wealth
Rubin built his wealth in New York City working in finance at Saloman Brothers. Powers became his personal assistant around 2011. She managed the logistical aspects of their commercial sex operation. The indictment alleges that between 2009 and 2019, Rubin and Powers recruited multiple women to travel to New York City. The women engaged in commercial BDSM sex acts with Rubin.
The commercial sex acts initially took place in luxury hotels. However, Rubin later moved it to his two-bedroom penthouse apartment in midtown Manhattan. Rubin and Powers converted one of the bedrooms into a sex dungeon by painting it red and soundproofing it. The duo also furnished the room with BDSM equipment and devices including a device to electrocute the women.
Rubin also used force, fraud and coercion to traffic another woman in 2018 from Las Vegas, Nevada.
Additionally, Rubin was deeply embroiled in civil litigation when he falsely told a bank that he was not a party to litigation while financing the mortgage for Powers’ Texas home.
Prosecutors allege Rubin and Powers recruited women to engage in commercial sex acts with Rubin. Powers frequently arranged the women’s flights to New York. She then transported them to the Penthouse. Rubin frequently brutalized women’s bodies. This caused the women to fear for their safety.
Rubin Had Women Sign NDAs And Injury Waivers
Rubin and Powers required the women to sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs). The NDA agreements required the women to assume the risk of the hazards of the BDSM encounters. The agreements also prohibited the disclosure of information about the BDSM sex with Rubin. In addition, the women agreed to pay Rubin damages in the event they breached the agreement. Rubin used the NDAs to threaten the women with legal consequences and public shaming if they sought legal recourse.
Rubin or Powers used Rubin’s money to pay the women by electronic transfer. At times, Powers structured the payments to avoid sending a single transaction of $10,000 or more. This was done to avoid triggering bank to to report the money to the IRS. The indictment alleges the two spent at least $1 million of Rubin’s money operating and maintaining the trafficking network.
Rubin and Powers each face a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison. They also face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for transporting women to engage in commercial sex acts. Additionally, Rubin faces a maximum sentence of 30 years’ imprisonment if convicted of bank fraud.
