High-Profile Financier Accused of Exploiting Women

A wealthy former Wall Street trader is in serious trouble. Howard Rubin, once a big name in finance, now faces serious charges. He and his ex-assistant are accused of running a sex trafficking operation for years. The charges say Rubin paid women to meet him in fancy hotels and a special apartment. This apartment was like a "sex dungeon" with weird equipment. Some of this equipment could even give electric shocks. The women say Rubin hurt them badly. They had to go to the hospital sometimes. Rubin and his assistant spent a lot of money on this operation. They used over $1 million to keep it going. The assistant also helped find women and deal with their complaints. This isn't the first time Rubin has been in trouble. In 2022, a court said he was guilty of sex trafficking. He had to pay almost $4 million to six women. Rubin also made headlines in 1987 for causing a huge loss at Merrill Lynch. The assistant, Jennifer Powers, is also in trouble. She is accused of helping Rubin and lying to a bank. She is supposed to go to court soon. The women say Rubin made them sign secret agreements. These agreements said the women were responsible if they got hurt. Rubin used these agreements to threaten the women if they tried to fight back.