A court ruling has given Devon and Cornwall Police the authority to seize over £2 million from Andrew Tate and his brother, Tristan, after they failed to pay taxes on £21 million in revenue from their online businesses. The funds, held in seven frozen bank accounts, were linked to the brothers and a third person referred to as “J.”
The chief magistrate at Westminster Magistrates’ Court described what appeared to be a “complex financial matrix” as a “straightforward cheat of the revenue.” Andrew Tate, in response, claimed the ruling was an “attack,” asserting that it was not justice.
The brothers had transferred nearly $12 million into an account in “J’s” name, who had no involvement in their online ventures, including War Room, Hustlers’ University, Cobra Tate, and OnlyFans. The funds were partially held in cryptocurrency.
During court proceedings, Devon and Cornwall Police’s lawyers revealed that Andrew Tate had openly admitted to avoiding UK tax payments, stating that he believed ignoring authorities would make the issue go away. Despite this, Tate and his lawyers argued that the movement of the funds was legitimate business activity.
Judge Paul Goldspring ruled in favor of the police, stating that the Tate brothers had provided no evidence of tax payments. He concluded that their actions had been deliberate attempts to evade tax obligations.
This ruling comes as part of the ongoing legal troubles for the brothers. In June 2023, Romanian authorities charged Andrew Tate with rape, human trafficking, and forming a criminal gang. Tristan Tate also faces human trafficking allegations. Additionally, Bedfordshire Police are seeking the brothers’ extradition to the UK on charges related to rape and human trafficking. However, a judge in Bucharest has stated that the extradition request will be handled after the resolution of the Romanian case.
The seizure of £2,683,345, including cryptocurrency, marks the latest setback for the Tate brothers in their legal battles.
