The personal assistant of retired financier Howard Rubin reportedly helped him lure women to a “sex dungeon” inside his Manhattan penthouse.
Jennifer Powers, 45, appeared in federal court Monday, in Forth Worth, after her arrest for her alleged involvement in a sex trafficking scheme.
Powers, a mother of three, worked as Rubin’s assistant from around 2009 to 2019. She’s accused of recruiting women while helping Rubin run an illicit network, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of New York.
She allegedly targeted numerous “former Playboy models” that she found on “prostitution networks, modeling pages or social media.”
Rubin then “exceeded the scope of their consent by violently abusing” the women, the indictment read.
He’s accused of sexually and physically abusing the women inside the room he called “The Dungeon,” at his 2-bedroom penthouse near Central Park.
According to the indictment, the room had been painted red, locked, and furnished with BDSM equipment, such as shock devices that Rubin used to electrocute the victims.
Sone of the women became unconscious during the abuse.
Powers is accused of minimizing Rubin’s behavior by telling victims he had been drunk or blaming women for allowing him to get too intoxicated, the indictment read.
The pair allegedly spent around $1 million while operating the trafficking network.
In exchange for her assistance, Rubin allegedly paid Powers’ rent on her Manhattan apartment, made the down payment on her Texas home, made the mortgage payment, paid private school tuition for her children and paid her credit card bills.
He later allegedly paid her legal fees.
According to the Fort Worth Star of Telegram, Powers began working as a substitute teacher at Carroll ISD after relocating to Texas in 2020.
“The individual in question is no longer employed by Carroll ISD, has been fully removed from all roles, and no longer has any access to our campuses or facilities,” Carroll ISD Board of Trustees president Cam Bryan said Tuesday.
Officials released Powers from federal custody Monday, with the requirement of wearing a GPS monitor.
If convicted, she faces 15 years to life behind bars.
Rubin, is also facing federal charges of sex trafficking, conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, and conspiracy to violate the Mann Act.
Rubin is accused of paying victims up to $5,000 each. He has pleaded not guilty and remains in federal custody without bail.
“For many years, Howard Rubin and Jennifer Powers allegedly spent at least one million dollars to finance the commercial sexual torture of multiple women via a national trafficking network,” FBI Assistant Director in Charge Raia stated.
“The defendants allegedly exploited Rubin’s status to ensnare their prospective victims and forced them to endure unthinkable physical trauma before silencing any outcries with threats of legal recourse.”
“The FBI will continue to apprehend any trafficker who sexually abuses others for twisted gratification.”
Law enforcement is asking any victims to contact the FBI at fbi.gov/HowardRubinVictims, email to [email protected] or calk 212-384-3600.
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[Feature Photo: Pixabay]
