Former Soros associate Howard Rubin faces federal sex trafficking charges

Howard Rubin, once a high-flying financier tied to George Soros, has been dragged into a shocking federal case that reads like a dark Hollywood script.

The 70-year-old former New York money manager was arrested at his Connecticut home on charges of sex trafficking and transporting women across state lines for commercial sex acts, alongside allegations of brutal abuse in a Manhattan penthouse between 2009 and 2019.

Rubin, who cut his teeth managing funds for Soros and working at Salomon Brothers, allegedly turned a leased West 57th Street penthouse into a nightmare zone, complete with a soundproofed room painted red and fitted with restraints and electric shock devices. It’s the kind of setup that makes you wonder how someone with such wealth could sink to such depravity.

Uncovering a Decade of Alleged Abuse

Prosecutors in Brooklyn claim Rubin lured women, including former Playboy models, to luxury hotels and this Midtown “sex dungeon,” where he restrained, beat, and shocked them over a span of ten years. The accusations paint a picture of systematic cruelty hidden behind a veneer of opulence.

Victims were reportedly coerced into signing nondisclosure agreements, their safe words ignored during violent encounters that left some with lasting injuries. One woman allegedly received tens of thousands of dollars after an encounter damaged her breast implants—a grim payout for unspeakable harm.

Rubin is accused of shelling out over $1 million to orchestrate this scheme, using wire transfers, PayPal, and Venmo to pay victims in staggered amounts to evade detection. If true, this level of financial maneuvering suggests not just malice, but chilling calculation.

Disturbing Claims and Digital Evidence

Among the most unsettling allegations, Rubin reportedly told a victim that rape was “natural” while referencing Disney films to justify his behavior. If that doesn’t twist your stomach, what does?

Text messages cited in the indictment allegedly show Rubin discussing the abuse with his assistant, Jennifer Powers, who was also arrested in Texas on similar charges. Prosecutors say Powers played a key role, recruiting women online and arranging their travel to feed this predatory operation.

The case doesn’t stop at trafficking charges—Rubin also faces bank fraud accusations for allegedly misrepresenting financial data to support Powers’ mortgage. It’s a tangled web of deceit that only deepens the public’s distrust in those who wield unchecked power.

Legal Battles and Personal Fallout

This isn’t Rubin’s first brush with scandal; civil lawsuits dating back to 2017 saw multiple women accuse him of violent assaults, culminating in a 2022 jury award of $4.47 million to seven plaintiffs. Just earlier this year, a judge ordered him to pay nearly $4.8 million in legal fees.

Though Rubin is appealing the verdicts, he’s had to post bonds nearing $10 million—a hefty price tag for someone already mired in controversy. It’s a stark reminder that no amount of wealth can shield you forever.

The personal toll is evident too—Rubin’s wife, Mary J. Henry, filed for divorce in 2021 after the initial wave of lawsuits broke. Well, turns out actions have consequences, even in the most private corners of life.

Broader Context of Soros Connections

Rubin is set to be arraigned in Brooklyn federal court, where the full weight of these charges will come into focus. For many watching, this case is less about one man and more about a culture of entitlement that too often escapes accountability.

The timing of Rubin’s arrest coincides with heightened scrutiny of his former boss, George Soros, whose Open Society Foundations are under investigation by the Department of Justice for potential violations like wire fraud and terrorism support as of June 2025. While Rubin’s alleged crimes stand on their own, the association raises eyebrows about the networks of influence surrounding Soros.

Conservative watchdogs and outlets like Breitbart News have long pointed to Soros’s funding of activist groups, progressive media, and prosecutors through entities like the Tides Foundation, alongside recent reports of ties to misinformation campaigns and violent protests. It’s a reminder that power often operates in shadows, and while we must focus on Rubin’s actions, the bigger picture of unchecked influence can’t be ignored.