Zac Efron’s Name Mentioned in Explosive Federal Sex-Trafficking Trial, Actor Not Accused

Zac Efron’s name surfaced this week in a shocking federal sex-trafficking trial in New York — though the actor is not accused of any wrongdoing.

The case centers on wealthy Florida real-estate figures Alon Alexander, Tal Alexander, and Oren Alexander, who are facing multiple accusations of rape, sexual assault, and sex trafficking. The brothers have denied all allegations.

On Tuesday, jurors in a Manhattan federal courtroom heard emotional testimony from the prosecution’s first witness, a woman using the pseudonym Katie Moore. She told the court that what began as a dream invitation in 2012 — a party at Zac Efron’s New York City apartment — turned into a traumatic ordeal hours later.

Katie testified that she was offered alcohol at Efron’s apartment and later took what she believed was Molly with Tal Alexander and a friend. The group then went to a nightclub, where she said she was given another drink. After that, her memory faded.

She told jurors she later woke up naked in a different apartment with Alon Alexander standing over her, also naked. When she tried to get up, she said she was pushed back down. According to her testimony, she told him she did not want to have sex. She said he laughed and replied, “You already did,” before allegedly assaulting her again.

Katie told the court she barely interacted with Efron that night and made clear she is not accusing the actor of any misconduct. Efron’s name, prosecutors said, came up only because the brothers allegedly used connections to famous people to impress and lure women.

The actor is best known for starring in Disney’s High School Musical franchise and has not been charged or named as a defendant in the case.

Prosecutors say Katie is one of dozens of women who have accused the Alexander brothers of serious sexual crimes spanning years. In her opening statement, Assistant U.S. Attorney Madison Smyser told jurors the brothers “masqueraded as party boys when really they were predators.”

Defense attorneys strongly dispute that portrayal. Teny Geragos, representing Oren Alexander, argued the encounters are being mischaracterized, saying the allegations describe dating — not trafficking.

The trial is ongoing, with more witnesses expected to testify in the coming days.