A shocking series of text messages between defendant Howard Rubin and his longtime assistant came to light on Friday.
The 70-year-old Rubin, known for his controversial sexual preferences, allegedly exchanged these messages with Jennifer Powers, 45, as part of a broader indictment that accuses him of severe misconduct against women, including his suspected victims.
Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn unveiled some of these troubling messages as part of a 10-count indictment.
“Did you shock her?”
In one disturbing 2015 exchange, Rubin reportedly told Powers about a woman he had tied up. The long-time assistant, who has worked for him since 2011, allegedly responded with an unsettling message.
“I can only imagine what you did to her on that cross!!! Did you shock her p-y?” Powers is said to have written.
Rubin reportedly confessed that he had not shocked her but expressed frustration that his electric device was losing power.
“She’s going to do anything!”
Other messages indicated that Rubin seemed to take pleasure in the pain inflicted upon women, many of whom he allegedly manipulated for money.
In 2014, one of his suspected victims claimed she would endure BDSM sessions despite the discomfort, mentioning how “really tough” it was for her.
Rubin reportedly stated that the woman was “obedient, but she’s a blocket,” implying that her desperation pushed her to comply with his demands.
“She hates that, but she’s so desperate!” he allegedly wrote, as revealed in court documents.
“I don’t care if she screams or not.”
In a 2016 message before a planned threesome, Rubin indicated a desire to “abuse” one of the women for hours, stating, “I don’t care if she screams or not,” accompanied by a laughing emoji.
When the woman expressed her readiness, he responded swiftly with a typo-laden message.
“It’s getting very rough.”
Prosecutors claim Rubin and the woman allegedly resorted to physical violence, striking the victim repeatedly. The woman eventually managed to free herself enough to bite Rubin’s finger, according to federal claims.
He purportedly communicated to his assistant about the intensity of the situation, saying, “It got very rough, Jen. We need a lot of trust. It’s very important,” as per court documents.
Powers replied, “Okay, I’m kind. I hope you know what you’re doing.”
The two were arrested on Friday, facing allegations related to a scheme that spanned from 2009 to 2019, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Brooklyn.
They are accused of luring women under false pretenses before Rubin allegedly subjected them to torture in a sex dungeon disguised as a luxurious hotel or penthouse.
Neither Rubin nor Powers has entered a plea yet, and their attorneys have not provided comments to the media.
