Three brothers convicted of using their influence in luxury real estate to rape and assault dozens of women over several years were each sentenced to 30 years in prison Tuesday in New York.

"For years," the defendants "preyed on women and girls, using drugs and violence to render them helpless so they could rape them" and "their careers and social standing to conceal the danger they posed," commented federal prosecutor Jamie McDonald in a statement.

"The sentence handed down today clearly shows that this cowardly and sinister behavior is of exceptional gravity and will be punished with the utmost firmness," he added.

Twelve victims gave their testimony before sentencing, reports the New York Times, one of them describing her assault as an "animal" attack.

The brothers admitted to being ashamed of their behavior, while maintaining that they had never drugged or raped anyone.

"Either all these women chose the wrong profession and should all be actresses, or they told the truth and were raped and drugged. And I'm going with the second option," commented federal judge Valerie Caproni, according to CNN.

The trial of twins Alon and Oren Alexander, 39, and their brother Tal Alexander, 40, ended in March with their conviction for "sex trafficking" for acts that took place between 2008 and 2021.

Oren and Tal, founders of the real estate company Official, and Alon, who worked for the family's private security company, faced up to life imprisonment.

Their lawyers were asking for less than 15 years in prison.

Invited on a trip after meeting the brothers at parties or on dating apps, the victims told the court that they thought they had been drugged before being assaulted.

The brothers' lawyers argued that they were "playboys" and "womanizers" and portrayed the plaintiffs as motivated by shame or greed.