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Another powerful man has just been arrested for alleged sex trafficking: former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries. Here is everything we know so far.
Who is Mike Jeffries?
Jeffries was CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch from 1992 to 2014. In 2023, a BBC investigation and the accompanying documentary, The Abercrombie Guys: The Dark Side of Cool, reported allegations that Jeffries had sexually abused and exploited young men at events he hosted around the world while he was CEO of the company. The BBC interviewed eight men who alleged that they were recruited for events by a middleman, and either misled about the sexual nature of the parties or were unclear about what was expected of them. Some said they were led to believe they’d be given modeling opportunities.
After the report was published, Abercrombie & Fitch told the BBC that they were conducting an independent investigation into the claims of sexual abuse, and said it was previously unaware of the allegations. The investigation was also followed by a class-action lawsuit filed against both Jeffries and Abercrombie.
Why was Mike Jeffries arrested?
According to NBC News, Jeffries was arrested in West Palm Beach, Florida, along with his former partner Matthew Smith and the alleged middleman James Jacobson, on charges related to sex trafficking and interstate prostitution. They are expected to be arraigned at a later date in the Eastern District of New York. Jeffries attorney Brian Bieber told NBC, “We will respond in detail to the allegations after the Indictment is unsealed, and when appropriate, but plan to do so in the courthouse—not the media.”
Following the arrests, Brittany Henderson, who is a partner at the law firm representing the plaintiffs in the class-action suit, told The New York Times, “Their fight for justice does not end here. Our clients look forward to holding Abercrombie and Fitch liable for facilitating this terrible conduct and ensuring that this cannot happen again.”
What were the charges?
The indictment alleges that Jeffries, Smith, and Jacobson operated an “international sex trafficking and prostitution business” conducted during “sex events” held in six countries, including England, France, and the United States, per NBC. According to the indictment, the men allegedly “employed coercive, fraudulent and deceptive tactics in connection with the recruitment, hiring, transportation, obtaining, maintaining, solicitation and payment of the men to engage in commercial sex.” Furthermore, the indictment claims that Jeffries, Smith, and Jacobson hired an exclusive staff to “facilitate and supervise” the sex events.
