Former
Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Jeffries charged with sex trafficking, prostitution
October 23,
2024 | 6:36 pm
NEW YORK —
Mike Jeffries, the former long-time chief executive officer (CEO) of
Abercrombie & Fitch, has been criminally charged with sex trafficking and
prostitution involving dozens of men.
The 16-count
indictment was unveiled on Tuesday by federal prosecutors in Brooklyn a decade
after Mr. Jeffries left the retailer he built over 22 years into a popular
clothing brand known for sexually charged marketing.
It followed
a BBC investigation and proposed class action lawsuit accusing Mr. Jeffries of
baiting young men with the prospect of modeling jobs to lure them into
traveling around the world so they could be sexually abused.
US Attorney
Breon Peace, whose office won a conviction and 30-year prison term for the
singer R Kelly for sex trafficking, said powerful people have for too long
sexually abused young people who yearned for careers in fashion and
entertainment.
“To anyone
who thinks they can exploit and coerce others by using the so-called casting
couch system, this case should serve as a warning: Prepare to trade that couch
for a bed in federal prison,” Peace said at a press conference.
The
defendants include Jeffries, 80, his partner Matthew Smith, 61, and James
Jacobson, 71, who allegedly recruited men for them.
Each was
charged with one count of sex trafficking and 15 counts of interstate
prostitution related to 15 unnamed victims from 2008 and 2015.
If
convicted, they face possible life sentences and mandatory minimum 15-year
prison terms for the sex trafficking charges. They face up to 20 years in
prison for the interstate prostitution charges.
In separate
court hearings, Jeffries and Jacobson were ordered released on respective bonds
of $10 million and $500,000.
A
spokesperson for Mr. Peace said they are expected to enter formal pleas on
Friday afternoon in the Central Islip, New York federal court. Prosecutors want
both men subjected to home confinement.
Mr. Smith, a
dual US-British citizen, was ordered detained at his court hearing. Prosecutors
want him jailed pending trial, citing the risk of flight.
Mr.
Jeffries’ lawyer Brian Bieber and Mr. Smith’s lawyers did not immediately
respond to requests for comment after the hearings. Jeremy Schneider, a lawyer
for Mr. Jacobson, declined to comment.
Abercrombie
also declined to comment. It was not accused of wrongdoing, and Mr. Peace said
there was no evidence the alleged crimes took place on company property.
‘TRYOUTS’
AND ‘POPPERS’
Prosecutors
said Mr. Jeffries and Mr. Smith paid for dozens of men to meet them for sex at
their homes in Manhattan and in the Hamptons in Long Island, New York, as well
as at hotels in places such as England, France, Italy, Morocco and St. Barts.
Relying on
their deep pockets and Mr. Jeffries’ power at Abercrombie, Mr. Jeffries and Mr.
Smith were “dedicated to fulfilling their sexual desires and ensuring that
their international sex trafficking and prostitution business was kept secret,
thereby maintaining Mr. Jeffries’ powerful reputation,” the indictment said.
Prosecutors
said Mr. Jacobson typically conducted “tryouts,” where male recruits as young
as 19 would have sex with him before being referred to Mr. Jeffries and Mr.
Smith.
They also
said the scheme involved muscle relaxants known as “poppers” and props such as
large sex toys and high-pressured enemas.
Men were
required to sign nondisclosure agreements and pay damages if they told anyone
including family and friends what went on.
The proposed
class action led by named plaintiff David Bradberry, who took part in the BBC
probe, separately accused Abercrombie of paying off people who accused Mr.
Jeffries of sexual abuse or harassment.
Abercrombie,
Mr. Jeffries and Mr. Smith asked a federal judge on Oct. 4 to dismiss that
case.
The New
Albany, Ohio-based company said it had been “shocked and appalled” by the
allegations against Mr. Jeffries, and that it was implausible to believe it had
anything to do with them.
Mr. Jeffries
led Abercrombie from 1992 to 2014, making it a successful teen apparel maker
known for cologne-filled stores and ads featuring semi-nude models.
He resigned
amid criticism from investors and analysts that he failed to keep up with the
changing tastes of teen shoppers. — Reuters
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