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Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO arrested for Sex Trafficking
Prosecutors revealed Tuesday that Mike Jeffries, the ex-CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch, has been taken into custody for allegations of sex trafficking and interstate prostitution.
Jeffries was taken into custody in West Palm Beach, Florida. Two more accomplices, Matthew Smith from West Palm Beach and James Jacobson from Wisconsin, were also taken into custody for involvement in sex trafficking accusations.
Jeffries and Smith appeared in court for the first time in Florida on Tuesday afternoon. They are scheduled to appear in court at a later date in the eastern District of New York.
Jeffries served as the CEO of the well-known clothing brand for 22 years, from 1992 to 2014.
Jeffries, Smith, and Jacobson are each charged with one count of sex trafficking and also face 15 counts of interstate prostitution related to 15 alleged victims.
A federal indictment claims that Jeffries, Smith, and Jacobson ran an “international sex trafficking and prostitution business” from 2008 to 2015. Smith was Jeffries’ romantic partner and Jacobson was described as a recruiter.
It is claimed that they arranged “sex events” in various locations such as England, France, Italy, Morocco, St. Barts, and New York for Jeffries, Smith, and others. They “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.”
The men believed that attending the events could open up modeling opportunities or advance their careers, and they were also warned that refusing to participate in certain acts could negatively impact their careers.
The men had to agree to confidentiality agreements and hand over their wallets and cell phones at the events.
Jeffries, Smith, and Jacobson are accused of enlisting, employing, and compensating a designated group of domestic workers to “assist and oversee the sexual gatherings.” The employees gave Jeffries, Smith, and the male attendees substances like alcohol, “poppers,” muscle relaxants, as well as Viagra, lubricant, and condoms. According to the indictment, either Jacobson or the staff compensated the men for participating in the sex events.
During a news conference, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Breon Peace stated that Jeffries and Smith distributed millions for the sex trafficking operation, covering expenses such as staff salaries, travel costs, and maintaining confidentiality.
Peace mentioned that the operation employed a referral system and interview process, where the men who were supposedly targeted were not briefed on the specifics of the sexual encounters beforehand. In the “tryouts” for potential candidates, Jacobson would usually have candidates start by participating in commercial sex acts with him, according to the indictment.
During the events, the men felt obligated to drink and use poppers, and Peace stated that Jeffries and Smith violated the men’s bodily integrity by engaging in invasive sexual and violent acts when consent was not given or possible on multiple occasions.
Peace Statement
“Powerful individuals, for too long, have trafficked and abused for their own sexual pleasure young people with few resources in a dream, a dream of securing a successful career in fashion or entertainment,” Peace stated.
He cautioned individuals who believe they can manipulate or pressure others through the “alleged casting couch system” that they should be ready to switch from a couch to a prison bed.
After their first court appearance on Tuesday, Jeffries will be freed on a $10 million bond with restrictions while Smith will stay detained until his court hearing in New York. Prosecutors had asked for Smith to be held before trial due to being a British national and a risk of fleeing.
Peace stated that his office learned about the purported crimes from media coverage.
One year after BBC News published a report detailing Jeffries’ exploitation of men at sex parties he hosted, the news of his arrest has now come to light. The report indicated that 12 men detailed their participation in or organization of gatherings where sexual activities occurred for Jeffries and his partner Matthew Smith, happening between 2009 and 2015. Some of the men interviewed by BBC claimed they were taken advantage of or did not consent to taking part.
At the time, Brian Bieber, the lawyer representing Jeffries, stated that Jeffries would not be addressing any rumors regarding his personal life. Abercrombie & Fitch expressed extreme shock and repulsion at the accusations made in the BBC report.
Bieber responded to the arrest on Tuesday by stating: “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.”
Not long after the report was released, Abercrombie & Fitch and Jeffries were sued for supposedly ignoring Jeffries’ reported misconduct. CNBC reported that the civil lawsuit claimed he sexually abused multiple men by enticing them with the possibility of desirable modeling contracts.
Attorney Statement
“Today’s arrests are monumental for the aspiring male models who were victimized by these individuals,” in a statement on Tuesday, attorney Brittany Henderson, who represents victims in the class action lawsuit, stated.
“Their fight for justice does not end here,” the statement said. “We look forward to holding Abercrombie and Fitch liable for facilitating this terrible conduct and ensuring that this cannot happen again.”
When questioned about the possibility of the reported sex trafficking operation continuing after 2015, Peace stated that the investigation is still in progress and urged any victims or witnesses to step forward.
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