Mike Jeffries Charged with Sex Trafficking

(Reuters) – Mike Jeffries, the former longtime chief executive of Abercrombie & Fitch, will be arraigned on Friday after being charged with running an international sex trafficking and prostitution scheme while leading the clothing retailer.

Jeffries, 80, who led Abercrombie from 1992 to 2014, is expected to enter his plea to 16 criminal charges before a federal judge in Central Islip, New York, in Suffolk County.

His employee James Jacobson will also enter a plea. Jeffries' partner Matthew Smith, a dual U.S.-British citizen, was ordered detained and will plead later. Both face the same charges as Jeffries.

Prosecutors said the alleged scheme ran from 2008 to 2015.

They said Jacobson acted as a recruiter, paying men to have sex with him, then selecting who would go to Manhattan, the Hamptons, and several countries worldwide to engage in sexual acts with Jeffries and Smith.

Victims were misled into believing their participation could lead to modeling jobs, but the scheme's real intent was fulfilling Jeffries' and Smith's sexual desires without tarnishing Jeffries' reputation, prosecutors alleged.

According to the indictment, victims were forced to consume alcohol, Viagra, and muscle relaxants; use sex toys; and perform sex acts against their will. They were also compelled to sign nondisclosure agreements.

Dozens of men were victimized, with 15 identified in the indictment. Each defendant faces 15 years to life in prison if convicted of sex trafficking and up to 20 years for interstate prostitution.

The charges echo accusations from a 2023 BBC investigation and private litigation on behalf of Jeffries' accusers.

Abercrombie has also been sued but has denied any knowledge of Jeffries' alleged misconduct. The New Albany, Ohio-based company was not charged in the criminal case.

Jeffries built Abercrombie into a popular brand targeting teen shoppers, employing sexually charged marketing strategies, including ads featuring semi-nude models. He resigned amid declining sales and criticism of his inability to adapt to changing customer preferences.