Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries charged with sex trafficking and prostitution

Mike Jeffries, former Abercrombie CEO, faces charges of sex trafficking and interstate prostitution in New York.

Mike Jeffries, the former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch, has been charged with sex trafficking and interstate prostitution in a federal indictment unsealed in New York.

The charges stem from allegations that Jeffries, alongside his romantic partner Matthew Smith and recruiter James Jacobson, engaged in a years-long operation that exploited young, financially vulnerable men.

Prosecutors claim that Jeffries and Smith coerced these men into sexual acts, often under false pretenses, by promising them lucrative modeling opportunities with Abercrombie & Fitch.

Many of the alleged victims, some as young as 19, believed that attending Jeffries' events could propel their careers in the fashion industry. Instead, the indictment details that these men were trafficked within the United States and to various countries, including England, France, Italy, Morocco, and St. Barts, often subjected to non-consensual sexual activity.

The indictment, spanning criminal activities from 2008 to 2015, paints a grim picture of systemic abuse, with Jeffries and Smith allegedly hosting "sex events" where the men were pressured or deceived into participating.

Prosecutors allege that Jacobson and others were tasked with recruiting these men, luring them into these events with promises of career advancement. These sessions were reportedly facilitated by Jeffries’ family office staff, who were instructed to manage logistics, security, and even provide alcohol, drugs, and sex paraphernalia for the encounters. In several instances, men were forced to sign non-disclosure agreements and hand over personal belongings, further adding to the coercive environment.

The indictment further claims that Jeffries and Smith engaged in “tryouts,” where recruits were led to believe they were participating in legitimate modeling shoots, only to be subjected to sexually exploitative activities. In one particularly disturbing accusation, some victims were allegedly coerced into injecting their genitals with substances intended to induce erections, which caused painful physical reactions lasting several hours.

If convicted, all three defendants face serious legal consequences. The charges include one count of sex trafficking, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and could potentially result in life sentences. Additionally, the 15 counts of interstate prostitution, each of which could result in up to 20 years behind bars, intensify the gravity of the situation.

These charges come a year after Jeffries and Abercrombie & Fitch were named in a civil lawsuit accusing the former CEO and Smith of orchestrating a similar sex trafficking ring. The civil suit, filed in Manhattan federal court, described a pattern of sexual exploitation at modeling events, where young men were manipulated and abused. Abercrombie & Fitch, while distancing itself from Jeffries, acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations and expressed disgust at the reported behavior. The company, under current CEO Fran Horowitz, has undergone significant cultural and operational changes since Jeffries' departure in 2014, aiming to rebuild its reputation after years of scandal.

The victims of Jeffries and his co-defendants have begun to come forward, with some speaking about their experiences and the devastating impact these events had on their lives.

One plaintiff in the civil lawsuit, David Bradberry, recounted how he was recruited under the guise of a modeling opportunity, only to find himself sexually assaulted by Jeffries at an Abercrombie-sponsored event. His case, and those of others, have drawn significant media attention, shedding light on the darker side of the fashion industry and the vulnerabilities faced by aspiring models.

As the legal proceedings move forward, Jeffries, Smith, and Jacobson will face mounting scrutiny, not only from the courts but also from the public, who have long associated Abercrombie & Fitch with Jeffries’ sexually charged marketing strategies during his tenure. For many, the charges mark a shocking downfall for the former CEO, whose leadership shaped Abercrombie into a global fashion powerhouse, but whose legacy is now overshadowed by allegations of sexual abuse and exploitation.