
(Scypre.com) – Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries, along with two others, has been arrested in connection with a criminal sex trafficking investigation. Federal authorities, including the FBI and prosecutors in Brooklyn, took Jeffries, his partner Matt Smith, and a third individual named Jim Jacobson into custody on Tuesday. The charges relate to an international sex trafficking and prostitution ring allegedly run by the trio, which exploited young men for sexual encounters at parties both in the United States and abroad.
According to the indictment, Jeffries, Smith, and Jacobson are accused of leveraging Jeffries’ position as CEO and using their extensive financial resources to orchestrate the criminal enterprise. The indictment claims that Jeffries and his accomplices established a network of employees, contractors, and security personnel to recruit young men under the guise of modeling opportunities and to keep their illicit activities hidden. The goal was to fulfill Jeffries’ and Smith’s sexual desires while ensuring that the operations of the sex trafficking and prostitution business remained secret.
Federal prosecutors allege that dozens of men were flown to different locations across the globe to engage in sex acts at events organized by Jeffries and Smith. The indictment mentions 15 alleged victims, who are referred to as John Does #1-15. During the so-called “sex events,” a household staff hired by Jeffries was allegedly tasked with supervising and facilitating these gatherings. Jim Jacobson played a key role in recruiting participants, traveling across the United States and internationally to interview and select young men for the events. Prosecutors also claim that during the selection process, known as “tryouts,” Jacobson demanded that candidates first perform sex acts with him before they could participate in the events.
The indictment further alleges that many of the young men involved were coerced and misled. Some were led to believe that attending the events would open up significant modeling opportunities with Abercrombie & Fitch, while others were made to fear that refusal to comply could harm their professional prospects. In addition to sex trafficking, the defendants face charges related to interstate prostitution. They are expected to make their initial court appearances in Florida and Wisconsin, where they were arrested, before being brought to Central Islip in Long Island, New York, for arraignment.
Attorneys representing Jeffries and Smith have responded cautiously to the charges. “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,” said Brian Bieber, an attorney for Jeffries, and Joe Nascimento, an attorney for Smith, in identical statements provided to ABC News. Meanwhile, Abercrombie & Fitch and Jim Jacobson’s attorney have declined to comment.
The criminal investigation into Jeffries and his associates first came to light in January, following the filing of a civil lawsuit by several alleged victims. The civil case, brought a year ago, included allegations of sex trafficking and exploitation of young men during parties hosted by Jeffries at locations such as his estate in the Hamptons, as well as properties in London, Venice, and other cities.
The lawsuit painted a disturbing picture of the behind-the-scenes activities that allegedly took place during Jeffries’ tenure at Abercrombie & Fitch. The plaintiffs claim that the parties organized by Jeffries and Smith were used as opportunities to lure attractive young men into the modeling world with promises that were ultimately false. One of the plaintiffs, David Bradberry, who previously worked as a crew member on the reality television series “Below Deck,” accused Jeffries of creating a highly sexualized environment, which he said was the driving force behind the fashion brand’s success. Bradberry’s lawsuit alleged that Jeffries, Smith, and Jacobson, as well as Abercrombie itself, recruited young men with the false promise of potential modeling careers, only to coerce them into taking drugs and performing sexual acts.
Attorney Brad Edwards, who represents Bradberry and other plaintiffs, remarked that the arrest of Jeffries, Smith, and Jacobson validated the accusations his clients had made. “As we laid out in our lawsuit, this was an Abercrombie-run, sex trafficking organization that permeated throughout the company and allowed the three individuals arrested today to victimize dozens and dozens of young, aspiring male models,” Edwards said in a statement to ABC News.
Jeffries had been instrumental in transforming Abercrombie & Fitch from a struggling traditional outfitter into a highly popular brand for teenagers and young adults. However, his tenure as CEO was marred by several controversies, including allegations that he promoted a hypersexualized corporate culture, which is now at the center of the criminal charges he faces. The case, which has garnered significant attention, has brought renewed scrutiny to Jeffries and Abercrombie & Fitch, shedding light on allegations that exploitative practices were not only tolerated but facilitated by those at the highest levels of the company.