Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Indicted on Sex-Trafficking Charges
Michael S. Jeffries, the former chief executive officer of Abercrombie & Fitch, has been indicted on serious charges related to an international sex-trafficking scheme that allegedly spanned several years during his leadership at the company. Federal prosecutors announced the indictment on Tuesday, detailing the shocking claims against Jeffries.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Brooklyn, Jeffries, who helmed the clothing retailer from 1992 until 2014, is accused of employing force, fraud, and coercion to attract numerous men to various events across the globe. These events were reportedly designed for the sexual exploitation of these individuals by Jeffries and his romantic partner, Matthew Smith.
The indictment presents harrowing allegations from 15 different individuals who claim they were coerced into engaging in sexual acts. These allegations echo disturbing findings from a BBC investigation conducted last year and a class-action lawsuit that accused Jeffries of exploiting aspiring models under the guise of offering them job opportunities at Abercrombie.
On Tuesday morning, Jeffries and his partner were arrested in Florida, and they are scheduled to appear in federal court in West Palm Beach later that day. Additionally, a third individual, James Jacobson, was apprehended in Wisconsin in connection with the case and is expected to appear in federal court in St. Paul, Minnesota, as confirmed by John Marzulli, a spokesperson for the U.S. attorney’s office for New York’s Eastern District.
The indictment alleges that between 2008 and 2015, Jeffries and Smith employed Jacobson as a recruiter. Jacobson is accused of paying men to engage in sexual acts with him, subsequently selecting those he deemed suitable to travel to high-profile events in New York City, the Hamptons, and other international locations for the sole purpose of participating in commercial sex.
Breon S. Peace, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, stated, “Jeffries was using his power, his wealth, and his influence to traffic men for his own sexual gratification, as well as that of his romantic partner.”
The former CEO and his accomplices reportedly lured aspiring male models into believing that participation in their clandestine events—operated by staff members bound by strict nondisclosure agreements—could potentially lead to lucrative modeling opportunities. According to the indictment, the men alleged that Jeffries issued threats, warning them that failing to comply with certain requests during these events could jeopardize their future career prospects.