Abercrombie & Fitch ex-CEO Mike Jeffries, 80, charged with sex trafficking & prostitution of dozens of men

Former Abercrombie & Fitch (A&F) CEO Mike Jeffries, 80, was arrested and charged with running an international sex trafficking and prostitution business involving dozens of men.

Jeffries, his partner Matthew Smith, and their alleged middleman James Jacobson were arrested by authorities on Oct. 22.

An FBI investigation was opened in 2023 following claims of Jeffries and Smith's sexual exploitation and abuse of men at various events they hosted in their residences and hotels around the globe.

Allegedly trafficked men for his own sexual pleasure

Over the two decades he was in charge, Jeffries would use his wealth and CEO status "to traffick men for his own sexual pleasure", said U.S. attorney Breon Peace, as reported by BBC.

Pearce alleged Jeffries and his partner Smith would get Jacobson to conduct "tryouts" with men from across the globe by engaging them in sex acts in exchange for money.

Some of these men were as young as 19 years old.

Once approved by Jeffries, the men would be flown to his New York home and "pressured to consume alcohol, Viagra, and muscle relaxants".

The prosecutors claimed Jeffries "spent millions of dollars on a massive infrastructure to support this operation and maintain its secrecy", including international travel, hotel staff, and security.

A total of 15 victims are mentioned in the indictment, but the operation encompassed dozens of men, prosecutors alleged.

In a BBC investigation, some of these men said they were misled about the nature of the events or not told sex was involved.

Others said they knew the events would be sexual, but not what was expected of them.

One said he felt unable to report what happened because of the non-disclosure agreement he had signed before the event.

Jeffries and Smith had previously denied any wrongdoing via their lawyers.

Peace said powerful people have for too long sexually abused young people who yearned for careers in fashion and entertainment, as reported by Reuters.

"To anyone who thinks they can exploit and coerce others by using the so-called casting couch system, this case should serve as a warning: Prepare to trade that couch for a bed in federal prison," said Peace.

Possible life sentences for sex trafficking charges

Jeffries was released on a US$10 million (S$13 million) bond, while Jacobson was released on a US$500,000 (S$60,000) bond.

Smith was ordered detained.

The three men may face possible life sentences and mandatory minimum 15-year prison terms for the sex trafficking charges for their crimes, and up to 20 years in prison for the interstate prostitution charges.

Jeffries led A&F from 1992 to 2014, where it was known as a popular youth retail brand with cologne-filled stores and sexually-charged advertisements.

Male models were often paraded at the store fronts as part of the brand's in-your-face marketing gimmick.

Top image via Wikipedia, KSDK News YouTube & A&F website