Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Pleads Not Guilty to Sex Trafficking Charges

Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO, Mike Jeffries, has entered a plea of not guilty to charges of sex trafficking and interstate prostitution. Accompanied by his lawyers, Jeffries appeared in a New York federal court on Long Island, maintaining a stoic expression while dressed in a navy blue suit. James Jacobson, the alleged middleman, also pleaded not guilty during a subsequent hearing. Matthew Smith, Jeffries’ British-American partner, is expected to appear in court at a later date to face the same charges.

Federal prosecutors have accused the men of employing force, fraud, and coercion to engage in “violent and exploitative” sexual acts. The FBI initiated an investigation into Jeffries last year following a BBC report that uncovered multiple men alleging sexual abuse by Jeffries and Smith at events hosted in their New York residences and hotels worldwide.

During a brief court hearing, Judge Steven Tiscione informed Jeffries that he would be placed under house arrest, with limited permission to leave his homes in New York and Florida for medical appointments, meetings with his lawyers, and religious events. Jeffries posted a $10 million bond, using his Fisher Island property in New York as collateral. Present in court were Jeffries’ son and wife, who had to agree to use their house for the bond, acknowledging the possibility of foreclosure if Jeffries fails to appear in court.

One of Jeffries’ alleged victims, David Bradberry, who previously spoke to the BBC about the abuse, sat in the front row as the charges against the former CEO were read. Jeffries did not respond to reporters’ questions as he left the courtroom and entered a black SUV.

Following the arrests of Jeffries and Smith in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Tuesday, prosecutors unsealed an indictment against the three men. Jacobson was arrested in Wisconsin, while Jeffries and Jacobson were released on bond. Smith remains in custody.

Prosecutors claim that Jeffries and Smith targeted numerous vulnerable young men aspiring to careers in fashion and modeling, exploiting them for their own sexual gratification between 2008 and 2015. The indictment lists 15 unnamed victims. If convicted, the defendants could face life imprisonment for sex trafficking and up to 20 years for interstate prostitution.

Breon Peace, the US attorney for the Eastern District of New York, alleged that Jeffries spent a significant amount of money to traffic men for sexual acts, with staff and security guarding the events. Peace stated that the couple hired Jacobson to recruit men, flying them to various locations where they were coerced into consuming alcohol, Viagra, and muscle relaxants, sometimes against their will.

The BBC’s investigation initially revealed a sophisticated operation involving Jacobson as a middleman and a network of recruiters. Subsequently, additional men came forward, some alleging that Jeffries’ assistants injected them with what they believed to be liquid Viagra.

After the BBC’s report last year, Abercrombie & Fitch announced an independent investigation into the allegations. Jeffries served as the company’s CEO from 1992 until 2014, when he stepped down amidst declining sales. He left with a retirement package valued at approximately $25 million.