Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries faces federal sex trafficking charges
Federal prosecutors set to hold news conference
Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Michael Jeffries and two other men have been arrested on charges of sex trafficking and interstate prostitution, according to a spokesperson for U.S. federal prosecutors on Tuesday.
Specific details of the charges have not yet been released. The arrests follow years of sexual misconduct allegations, including civil lawsuits and media reports, in which young individuals claimed Jeffries lured them with promises of modeling opportunities and then coerced them into sex acts.
Jeffries's attorney, Brian Bieber, said in an email that he would "respond in detail to the allegations after the indictment is unsealed, and when appropriate," but emphasized that his response would take place "in the courthouse — not the media."
Information on legal representation for the other defendants was not immediately available. A press conference with U.S. Attorney Breon Peace, along with FBI and police officials, is scheduled for later Tuesday to provide further updates.
Jeffries stepped down from his role at Abercrombie & Fitch, based in New Albany, Ohio, in 2014.
Previous Allegations Against Jeffries
A civil lawsuit filed in New York last year accused Abercrombie of enabling Jeffries to operate a sex trafficking ring during his 22-year tenure as CEO. The lawsuit claimed that Jeffries used modeling scouts to search online for potential victims, some of whom were allegedly trafficked.
In response to similar allegations highlighted in a BBC investigation, Abercrombie announced it had hired an independent law firm to conduct an external investigation.
The BBC report included accounts from a dozen men who described attending events organized by Jeffries and his partner, Matthew Smith, where sex acts allegedly took place. These gatherings reportedly occurred at Jeffries's home in New York and in hotels in cities such as London and Paris.
When last year’s civil lawsuit was filed, Jeffries's attorney, Bieber, declined to comment on the claims.
