Former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch arrested in sex trafficking investigation
Authorities are investigating allegations that Mike Jeffries sexually exploited and abused young men at parties.
Mike Jeffries - the high-profile former CEO of clothing brand Abercrombie & Fitch has been arrested as part of a criminal sex trafficking investigation by federal prosecutors in the US.
In a joint announcement by the FBI and the New York police department, the authorities allege that Jeffries, his British partner Matthew Smith and a third man, Jim Jacobson, ran an “international sex trafficking organization” that coerced “dozens and dozens” of men into sexual acts, often for the promise of a modelling career with the clothing retailer.
“Powerful individuals for too long have trafficked and abused, for their own sexual pleasure, young people with few resources and a dream – the dream of securing a successful career in fashion or entertainment...” said Breon Peace - the US attorney in Brooklyn - in a press conference discussing the allegations. “To anyone who thinks they can exploit 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.”
According to the prosecution, 15 men have made allegations that Jeffries, Smith, and Jacobson were involved in international sex trafficking during the period 2008 until 2015. It's alleged that Jacobson was the recruiter - often requiring sexual auditions before presenting the potential models to Smith and Jeffries. According to the allegations, potential models were flown to destinations around the world where they would be required to have sex with Smith and Jeffries and take part in sex parties.
“During that period the defendants hired dozens of men and transported them to New York and around the globe...” said Breon Peace, adding that Jeffries and Smith “spent millions of dollars on a massive infrastructure to support this activity and maintain it’s secrecy” – and spent “hundreds of thousands” in cash for commercial sex acts.
Mike Jeffries, Matthew Smith, and Jim Jacobson will now need to appear in court to respond to the charges.
How did we get here?
Allegations against Jeffries and Smith first surfaced in October 2023 when several men went public with allegations of sexual exploitation at Abercrombie events during the period 2009-2015. The parties specified were held in London, Paris, Marrakech, and the US.
According to the allegations, Jeffries and Smith would engage in sexual contact with the young men or order the men to have sex with each other. All men involved reported being paid after the events.
The men making the allegations explained that they were recruited for the Abercrombie events by a middleman hired by Jeffries and Smith. The middleman allegedly sexually auditioned the men by requesting oral sex or performing it on them.
There seemed to be varying experiences as to what the men making the allegations thought that they were applying for. Some said that they were told that sex would not be expected, others said that they were deceived about the nature of the event that they were attending, others indicated that the prospect of being booked for modelling work for Abercrombie was used to recruit them to attend the events.
One man believes that he was drugged and raped during one of the Abercrombie parties.
Who is Mike Jeffries?
Jeffries was CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch from 1992 to 2014. He is credited with building the clothing brand into an iconic retailer - hugely popular with young shoppers in the 90s and early 2000s.
He stepped down in 2014 following declining sales and left with a retirement package valued at around USD$25m.
