What did Mike Jeffries do? Allegations against former Abercrombie CEO and his partner explored amid trafficking lawsuit
Mike Jeffries, the former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch Co., was taken into custody on Tuesday, October 22 for alleged s*x trafficing and pr*stitution. As per Forbes' October 22 report, he is now being held in connection with a federal investigation. It was a case involving interstate pr*stitution and s*x trafficking.
The arrests come after years of accusations of s*xual assault, however, specifics of the charges were not immediately known. As per the Economic Times' October 23 report, a civil case filed in New York last year stated that the company was accused of allegedly permitting Jeffries to run a s*x-trafficking network during his 22-year employment. According to the lawsuit, Jeffries hired alleged victims through modeling scouts, some of whom were coerced into s*x trafficking.
He was arrested a year after eight men accused Jeffries and his inner circle of s*xually abusing them at extravagant gatherings all over the world. The Justice Department accused the fashion boss of forcing aspiring models into s*x that same day, it added.
Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries was taken into custody
According to the DOJ, Mike Jeffries, his partner Matthew Smith, and James Jacobson were all charged. As per the reports, Jacobson allegedly recruited victims and served as a go-between for setting up s*x sessions, while Smith, Jeffries' long-standing romantic companion, allegedly attended the parties with the Fitch CEO.
As per BBC's October 22 report, the prosecution stated Smith and Mike Jeffries "spent millions of dollars to create a massive infrastructure" around "s*x events."
As per the same, the two also reportedly paid for "dozens of men" to fly both domestically and abroad for the activities. They further claimed that the former CEO "spent millions of dollars on a massive infrastructure to support this operation and maintain its secrecy," which included paid staff, hotel stays, overseas travel, and event security.
The docement further claims that in order to maintain confidentiality, the three men allegedly hired "a full-service security company that oversaw non-disclosure agreements, conducted background checks and surveilled witnesses, among other things."
As per BBC, prosecutors also claimed that Jeffries and Smith allegedly personally "injected men with an er*ction-inducing substance" or instructed others to do so if they were unable to comply.
As per The Guardians' October 22 report, Breon Peace, the US lawyer, stated during a press conference on Jeffries, Mike Jeffries, and Jacobson's indictments that
“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."
However, the lawyer for Mike Jeffries told the BBC on Tuesday that they would "respond in detail to the allegations after the Indictment is unsealed." Jeffries and his partner have reportedly previously denied any wrongdoing through their attorneys.
Smith's attorney has been contacted for additional remarks by BBC, but as of yet, no comment. Additionally, regarding the most recent events, A&F chose not to comment.