It follows a slew of accusations of sexual impropriety, including a lawsuit brought in New York last year alleging Abercrombie permitted Jeffries to operate a sex trafficking organization while he was employed there for 22 years.
By news reporter Claire Gilbody Dickerson
According to a federal prosecutor’s spokeswoman, former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries was detained on sex trafficking allegations.
The same charges have also led to the arrest of Jeffries’ companion Matthew Smith and a third guy, James Jacobson.
Breon Peace, the US attorney for the Eastern District of New York, claimed during a press conference in New York that Jeffries exploited his “power, his wealth, and his influence, to traffic men for his own sexual pleasure and that of his romantic partner, Matthew Smith.”
According to Mr. Peace, Jacobson was hired by Jeffries and Smith “to act as a recruiter to find men” in the indictment.
Jacobson used to “engage in ‘tryouts’ with men across the world where he would typically pay them to engage in sex acts with him” .
The chosen men would then be flown to Jeffries’ and Smith’s residences or hotels worldwide “for the purpose of attending events to engage in commercial sex” after Smith made the decision about who would meet him and Jeffries.
All three defendants “used force, fraud, and coercion to traffic those men for their own sexual gratification,” according to Mr. Peace’s allegations.
At a press conference, Mr. Peace claimed, “They led the men to believe that going to these sex events could lead to modeling opportunities with Abercrombie or otherwise benefit their careers.”
“Smith and Jeffries ran these sex events with the help of a covert staff. To keep these activities secret, the staff made sure the guys signed non-disclosure agreements and turned up their personal belongings, including phones, prior to the festivities beginning.
The indictment “highlights the abhorrent behaviour” of Jeffries, Smith, and Jacobson, according to James Dennehy, associate director of the FBI’s New York Field Office.
It is “not only beyond disturbing, dishonorable and disgraceful but simply put, it’s criminal,” he said of the accusations.
It follows a slew of accusations of sexual impropriety, including a lawsuit brought in New York last year alleging Abercrombie permitted Jeffries to operate a sex trafficking organization while he was employed there for 22 years.
“Respond in detail to the allegations after the indictment is unsealed, and when appropriate, but plan to do so in the courthouse – not the media,” said Brian Bieber, Jeffries’ lawyer, in an email to the Associated Press.
Requests for comment were not immediately answered by Smith’s attorneys. It was not immediately possible to get in touch with Jacobson’s attorney for comment.
Smith’s and Jeffries’ attorneys have “vehemently denied” any misconduct in the past.
In 2014, Jeffries departed from Abercrombie & Fitch.
Following a BBC report on similar claims last year, Abercrombie announced that it has engaged an outside law firm to carry out an independent investigation.
Regarding Jeffries’ arrest, Abercrombie & Fitch has refrained from commenting.
