NEW YORK, USA — Mike Jeffries, the former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch, has been arrested on charges related to a sex trafficking scheme, two sources familiar with the case confirmed on Tuesday, October 22, 2024.
The charges, which stem from the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, follow a multi-year investigation into alleged abuses that took place over a span of seven years.
The indictment, containing more than a dozen counts, accuses Jeffries and two associates of orchestrating a scheme that targeted young men aspiring to be models.
According to sources, from December 2008 to March 2015, Jeffries and his associates allegedly recruited these men under pretences, only to exploit them in a series of sex-themed parties.
At these events, the sources allege, the recruits were given drugs, alcohol, and performance-enhancing substances, including Viagra, and were pressured into engaging in sexual acts.
The indictment marks the latest chapter in a scandal that has already brought scrutiny to Jeffries following media reports last year.
The arrests were carried out early Tuesday morning, and all three defendants are expected to appear in court later today.
Jeffries, along with one associate, is scheduled for an initial appearance in the Southern District of Florida.
At the same time, the third defendant will make his first appearance in the Western District of Wisconsin.
Jeffries’ case will eventually return to the Eastern District of New York, where the formal arraignment is expected to take place at a future date.
The identities of the two associates have not yet been released.
This is not the first time Jeffries, who led Abercrombie & Fitch during its peak as a fashion brand catering to young people, has come under fire.
In 2023, a BBC investigation uncovered allegations that Jeffries and his partner, Matthew Smith, used a middleman to recruit young men for exploitation.
The BBC report prompted a public outcry, placing renewed scrutiny on the former CEO’s leadership and personal conduct.
As of Tuesday, Jeffries’ legal team had not made any public statements regarding the charges.
This case is ongoing, and further developments are expected as the defendants make their initial court appearances and the indictment is unsealed in the coming days.
