The former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries was arrested on Tuesday as part of a criminal sex trafficking investigation by federal prosecutors, the FBI in Brooklyn and the New York police department have announced.
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 modeling career with the clothing retailer.
Jeffries and Smith are expected to appear in court later on Tuesday.
“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,” the US attorney in Brooklyn, Breon Peace, said at a news conference discussing the indictments of Jeffries, Smith and Jacobson.
“To anyone who thinks they can exploit others by using the so-called casting couch system – this case should serve as a warning,” Peace said. “Prepare to trade that couch for a bed in federal prison.”
Prosecutors said 15 victims came forward to accuse the men of running an international sex trafficking organization from late 2008 to 2015. Prosecutors said victims were flown around the world to international hotels in London, Italy and St Bart’s, among others – and to Jeffries’ homes in New York City and the exclusive Hamptons on Long Island.
Jacobson acted as the recruiter, according to investigators, often forcing men into sexual “tryouts” before bringing them to Smith and Jeffries.
The pair would then pick men for sex parties, at times coercing them to drink alcohol, take the erectile dysfunction medication Viagra, or muscle relaxant drugs known colloquially as “poppers”. At times, Jeffries and Smith would also forcibly inject the men with an “erection inducing substance”.
Prosecutors said the former CEO and his partner spent millions on the enterprise – paying Jacobson’s salary, hiring staff for sex parties, renting hotels, and buying tickets for domestic and international travel.
“During that period the defendants hired dozens of men and transported them to New York and around the globe,” Peace said. Peace added 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.
The indictment comes after eight men told a 2023 BBC investigation that they had been exploited and recruited for sex events by the former fashion boss. Federal prosecutors began an investigation in January 2024, following a civil suit filed by victims last year.
One of the plaintiffs in the civil lawsuit, David Bradberry, said Jeffries forced models to take drugs and engage in sex for a chance to appear in Abercrombie catalogs while the company paid off people who accused Jeffries of sexual abuse or harassment.
Jeffries led Abercrombie from 1992 to 2014, making it a successful teen apparel maker known for cologne-filled stores and ads featuring semi-nude models. He resigned amid criticism that he failed to keep up with changing tastes of teen shoppers.
An attorney for Bradberry, Brad Edwards of the Edwards Henderson law firm, told ABC News in a statement: “As we laid out in our lawsuit, this was an Abercrombie-run, sex trafficking organization that permeated throughout the company and allowed the three individuals arrested today to victimize dozens and dozens of young, aspiring male models.”
The new federal criminal case against Jeffries, Smith and Jacobson follows many of the same accusations first lodged in civil court, including that Jeffries exploited young men for sex between 2009 to 2015 in cities around the world. Some men alleged they were abused or injected with drugs. Jeffries and his partner denied all allegations in a court filing in response to the lawsuit.
Before Jeffries stepped down, his tenure had also drawn scrutiny over its exclusionary marketing, focusing on thin, attractive customers.
“We will 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,” Brian Bieber, a lawyer for Jeffries, told the Wall Street Journal.
Lawyers for Smith did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A lawyer for Jacobson could not immediately be reached for comment.
Peace said: “I encourage anyone with information about this case, including anyone who was a victim of the defendants’ alleged crimes, to contact the FBI.”
The case against Jeffries and his co-defendants is among several high-profile sex trafficking cases that have been pursued by federal prosecutors in New York City in recent years. Others have resulted in charges against music mogul Sean Combs as well as Jeffrey Epstein, the late disgraced financier and convicted sex offender.
• Information and support for anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse issues is available from the following organisations. In the US, Rainn offers support on 800-656-4673. In the UK, Rape Crisis offers support on 0808 500 2222. In Australia, support is available at 1800Respect (1800 737 732). Other international helplines can be found at ibiblio.org/rcip/internl.html.
