Ex-Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Arrested on Sex Trafficking Charges
The former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO, Mike Jeffries, is finding himself in some legal trouble. Jeffries and two others were arrested on Tuesday as part of a criminal sex trafficking investigation by the FBI in Brooklyn.
Abercrombie & Fitch CEO & Others Arrested
Jeffries, his partner Matt Smith, and Jim Jacobson have been accused of operating an international sex trafficking and prostitution business. The business allegedly recruited young men for parties in both the U.S. and abroad.
Jefferies worked for the fashion brand from 1992 to 1024. The alleged businesses took place over a 7-year period starting in 2008. They used their finances and connections through the Abercrombie & Fitch brand to be able to continue the alleged businesses with young men over the years.
Federal prosecutors stated that the trio allegedly paid dozens of men to travel around the world and perform sex acts. The reports also state that there were allegedly 15 victims and Jefferies supposedly recruited, hired, and paid a number of people to supervise these sex acts.
Jacobson allegedly was the one to travel throughout the U.S. to recruit and interview for these sex events. During these “interviews,” multiple sources alleged that they were “tryouts” and Jacobson would get these young men to perform sex acts on him before officially being hired.
Using the officialness of the fashion brand, they would coerce men to believe that performing these acts would lead to modeling gigs and exposure through the Abercrombie & Fitch brand. The three men are being charged with sex trafficking and interstate prostitution.
