October 22, (THEWILL) – A former CEO of fashion giant Abercrombie & Fitch (A&F), Mike Jeffries, has been arrested in Florida on charges related to sex trafficking.
Jeffries and two of his associates including Matthew Smith and James Jacobson, were arrested on Tuesday morning.
Although the indictment is yet to be unsealed, reports alleged that between December 2008 and March 2015, Jeffries and his associates engaged in a sex trafficking scheme in which they would recruit men with model aspirations. It is also alleged that they engaged in sex-themed parties at which prospective models were given drugs, alcohol and Viagra to perform sex acts.
They are scheduled to make their initial appearances this Tuesday before a federal court in the Southern District of Florida and another court appearances in the Western District of Wisconsin.
The FBI opened an investigation last year after the BBC revealed claims that Mike Jeffries and his partner Matthew Smith, sexually exploited and abused men at events they hosted in their New York residences and hotels around the world.
Dozens of men filed a lawsuit last year against Jeffries and Abercrombie & Fitch, alleging the former CEO used his position at the company to exploit and abuse men.
Following the BBC’s report, a civil lawsuit was filed in New York accusing Mr Jeffries and Mr Smith of sex-trafficking, rape and sexual assault. The lawsuit also accused Abercrombie & Fitch of having funded a sex-trafficking operation, led by its former CEO over the two decades he was in charge.
Confirming the arrest, Brad Edwards of Edwards Henderson, a civil lawyer representing some of the alleged victims, said: “These arrests are a huge first step towards obtaining justice for the many victims who were exploited and abused through this sex-trafficking scheme that operated for many years under the legitimate cover Abercrombie provided.
“The unprecedented reporting of the BBC, coupled with the lawsuit our firm filed detailing the operation, are to credit for these monumental arrests. This was the result of impressive investigative journalism.”
Brian Bieber, attorney for Jeffries, said, “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.”
Jeffries served as CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch from 1992 until 2014, when the company announced his retirement. As CEO for over two decades, Jeffries transformed Abercrombie & Fitch into a global brand for teen and youth fashion, often with provocative marketing.
