Abercrombie & Fitch former CEO Mike Jeffries has been charged with sex trafficking alongside his partner Matthew Smith and James Jacobson. The US Department of Justice alleges that between 2008 and 2015, the trio coerced young men into attending “sex events” disguised as modeling opportunities. They were also accused of providing financial resources for these events, including paying for travel and staff.
Prosecutors claim that during interviews, Jacobson required candidates to engage in sex acts with him, while Jeffries and Smith directed others to inject or personally injected a substance to facilitate sex acts. The victims were allegedly forced into situations they believed would harm their careers.
Jeffries has been diagnosed with dementia and late-onset Alzheimer’s disease, which may affect his fitness to stand trial. A competency hearing is scheduled for June to determine whether he can represent himself in the case.
Attorney Brad Edwards described Jeffries’ alleged operation as “one of the most organized sex trafficking operations in U.S. history.” The allegations against Jeffries and Abercrombie & Fitch have led to numerous lawsuits, including a class-action suit alleging the company discriminated against minorities during hiring.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/tylerroush/2024/12/24/mike-jeffries-has-dementia-and-late-onset-alzheimers-lawyers-say-here-are-all-the-allegations-against-the-former-abercrombie–fitch-ceo