Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries has been arrested on sex trafficking and interstate prostitution charges, prosecutors announced Tuesday.
Jeffries was arrested in West Palm Beach, Florida. Two other employees, Matthew Smith of West Palm Beach and James Jacobson of Wisconsin, were also arrested on sex trafficking charges.
Jeffries and Smith made their first court appearances in Florida on Tuesday afternoon. They are scheduled to be arraigned in the Eastern District of New York at a later date.
Mr. Jeffries served as CEO of the popular clothing brand from 1992 to 2014.
Jeffries, Smith and Jacobson are each charged with one count of sex trafficking and 15 counts of interstate prostitution related to 15 alleged victims. has been done. According to the federal indictment, Jeffries operated an “international sex trafficking and prostitution business” from 2008 to 2015 with his girlfriend, Smith, and the alleged recruiter, Jacobson.
They claim to have organized “sex events” for Jeffries, Smith and “others” in England, France, Italy, Morocco, St. Barts and New York. They “employed coercive, fraudulent, and deceptive tactics in connection with the recruitment, employment, transportation, acquisition, retention, solicitation, and payment of men to engage in commercial sex acts.”
Men who attended the event expressed concerns that it could lead to modeling opportunities, that it could help their career, or that “failing to comply with certain behavioral demands during a sex event could have a negative impact on my career.” It is said that he was made to believe that he had sex.
During the event, the men were asked to sign non-disclosure agreements and hand over their wallets and cell phones.
Jeffries, Smith, and Jacobson also allegedly recruited, employed, and paid their own domestic staff to “facilitate and supervise sex events.” Staff provided Jefferies, Smith, and the other male participants with alcohol, muscle relaxants known as “poppers,” lubricants, Viagra, and condoms. The indictment alleges that either Jacobson or a staff member paid the men to attend the sex events.
Breon Peace, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York, said at a news conference that Jeffries and Smith spent millions of dollars on their sex trafficking operation, including staff salaries, travel expenses and confidentiality fees. said.
Mr Peace said the operation used a referral system and interview process, in which the men allegedly preyed on were not informed of the details of the sex acts before participating. During “tryouts” for potential candidates, Jacobson typically first engaged them in commercial sex acts, according to the indictment.
At the event, the men were pressured to drink or consume poppers, and “on more than one occasion the men did not or could not consent,” Jeffries and Smith described them as invasive. The physical integrity of these men was violated by exposing them or continuing to expose them to “sexual and violent touching with body parts and other objects,” Peace said.
“For too long, those in power have trafficked and abused under-resourced young people for their own sexual pleasure in dreams of securing successful careers in fashion and entertainment.” Peace said. He warned anyone who believes they can use the “so-called casting couch system” to exploit or coerce them to “be prepared to trade that couch for a bed in a federal prison.”
After an initial court appearance Tuesday, Jeffries was conditionally released on $10 million bail, and Smith will be held until his hearing in New York. Prosecutors had asked that Mr Smith be detained pending trial because he is a British national and a flight risk.
Peace said his office became aware of the criminal charges through media reports.
News of Jeffries’ arrest comes a year after BBC News published a shocking report alleging he exploited men at sex parties he hosted. The report said 12 men participated in or hosted events involving sex acts for Jeffries and his partner, Matthew Smith, starting in 2009. It is said that it took place in 2015. Some men who spoke to the BBC said they were exploited or did not participate willingly. .
Jeffries’ attorney, Brian Beaver, told NBC News at the time that Jeffries would not comment on reports about his private life. Abercrombie & Fitch said it was “appalled and disgusted” by the allegations in the BBC report.
Following his arrest, Bieber told NBC News on Tuesday: “Once the indictment is unsealed, I will respond in detail to the allegations as appropriate, but I will do so in court and not in the media.” Ta.
Shortly after this report, Abercrombie & Fitch and Jefferies were accused of turning a blind eye to Jefferies’ alleged misconduct. The civil suit alleges that he sexually abused numerous men after luring them with the promise of coveted modeling contracts, CNBC reported.
“Today’s arrest is monumental for the aspiring male models who were victimized by these individuals,” attorney Brittany Henderson, who represents the victims in the class action lawsuit, said in a statement Tuesday.
“Their fight for justice does not end here,” the statement said. “We look forward to holding Abercrombie & Fitch accountable for facilitating this egregious conduct and ensuring that it never happens again.”
Asked whether the sex trafficking operation may have continued beyond 2015, Peace said the investigation is ongoing and encouraged any victims or witnesses to come forward. .
