Former Abercrombie CEO Jefferies pleads not guilty to sex trafficking charges involving male models, sentenced to house arrest

Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries pleaded not guilty to charges that he trafficked models for his parties, the US Attorney’s Office said on Friday, October 27 (local time). Mike Jeffries posted a $10 million bond, using his New York home as collateral. He will be under house arrest with electronic monitoring while he awaits trial, AFP reported.

Jeffries, 80, who was arrested on Tuesday, appeared in the District Court for the Eastern District of New York, where he denied the charges. The fashion executive was accompanied by his British partner Matthew Smith, who is also accused of sexual offenses, as well as Jeffries’ son and wife.

formerCEO of Abercrombie & FitchThe case dates back to 2023, when the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) opened an investigation after the BBC published allegations that Mike Jeffries and his partner sexually exploited and abused men at events they held at their residences and hotels of New York. world.

A BBC investigative film, The Abercrombie Boys: The Dark Side of Cool, revealed there was a “sophisticated operation” involving a middleman and a network of recruiters tasked with finding people for the events. Several men spoke about their experiences signing non-disclosure agreements for events allegedly organized by Jeffries.

This is reported by sources in the court Jeffries contact with co-accused, witnesses or victims is prohibited. The next court hearing is scheduled for December 12 before Judge Nusrat Chowdhury.

Jeffries and Smith’s fixer, Jacobson, also pleaded not guilty to the same charges and will remain under house arrest after posting $500,000 bail.

“Force, fraud and coercion…”

While Smith had not yet been arraigned; however, a federal judge in West Palm Beach, Florida, issued a warrant for his arrest on Tuesday, citing fears he could flee because of his British passport.

Prosecutors in the case allege that between December 2008 and March 2015, Jeffries, Smith and Jacobson used a mixture of “force, fraud and coercion” to traffic people in a large-scale prostitution operation.

Fashion giant Abercrombie & Fitch expressed its “shock and disgust” at the allegations against Jeffries and maintains a “zero tolerance” policy for abuse, harassment or discrimination of any kind, AFP reported.

(via agencies)